Scenes from the DSE Stint - continued

The daily schedule during this one month of the "guided" SO stint was along these lines -
0930 - Reach the stock point.
1000 - Still at stock point - asking random questions about sales for the previous day, problems with slow moving brands et cetera..(trying to sound wise!)
1030 - Finally leave the stock point..
1100 - Start covering the market - and there's not too much time to do this, since this being Bengal, things would start to close by 1300 and remain that way till 1700-1800.

Encounter some old and new problems everyday, and learn to come up with creative excuses for the same -

1. Why is this product not being given to us ? Because there's so much demand that the machines have broken down trying to meet it...and the new machines will come in 6 months, by sea.....

2. This product doesn't sell at my shop ? (in a surprised tone) "Ki bolchchi Dada ?" Aapke counter par to mitti bhi package ho kar bik jayegi , phir yeh toffee kya cheez hai ?? !

3. There's huge amount of shortage in the jars ? Yes, you are right, it does happen sometime, but there are times when the jar has excess toffees too...and if this one doesn't work, see if the bugger wants to count them...and pray hard that there's no shortage !

4. Your people don't give me credit ! (this from a bugger who has not paid one bill since the past six months !!) ? "Kya dada, saara credit to aapko hi de diya..baaki market to hamein maarne aa raha hai ! "

The one fundamental realisation that became the key to success in many arguments in the future was that there is no one view of a situation that you can label to be the truth, and successfully finding a different / alternate view and convincing the other person to see things from that angle is the real talent that is perhaps the hallmark of a great salesman.

Another important discovery was that at the end of the day, sales (and everything else) boils down to PR. Nothing is as important in this or any business as PR, and smartly leveraging it ensures that things get done with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency.

And now a funny story to end the gyan...

One fine day, almost two months into my SO stint, when I am in a town called Kathua, population barely 50-60000, I call the office, to remind the HR manager to please ensure that my salary is deposited in my personal account (since my salary account was not operational due to some technicalities- like the form not being collected from the office !) when I was told to be ready for the presentation ! The dialogue follows-

Me: "Hello..Ma'am this is Janus, I'm the MT in South Bengal...could you please ensure that my salary and expenses for the month are credit to my personal account ?"
HRM: " Yea, ok...are you ready for the presentation that you have to give to the Big Boss ? "
Me:" (stunned silence) !!!!! Presentation ? !! (in a choking voice ) Ma'am I was not given any prior information about a presentation..I am only doing my SO stint"
HRM:" But all summer trainees have to give their presentations to the Big Boss"
Me:" (Aaaaaaaaaarrrggggggghhhhhhhh !!!!!) Ma'am, I'm NOT a SUMMER trainee...I'm a MANAGEMENT trainee...a company employee...that is why I was asking you for my salary !! "
( this was even funnier since all the summer trainees had finished with their presentations on the day we had reported to the branch, which was almost two months ago !!"
HRM:"Oh ok...it's all right..."
Me: " So Ma'am could you please facilitate that transfer ? I would be really greatful.."
HRM:" Yea yea..ok ..bbye"
Me: !!!???!!!