Why Storytellers Get Ahead

By Jim Whelan, The Joan Randall Agency

Monday, July 9, 2007

I have a salesman that visits me every quarter, andI always buy something from him, even though I don'tneed anything that he is selling.

There is a simple reason for my behavior.

The guy is the best storyteller that I know, and henever fails to make me laugh. My purchase is areward for his skill, which a lot more salespeopleshould learn.

This week when he came I was on the phone, butI got off quick because I wanted to hear what hehad in his story bag. He had a good one to start,and then they got better.

Here's the one I liked best.

"At a meeting of the college faculty, an angelsuddenly appears and tells the head of the philosophydepartment, "I will grant you one of three blessingsyou choose: Wisdom, Beauty...or ten million dollars."

Immediately the professor chooses Wisdom.

There is a flash of lightning, and the professor appearstransformed, but he just sits there, staring down atthe table.

One of his colleagues whispers, "Say something."

The professor says,"I should have taken the money."

That was easily worth whatever it was that I bought,and I'm still getting a chuckle out of it days later.

I'm not a great storyteller myself, but this one I havemanaged to tell at least once a day since I heard it,and it gets a big laugh every time.

If I told the story half as well as my friend tells it, I'dbe telling it all day long. The key thing here is thatsales, and salespeople, need to be entertaining. Iknow you have a message to deliver, just like I do.

But if you can wrap it up and package it like my frienddoes, you'll have people not only writing you checks,but looking forward to seeing you again.

It doesn't get any better than that.

From the big saddle,
Jim Whelan