Magical Sale : Selling Combs to the Monks

There was one company manufacturing combs which intends to expand its business and so the management wanted to employ a new Sales Manager. The company ADVERTISED the vacancy in the newspaper. Many people turned up for the interview everyday... almost a hundred people in just few days. The Company now is having a problem to choose the right candidate for this position. So the interviewer had set a Difficult Task to those who want to come for final interview. The Task: “Selling Combs to the Monks in Temples." Only 3 applicants willing to stay on for this final interview challenge. (Mr. A, B and C).

The Interviewer instructed, "I want three of you here to sell these wooden combs to the monks in the temples. You only have 10 days to do it and report back to me." After 10 days, they reported. The Interviewer asked A: How many have you sold? A Answered: Only One. Interviewer: How did you manage to sell? A: The monks in the temples scolded me when I show them the comb. But on my way back to downhill I met a young monk who bought it to scratch his head due to dandruff."

Interviewer then B: How many did you sell? B replied: 10 pieces. I went to a shrine and noticed many devotees’ hair was in bad shape due to strong wind outside the shrine. The monk in there listened to my advice and bought 10 combs for their devotees by showing respect to the Buddha statue.

Then, the Interviewer asked C: How about you? C replied: 1,000 units. The Interviewer and the other 2 candidates were astounded. Interviewer: How did you manage that?! C replied: I went to a famous temple. After observing for few days I discovered that there were many tourists. I then told the Chief Abbot,"Sifu, those who come here are very devoted. If only you could give them a gift, this will surely elate them. I told him that I have a bulk of combs here and ask him to endorse on the combs as a present to those visit here. He was very delighted and straight away ordered 1,000 pieces."

MORAL OF THE STORY: HARVARD UNIVERSITY had done a research that says:-

1) 85% of success is due to attitude and 15% is capability.

2) Attitude is more important than intelligence, specials skills and luck. In other words, professional knowledge only constitutes 15% of success of a person and 85% is due to self-cultivation, public relation and ability to adapt.