The Hot Dog Vendor – A Tale of Self Fulfilling Prophecy

This one is a real oldie but a goodie and is the perfect example of the self fulfilling prophecy. I have no idea who wrote it but can tell you that I have had a worn out photocopy of this in my files for at least 30 years. Same tale holds true today. Feel free to substitute your company name, products, and chosen form of investments.

There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.

He sold very good hot dogs.

He put up sign along the highway and advertised in the newspaper 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 and watching TV? There’s a big depression. The foreign situation is terrible. The domestic situation is even worse.”

Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he listens to the radio and watches TV and he ought to know.”

So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down his signs and canceled his newspaper ads, 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 certainly are in the middle of a great depression.”

Sobering.

Craig M. Jamieson
Craig M. Jamieson is a lifelong B2B salesperson, manager, owner, and a networking enthusiast. Adaptive Business Services provides solutions related to the sales professional. We are a Nimble CRM Solution Partner. Craig also conducts training and workshops primarily in social selling and communication skills. Craig is also the author of "The Small Business' Guide to Social CRM", now available on Amazon!
Craig M. Jamieson

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