Greatest Salesman in the World free essay sample

This book to is respectfully dedicated a great salesman W. CIBMENT STONE has blended love, compassion, and a unique system of salesmanship into a living philosophy for success which motivates and guides countless thousands of individuals, each year, to discover greater happiness, good mental and physical health, who eace of mind, power and wealth* TPITF GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD Appreciations THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD lifting, is one of the most I inspiring, up- and motivating books have  «ver read. I can well understand did acceptance. why it has had such a splenNorman Vincent Peale. THE GBEATEST SALESMAN At last! A book on sales and salesmanship that can be read and enjoyed by veteran and recruit alike! I have just completed THE GREATEST for the second SALESMAN IN THE WORLD time—it was in all sincerity, I too good for just one reading—and say that it is the most readable, most constructive and most useful instrument for he teaching of sales as a profession that I have ever read F. W. ErHgo, Manager U. S. Sales Training Parke, Davis Company book that has ever been on salesmanship, but I think Og Mandino has captured all of them in THE GREATEST written I have read almost every SALESMAN IN THE WORLD, No lows these principles will ever one who fol- fail as a salesman, and no one will ever be truly great without them; but, the author has done more than present the principles—he has woven them into the fabric of one of the most fascinating stories I have ever read, Paul J. Meyer, President Success Motivation institute. THE WORLD veiy sales manager should read THE GREATIt is EST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD. to keep at the bedside, or on the living a book room table ~a book to dip into as needed, to browse in now and then, to enjoy in small stimulating portions,, It is a book for the hour and for the years, a book to turn to over and over again, as to a friend, book of moral, spiritual and ethical guidance, a 9 an unfailing source of comfort and inspiration,* Lestet J. Bradshaw, Jr. Former Dean, Dale Carnegie of Effective Speaking Institute Human Relations 1 was overwhelmed by THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD. It greatest is, without doubt, the tory I and the most touching is have ever good that there are two musts that I would attach to its First, you must not lay it down until you have finished it; and secondly, every individual who sells anything, and that read. It so includes us all, must read it Robert B. Hensley President, Life Insurance Co. of Kentucky is THE GREATEST SALESMAN Og Mandino provocatively prods your attention into fascination as he masterfully relates his story. THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD is a book with emotional appeal for millions/ Roy Garn, Executive Director Emotional Appeal Institute There are very few talent with which en who have the writing Og Mandino has been blessed. in this. There were wools, fine linens, parchment, honey, carpets, and figs, oil from Asia Minor; glass, nuts, tiles and balsam from his and drugs from Palmyra; own country; tex- ginger, cinnamon, m THE WORLD and precious stones from Arabia; corn, paper, and basalt from Egypt; tapestries from Babylon; paintings from Rome; and statues from Greece. The smell of balsam was granite, alabaster, heavy in the cheese, air and Hafids sensitive old nose detected the presence of sweet plums, apples, and ginger. Finally he turned to Erasmus. Old friend, how much wealth is there now accumulated in our treasury? * Erasmus paled, Everything, master? Everything. I have not studied the numbers is recently- but I would estimate there in excess of seven million gold talents. And were all the goods in all my warehouses and emporiums converted into gold, how much, would they bring? Our inventory season, sire, but I is not yet complete for this calculate would a minimum of another three million talents Hafid nodded, Purchase no more goods. Institute sell immediately whatever plans are required to is everything that mine and convert all of it to gold. The bookkeepers mouth opened but no sound came forth. He fell back as if struck and when fi~ 3 : †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ THE GREATEST SALESMAN nalljr I he could speak, the words came with effort do not understand, sire. This has been our profitable year. most Every emporium reports an Even the Roman legions are now our customers for did you not sell the Procurator in Jerusalem two hundred increase in sales over the previous season. Arabian stallions within the fortnight? Forgive my boldness for seldom have I questioned your orders but. This command I cannot compre- hend. Hafid hand. smiled and gently grasped Erasmus is My trusted comrade, your memory of suf- ficient strength to recall the first command you re- ceived from e when you entered my employ many years ago? Erasmus frowned momentarily and then his face brightened. I was enjoined by you to remove, each year, half the dispense it profit from our treasury and to the poor. not, at that time, consider Did you ish me a fool- man of business? 1 had great forebodings, $ire. Hafid nodded and spread his arms toward the loading platforms. Will you now admit that your concern was without ground? Yes, sire. Then let me 4 encourage you to maintain faith IN THE WORLD in this decision until I explain an old man and my plans. I am now my needs are simple. Since my bemany t is loved Lisha has been taken from me, after so years of happiness, of my desire to distribute all city. I shall my wealth among the poor of this keep only enough to complete my life without disI comfort Besides disposing of our inventory, transfer the ownership of every wish you to prepare the necessary documents which will emporium to he I also who now manages each for me. wish you to distribute five thousand gold talents to these manso agers as a reward for their years of loyalty that they and may restock their shelves in any manner that they desire/* Erasmus began to speak but HafidY raised hand silenced him. Does this assignment seem unpleasant to you? The bookkeeper shook to smile. No, sire, it is his head and attempted only that I cannot under- stand your reasoning. Your words are those of a man whose It is days are numbered. your character, Erasmus, that your con- cern should be for me instead of yourself. Have ye no thoughts for your own future when our trade empire is disbanded? We have been years. comrades together for many How can I, nowgt; think only of myself? Hafid embraced his old friend and replied, It 5 THE GREATEST SALESMAN is not necessary. I ask that you immediately trans- fer fifty thousand gold talents to your ame and I beg that you remain with me until a promise I is made long ago is fulfilled. When this that promise kept I will then bequeath palace and ware- house to you for I will then be ready to rejoin Lisha. The old bookkeeper sand gold stared at his master un- able to comprehend the words heard, fifty thoutalents, the palace, the warehouse . . . I am not deserving. friendship as .* Hafid nodded. I have always counted your my is greatest asset little What I now be- stow on you of measure compared to your art of unending loyalty. You have mastered the all, living not for yourself alone, this but for others, and as oncern has stamped thee above I urge a man among men. Now consummation of cious you to hasten with the my plans. Time is the most preI possess commodity and the hour glass of my life is nearly filled. Erasmus turned ise, his face to hide his tears. His as voice broke as he asked, And what of your prom- yet to keep? Although we have been you talk of such brothers never have I heard matter/* a Hafid folded his arms and smiled I will meet e IN THE WOKLD with you again when you have discharged my commands of this morning. Then I will disclose a secret which I have shared with no o ne, except my beloved wife, for over thirty years, Chapter And so it came to pass that a heavily guarded caravan soon departed from Damascus carrying certificates of ownership and gold for those iums. who managed each of Hafids trade emporFrom Obed in Joppa to Reuel at Petra, each word of Hafids re- of the ten managers received tirement and gift in stunned silence. Eventually, after making 8 its last stop at the emporium in Antipatris, the caravans mission was complete. The most powerful no more. trade empire of its time was His heart heavy with sadness, Erasmus sent word to his master that the warehouse was now empty and the emporiums no longer bore the proud banner of Hafid.