The salt salesman

The salt salesman

There once was a salt salesman who worked for a company that sold salt to grocery stores. This guy grew up poor then joined the Navy. After his time in the Navy, he got into the salt business. One problem selling salt is that all salt is basically the same. Salt is salt no matter where you go to get it. There was nothing special about the salt that he was selling that differentiated it from other salt. Because of this, salt is generally purchased based only on the price. Yet, this guy became the top salt salesman in the company. So how did he do this? He found a system (not a goal) of helping people without asking for anything in return. 

For example, one day, the salt salesman was selling salt at a grocery store and found out that the store owner was reorganizing his store over the weekend. On Saturday, the salt salesman showed up unannounced and helped the store owner reorganize his store. He ended up spending most of the day there. That store owner became a regular customer from then on. Using this system, the salt salesman was very successful.

The lesson is that we should look for ways to be of service to others and expect nothing in return. Helping someone with a small task like moving a couch or doing a homework assignment can benefit you in many unknown ways. You may not receive back from the same person but that is fine because you had no expectation of getting anything back anyway. People like to interact with other people and will choose those that are kind and generous more often. The worst thing that can happen is you will be a better person because of it. 

Now, click here to read about using failure.