[TriDucBMWnut]

The movie, Pursuit of Happyness.... is getting great reviews. Emotional, heart wrenching, real life drama. Personally, I thought it was pretty predictable.... I thought every successful sales guy/gal goes through the same agony - it just finds different expressions of pain.

With that background, a couple of sales stories to pass the time.

First off, I freely admit, I'm not a very good traditional, typcial (whatever!) sales guy. I drive my sales managers nuts.

Meaning? Money is not my #1 motivator. Don't get me wrong, I need money just like the next guy But, I only need so much, and I need it for very specific reasons. Reasons that are not very condusive to being a top notch sales pro.

For example, this week. Lady luck had her way with me. A pretty good size sale fell into my lap. Let's just say if I want to hibernate till April, I could do it. Now, a "good" sales guy would just keep on truckin' and puttin' up numbers that would surely impress the boss and beat last year's production.

What do I do? I start planning Tiger trips. I check out long range weather maps. I start doing google searchs on motorcycle scenic routes. All I read are NM and AZ motorcycle stories.

Fact is I'm now dreaming of my planned motorcycle trip to the TX Hill Country in March just being the beginning of at least a two, maybe three, week adventure. I'm reading a TX motorcycle magazine about two dudes having a great time in NM and AZ thinking .......... I need to do that. I want to do that....

Last night's kickoff dinner for my sales company was a Black tie event (wore my best suit - I just can't do black tie). Great food. Plenty to drink. But, I was lost.

My best company "buddy" isn't a sales guy but works one of the support desks and pushes my paperwork to the next level - he doesn't show. He's a DUC rider. That leaves me standing around with other sales guys talking about how great their year was and how much better this year is going to be ... well, I was looking for an exit.

But, there was a pretty thick steak waiting for me, so I stuck around.

After dinner, it's the awards ceremony. Lot's of clapping, lots of flowers, lots of rah rah. Lot's of smilin' and patting each other on the back.

Finally, at last, last year's #1 sales guy is paraded to the podium for his plaque. I'm thinking, "Finally, this thing is almost over!" But, he hovers around and has an "acceptance" speech and proceeds to start thanking all the people that helped him finish #1. His dear wife. His sweet secretary. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. For a minute, I'm thinking I'm at the Ocars. I'm about to puke my steak. Get me out of this place.

Now that I think about it. I'm beginning to feel sorry for myself. I obviously have no life. If there's not a motorcycle involved, I'm bored. If it doesn't lead to excitement involving two wheels, I'm looking for the exit....

Hello, my name is Mike. I'm a motorcycle ****....

 

[speedjunkie]

Hello, my name is Mike. I'm a motorcycle ****....

No sir, you are a whore, just like the rest of us.............you paid to ride!!!! :-D




Mike

 

[blacktiger]

On 2007-01-14 16:52, TriDucBMWnut wrote:
What do I do? I start planning Tiger trips.

Fact is I'm now dreaming of my planned motorcycle trip to the TX Hill Country in March

Work to live. That's my philosophy.
I feel sorry for those sad bastards that live to work.

Let us know how the trip goes.

 

[Dusty]

I can relate to your story TriDuc! Many years ago, I heard something that struck a chord with me and has remained with me since:

Nobody, when on their deathbed, ever says,
"I wish I'd spent more time at the office".

Enjoy that trip!

 

[TriDucBMWnut]

On 2007-01-15 14:25, Dusty wrote:
I can relate to your story TriDuc! Many years ago, I heard something that struck a chord with me and has remained with me since:

Nobody, when on their deathbed, ever says,
"I wish I'd spent more time at the office".

Enjoy that trip!

Hey Dusty,
Thanks for reminding me of that quote...
I've used it many, many times...
By the way, don't know if you've ever been this side of the pond but the part of Texas that's called the Hill Country reminds me quite a bit of Scotland...
If I can figure out how to post a pic, I'll try showing you a favorite pic of mine that I took while riding a train on the west coast of your beautiful land...

If memory serves me well, I believe I was on the way to/from Ft. Williams (sp?)....

[ This message was edited by: TriDucBMWnut on 2007-01-15 15:05 ]

 

[TriDucBMWnut]

On 2007-01-15 10:56, blacktiger wrote:

On 2007-01-14 16:52, TriDucBMWnut wrote:
What do I do? I start planning Tiger trips.

Fact is I'm now dreaming of my planned motorcycle trip to the TX Hill Country in March

Work to live. That's my philosophy.
I feel sorry for those sad bastards that live to work.

Let us know how the trip goes.

Nine weeks from today's ice, sand, salt and frigid temps, I'll be in the TX Hill Country - you can certainly expect more than a couple of reports. I'll be grinning big time! :-D

 

[TexasTri]

So why not get a job selling motorcycles. I hope you make it down here before it gots too hot, but wait a few days as we are having an ice storm right now.

 

[TriDucBMWnut]

On 2007-01-15 15:31, TexasTri wrote:
So why not get a job selling motorcycles. I hope you make it down here before it gots too hot, but wait a few days as we are having an ice storm right now.

Russ.
Good idea about selling motorcycles... but, that's a decade or two down the road (when I can't ride anymore - motorcycles sales guys work way too many hours for me); I've got twenty years worth of clients in another field that requires I work about 2/3 days a week.
We'll be in the TX Hill Country around March 21st or so....
T

 

[tntriumph]

Hi, my name is Richard, and I too am a Tiger riding sales whore.

Yep, out there selling my company's products and services very day to support my motorcycle habit.

Been to way to may sales meetings just like you describe. Other than the sometimes great food, they make me sick. Most of those other sales reps just don't get it. It's work to live, not live to work.

My office "associates" just can't seem to understand why I'm out riding my Tiger on the weekends instead of "watching the game."

And on those really fine days in the spring, summer or fall when I just have to go out for a ride, it really drives my sales manager crazy when he when he can't reach me on my cell phone. But what truly drives him over the edge is when I do finally call in and tell him I was out "riding" and still managed to land that big sale!!

Priceless!


Hi, my name is Richard, and I'm a Tiger riding sale whore!!

 

[TriDucBMWnut]

On 2007-01-19 18:55, tntriumph wrote:
Hi, my name is Richard, and I too am a Tiger riding sales whore.

Most of those other sales reps just don't get it. It's work to live, not live to work.

But what truly drives him over the edge is when I do finally call in and tell him I was out "riding" and still managed to land that big sale!!

Priceless!

Hi, my name is Richard, and I'm a Tiger riding sale whore!!

Richard,

I retired from company #1 after twenty years at age 55, took their pension and walked across the street to a competitor who hired me on the spot.

After a few weeks at company #2, I explained to my "boss" (ha!) that I had landed a couple of big sales (about two months worth of quota), and he wouldn't be seeing me for about 2-3 weeks. I'd be riding (hello TX Hill Country).

With a puzzled look, and almost an envious sadness in his voice, he said, "We've never had anyone do that before."

Sad. Very, very sad..... for all the other chumps! Good. Very, very good for me....

I now have them trained. It's the office ongoing joke. If I'm seen more than a couple of days in a row, I'm asked, "So, where you heading this trip?"

What's the saying? There is only one success. To be able to live your life in your own way."