The Man who Sold Hotdogs

I started my business with one client who was loyal to me. His name is Mr. Brad Deery. I work for him today over two decades later. He gave me this artical and said his father made him read it, write it out long hand and keep in under his bed. Read it and see how it relates to you in your personal and business life.

Gary Tilkin, CEO and Founder

Gary Tilkin Consultants, Inc.

www.garytilkin.com

Gary.Tilkin@garytilkin.com

The Man who Sold Hotdogs

There was this man who sold hotdogs by the roadside. He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television.But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hotdogs. His sales and profit went up.

He ordered more meat and got himself a bigger and better stove. As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from college, joined his father.

Then something strange happened. The son asked, “Dad, aren’t you aware of the recession that is upon us?” The father replied, “No, but tell me what you think about it.” The son said, “The international situation is terrible and the domestic situation is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad times.”

The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers and listened to radio, he ought to know and that his advice is not to be taken lightly. So the next day, the father cut down his order for meat and buns, took down the sign and was no longer enthusiastic.

Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hotdog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly. The father said to his son, “Son, you were right. We are in the middle of a recession and I’m glad you warned me ahead of time.”

So, what is the moral of the story?#1. Choose the right adviser. The wrong adviser will only land you in a sorry mess.

#2. Enthusiasm, hard work, believing in yourself and taking action are the real keys to success.

#3. Never engage in a self-defeating pattern of behavior. If you think that you will fail… you will fail and nothing in this world can save you.

#4. YOU are 100% responsible for your success and/or failure. YOU know what you need to do, so go do it.

#5. 2012 will be what YOU make it – not the economy.

The Man who Sold Hotdogs