Yesterday I saw in my face book a post that said "Help your friends to stop smoking press 'share'. I did not watch the whole video because I remember the time during the days when I was a truck salesman. ( a true to life story) One day I visited a moderate-size bus company, operating not more than 30 units of buses plying the provincial routes. Since I did not have prior appointment I just drove my car near the gate and blew just one honk and the watchman opened it. After inspecting what was inside my car and seeing me well-dressed and business-like he let me in. Inside I saw a man in his 50s with dirty hands and in ordinary T-shirt. I was thinking this man could be the chief mechanic or head of motor pool. I introduced myself as a salesman, with my call card, selling trucks and buses. He ushered me into his office and asked me to take my seat in front of his office table. He pulled out his pack of cigars and lighted his first smoke He offered me a stick and his lighter, I said, "very nice Sir, but I already stopped smoking for a long time" "Why" he asked. And after the ahhing and the ohhing he lighted another stick. I tried to shift the conversation to another topic, like buses and their kind of operations. But he asked me how I managed yo stop my smoking. I said I started smoking when I was twenty. At that time many people talked about the bad effects of smoking. So I decided on my own not to enjoy it anymore and after some weeks it was all over. After lighting another stick he told me he had been smoking the last 30 years. " this is my only vice, I drink very little and very seldom with friends and I have only one wife" he said with a laugh. Then I tried again to divert our topic by saying "Sir" but he interrupted. "My name is Romy" he said after a light puff. "Well, perhaps if you did not smoke the last 30 years, the this day you could be the owner of those apartment rows outside and maybe even this bus company." I said, and there was a moment of silence. By the look on his face I felt I had challenged his ego. Then he stood up and called his assistants to bring two cups of coffee. In truth I am the owner of that apartments outside and I am the owner of this small bus company. I was stunned by what he said. I felt the hair all over my body standing and how I wanted to erase all I had said. But I pretended not to hear by blurting out a muffled laugh to hide my awe. " Will you advise me now to smoke again?" I asked. But our conversation was ended when his phone on the table rang. It was his doctor on the other line.
Though my first visit did not allow me to present my products, it was a good start. That year I sold him six units of buses and I know he also stopped his smoking habit by his doctor's insistence.
Maybe you will ask whatever happen to my friend and good customer. Five years later I read in the papers Romy was killed by an assassin's bullet when his car was stalled in a traffic . The case had not been solved.
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