Career Advancement Newsletter

Do you know??

???? When you should say, “No?”?

?????????? Do you have the courage to say, “No?”?

During my lifetime there have been times when I needed to say, “No.” ??

Many of these were times ...

???? when it would have been easier to say, “Yes.”?

My first full-time job was selling restaurant equipment.??

???? A more accurate statement would be ...?

???? ?????trying to learn to sell restaurant equipment.?

I was the new kid in the crowd. ?The metro Atlanta market was highly competitive and dominated by older seasoned sales professionals.?

When I started, I knew nothing about the restaurant equipment business.?

I had learned ... from several part-time jobs while in school ... sales could be built on personal relationships and service. That is where I chose to focus my time and attention.?

One customer I was beginning to win over from a competitor was a small chain of short-order grills open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. ?The owner had delegated full responsibility for the operation of all the restaurants to his general manager. ?Let’s call the general manager Walter.

Walter needed to replace a 40 cubic ft. refrigerator but refused to buy it from me before he got bids from my competitors. ??

This did not surprise me; he was very price conscious.?

His request, on the other hand, did surprise me. ??

He said, “I need a new washer and dryer for my home. ?I want it cheap ... ?really cheap. ?One of your competitors will take care of me. ?Will you?”?

Walter wanted a washer and dryer at no cost to him. ?

He was asking me for a ... bribe.?

I was certain if I said, “No” ...

?? ???I would not get the order for the refrigerator.?

I thought about how much I needed that sale. ??

???? And ... I worked on commission. ?

????????? No sales meant ... no income.?

I told him, “No.”?

My actual reply was, “I will sell the refrigerator to you for the lowest price that I can, and I will introduce you to a home appliance salesman who will give you a fair price for a washer and dryer. ?I cannot deliver a washer and dryer to your home if you buy the refrigerator.”?

When I left him that day ... ??

???? I knew I would not get the sale. ??

As important as that sale was ...?

???? I left with my integrity intact ...

????????? which was worth more than money.?

I realized to maintain my integrity, I must?…?

Learn to Say, “No.”?

That is one of my Principles of Creative Followership?.?

Learn to Say, “No.”?

A few days later, Walter called me. ?He said, “We have decided to buy the new refrigerator from you.” ??

He never again mentioned the washer and dryer.?

Today, 67 years later ... I wonder. ??

Did Walter expect me to bribe him with a free washer and dryer? ??

???? Or ... was this a test of my integrity??

I never asked. ??

???? I don’t want to know.?

What do you think??

---Jimmy Collins, Career Advancement Newsletter?

The stories I tell are true and from my real-life experiences.? Where appropriate, names have been changed to protect individual privacy.?

Career advancement principles are in my book,?Creative Followership? ?also available on Biblio.com.??? https://www.biblio.com/book/creative-followership-jimmy-collins/d/1604564938?

Like stories? My latest book?Jimmy’s Stories?is available on Biblio.com.? https://www.biblio.com/book/jimmys-stories-jimmy-collins/d/1604855871?

#integrity #chickfila #leadership #followership

?