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September 19, 2012
 The
Man Who Sold Hot Dogs
The only pleasure to be had in cleaning out files as you prepare for a move (as
I am currently doing) is that you often find the most amazing things. Last week,
I actually discovered a $1000 bond I didn�t know I had (I liked that a lot) and
today I found this wonderful story that I thought I had lost. I have no idea who
wrote it, but given the economy, I would like to pass it along to you.
There was a man who lived by the side of
the road and sold hot dogs.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
Had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood on the side of the road and cried, "Buy a hot dog, Mister?"
And people bought.
He increased his meat and bun orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He finally got his son home from college to help him.
But then something happened.
His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio?
Haven't you been reading the newspapers?
There's going to be a big depression.
The Middle East situation is terrible.
The domestic situation is worse."
Whereupon his father thought, "Well, my son's been to college,
He reads the papers and he listens to the radio and he ought to know."
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down his advertising
signs,
And no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
"You�'e right, son," the father said to the boy. "We certainly are in the
middle of a great depression."
Choices
I am not making light of the tough economic times we are in. I have a relative
out of work, friends who have had to abandon one career to begin another, and
like you, I find business tougher to get. However, what I like about this story
is its use as a metaphor for how we deal with reality, belief systems, actions,
and outcomes. We cannot control so many of the forces around us, but we must
control the choices we make in the face of those forces. You may want to use
this with your team or just reflect on it for yourself. I welcome your stories.
Make what you say pay � with metaphors.
Anne Miller
Make What You Say Pay
Emila Alvarez from Puerto Rico writes: �Here�s a metaphor that
helped lower resistance: A school had a course called �Home Economics for Boys.�
No one signed up. Then they changed the name to �Bachelor Living.� It soon
became full.� What�s in a name? Everything!
Getting Closer to Publication Date of New
Book
Metaphorically Selling is going into
its second printing in October. The expanded book will be called The
Tall Lady With the Iceberg: the power of metaphors to sell, persuade, & explain
anything to anyone and will include the original book plus
25 Metaphor Minute-type anecdotes.
As the world becomes a noisier and noisier place in which to sell products,
services, or ideas, the need for visual communication becomes increasingly
critical to success, so I am very excited to be doing this.
If you enjoyed Metaphorically Selling, then
The Tall Lady with the Iceberg will make
the perfect business gift
for your colleagues and team.
Look for announcements next month.
Need Help With Your Presentation?
Call today and turn your information that tells into a story
that sells.
212-876-1874
amiller@annemiller.com
Personal Presentation Client:
"I sing your praises every
opportunity I get. I look forward to continuing our work together"
Jane Newton, Wealth Manager, Regent Atlantic Capital LLC
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