Gina Heslop
In our supposedly inclusive society, we often tend to judge people based on their appearance without taking the time to get to know them. However, if we delve a little deeper and get to know someone beyond their exterior, we might discover surprising things. This story exemplifies this notion through a humorous encounter involving a young farmer who relocated from North Dakota to Florida.
The young man arrived in Florida and sought a job at a large department store that claimed to have everything under one roof. During the job interview, the manager asked if he had any sales experience. The young man replied, “Yeah, I was a vacuum salesman back in North Dakota.” The manager, somewhat uncertain but intrigued, decided to give him a chance and hired him, instructing him to start the next day and be evaluated at closing time. The young man’s first day on the job was challenging, but he managed to get through it. After the store closed, the boss came to assess his performance.
He inquired, “How many customers bought something from you today?” The young man, looking down at the floor, replied hesitantly, “One.” The boss was taken aback and exclaimed, “Just one?! Our salespeople typically make 20 to 30 sales a day here in Florida. You’ll need to improve quickly if you want to keep your job. Our standards are high.” The young man accepted the reprimand but continued to stare at his shoes. Attempting to be somewhat sarcastic, the boss asked, “So, how much was your one sale for?” The young man looked up and calmly responded, ” $101,237.65.”
The boss was flabbergasted and asked incredulously, “What on earth did you sell?” The young man explained, “First, I sold him some new fish hooks. Then, I sold him a new fishing rod to complement the hooks. When I asked him where he was planning to go fishing, he said down the coast. So, I told him he’d need a boat, and we went to the boat department, where I sold him a twin-engine Chris Craft.
Concerned that his Honda Civic wouldn’t be able to tow the boat, I took him to the automotive department and sold him a 4×4 Expedition.” The boss was in disbelief, exclaiming, “He came here to buy fish hooks, and you sold him a boat and a truck?” The young man corrected him with a grin, “No, sir. He came here to buy tampons for his wife, and I said, ‘Dude, your weekend’s shot; you should go fishing.'”
