The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs
I first heard this story years ago, and I don’t recall exactly where. Good thing it recently appeared at Zappos.com.
THE MAN WHO SOLD HOT DOGS
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.
He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes, so he read no newspaper.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put signs up on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood on the side of the road and cried “Buy a hot dog, mister?”
And people bought.
He increased his meat and bun orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He finally got his son home from college to help him out.
But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio?”
“Haven’t you been reading the newspaper?”
There’s a big depression.”
“The European situation is terrible.”
The domestic situation is worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well, my son has been to college: he
reads the papers and listens to the radio, he ought to know.”
So his father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down his
advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway
to sell his hot dogs.
And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You’re right, son.” the father said to the boy.
“We are certainly in the middle of a great depression.”
Yes, times are tough right now. But I have to wonder: What role is played by self-fulfilling prophesy?
3 Comments
Charles ONovember 23, 2008
How especially poignant in these times…
TLJohnsonDecember 8, 2008
As a man thinketh....
Dennis NunDecember 9, 2008
I googled to find the MAN WHO SOLD HOTDOGS today after someone from out company told us how bad things were and how they could only get worse… that’s with our sales up 31% in 2008 after a record 2007 and our new account development up 250%.
I’d say they better watch less CNN and quit reading the newspaper… Another story that Bob Conklin used to tell that relates the same “stink’in think’in” was about the shoe company that sent a new salesman to Africa. When he arrived, he immediately wired back, “Returning on the next flight. They don’t use shoes here.” They sent another salesman who, upon arrival wired back, “Start shipping shoes of all sizes and styles immediately. There’s no competition!”
I remind people all the time that more millionaires were created in the U.S. during the depression than at any time since. While most people are sitting at home being depressed those of us out there have no competition.
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