Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-01
Business Career of Peter Flint
4 Story of Salesmanshp by Harold Whitehead

a substantial proposition. and for a tacit
sgreement no capital stock is to De sold to
outsiders When a conclusion of any kind
has to be taken after several meetings Of
carry out Whatever has to be done; no one
cares TO see IL it is done and all is over
ceptionf man Of activity and d'e enesgS. @ q" does
his best TO keep this company together and
report. his efforts are drowned by oece a.
sonal talks about the war or the Weather;
The fnnS Srss ps o Of aId his to nSthns
member is complaining that we arc doing
nothing that we should do something, that
anything.
The president. a prosperous head Of a
cGa.relessness OF the treasurer tof course. con
lGesaddislig, and the treasurer of course
of the president to lead a discussion. BoiH
fti9nhdSntlally tinn complain about the prepsra-
tors are complaining about these business
men hmsiro. who show show no ability at all in this
laugh and Joke and talk their heads on.
because outside of business they have been
Ultimate friends for many years
anvil and hammer ""' 'e'"'e"
yidins small wage and a pretty fair com,
mission, M per cent on all sales. accepted
thought I would be able in a short time 10
se,i secure good living. Unfortunately sales.
| multiply myself, never
lous commission. and salary is so per cent
| of mine. ~
,smIis this I do not not want. because | have .
! resign On the other side I would like 10
remain for these reasons.
/ First. ] ha in this COMPANY some GOOD
| friends TO whom my resignation would mean
dissolution and total loss OF their invested
second ] have some money invested. too.
anT n go my money goes too.
,r nnlrd ! reside In a country house nearby.
compute eon,Inu to New York, having poor con. n
tried my best to get these gentlemen in
,,,T,,s tcrsstsd in this company's work. / sub
to certain degree OF success and then
asked asked some help-as,promised in order 70
TO the board of directors our enormous per
fsentage fsnt or profit 90 per cent?, 1 proved
inside inside and outside business, can quite
sustain the general expenses which means
for business, instead of spending my time
inside washing and filling bottles. j couli
|" at e END Rf 1ist !sf to New
. hork. ln two months ! have Increased
had to discontinue my errsnds because the
ootpns ooIntnd wsS nf not enough to cover orders
enough and adequate help | % Would id max make
al my eHorts were useless. Every one
was praised, ! was appointed secretary
OF the board of directors and after one year
cate of 100 shares, They show their def
erence and friendship, they never revised
accounting; they never asked me how much
! had cashed or spent. but when meeting
comes comes they talk and talk and no substantial
Now am discouraged I regret the eight
seh mSntss spent with these rentlsmen
would ust ike to cas- secure sSr se. ssn
other position more remunerative with soma
concern which recognizes efforts with facts.
What do you suggest me to do. Mr. White
Shall ! stay? Shall go?
] am forty-four years old. In excellent
heath. heath. do doctor in law Turin University.
ike s% shoush hSsss1 Ssssu.s Dc
right S sssn i |. i M rss"ss Il
try ! used them both. I have M " good refer
been connected with Ellis Island H timmiars, as ss
SPG dspSrtmenn abNSt ye years shtns
have very few acauaintances. as spend
al my free time at home. busy with flowers
social position to be bothered with my trifies
What do you suggest me to do Mr.. White
| read your letter through twice be-
fore deciding upon what TO say about
It. 1t appears to me that you cannot
very well afford to resign because resig-
latlon involves future loss and also a
loss of future possibilities there. On the
other hand, you cannot afford to stay
under the present conditions, for YOU
are merely turning yourself from man
ager into. bottle washer.
The only thing to do therefore. Ia IA
change the conditions From the amount
or business you do there can't be an
enormous lot of money involved.
You have one man in the company
who is really active and energetic.
suggest that YOU talk over the possibili.
ties or you two buying out the business
for yourselves. Could you induce these
people to do this? II they are the kind
r of people | gather from your letter
think you could--and the directors
would sell you their stock by accepting
your note for II. Let them retain the
stock as collateral. 1t matters not what
method or tactics are adopted as lone
as You are honest. of course, in gettine
control of the stock and going ahead
as you wish.
The concern from whom you buy your
supplies Is a very powerful one. ano
doubtless II they knew your position
they would give YOU extended credit fol
a reasonable length of time to enable
you to carry on. Your banker mign1
also be willing to help you out Perhaps
who would be willing to buy some o.
the directors out as an investment. Per
haps the directors themselves would b.
willing TO retain the stock and give yos
complete control Of the business Tha
could be done by. asking them to have
about one mectikg q year and ieavs
you perfectly free to do as you wish.
Ask them to try II for Just one year
and, IL after the year YOU haven't sue
ceeded in putting II oyer. your resigna
ton would be in their hands. II seem,
to me that you have come TO the paftin,
OF the ways and that you would b.
justified In saying TO them that you mus
do either one of the two things Yol
must either be manager In fact Al
well as In name, with a perfectly fre
hand to do as you think best. or 20,
must ask for a speedy release from al
uncomfortable position,
Drop me a line and let me know hos
yor coine out, won't you?