What is a Salesman?

A salesman is many things. He is a pin on a map. A quote to the office, and overloaded expense account to the auditor, a book keeping item called 'cost of selling' to the sales manager, a smile or wise crack to the receptionist, and a purveyor of the balm of flattery to the buyers.

A salsman needs the endurance of Hercules, the brass of Barnum, the craft of Machiavelli, the tact of a diplomat, the tongue of an orator, the charm of a playboy, and a mind as fast as Univac. He must be impervious to insult, anger complaint, and the effect of spending all evening with a customer.

He must be able to sell all day and the next and the next, and be on the job at 9 am the following day, fresh as a water lilly. He must be an expert golfer, storyteller, businessman, and listener to sad stories.










































He wishes his rates lower, his commissions higher, and his territory smaller. His competitors ethical, his books delivered on time, his Boss sympathetic his customers human. He is a realist who knows none of this will never be. He is an optimist, so he makes the sale anyway. He rolls his life away in the tedium of aircraft, bars and hotel rooms. In the morning he hoists the the deadweight of yesterdays's target,and tahe weeks quota. He writes finish to the day with the curse of the daily report.

Despite all lthis, there is nothing he would rather do, and he will be the first to tell you so. As long as there is something to sell,. and someone to sell it. He is a salesman.

Caz.