15 replies
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."

Coach

Source... Zappos Blogs: Coach: Day 561
#good #short #story
  • Profile picture of the author Avery Berman
    I like that. You need to concentrate on what you are doing and how you can improve, not how everyone else is doing. Don't stop what's working because something else is going down.
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  • Profile picture of the author decisionmaker123
    I liked this story. Infact I got motivated by reading it. Do your work, give 100% to it and don't bother about others. Different people have different views, different outlook. Believe in yourself and your work business job and keep rest of it on god.
    There is no reasoning behind the assumption that if something else is facing loses you will also face the same day. Its not true.
    Do everything you can and then you will definitely reap the success.
    Get a good education and increase your horizon of knowledge.
    Good story!
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  • Profile picture of the author Lynn Stivers
    I absolutely love this story!

    I'm saving it.

    Thanks for sharing it!


    Lynn
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Kerr
    Good story.

    It highlights the fact that the more we talk about how bad things are, the worse they get. Confidence is parmamount to turning around the economy.
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  • Profile picture of the author onera
    Great story. The morale of the story is don't listen to anybody if you are making money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
      Great story. The morale of the story is don't listen to anybody if you are making money.
      In particular ignore politicians and the media. They both cause amplified damage to the world economy during a recession, by their negative statements (positive of course for the media - as bad news sells).

      Want to be part of a world depression? Listen to the politicians, follow the media closely and start to think negatively. You know it makes sense!

      Jeff Henshaw.
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  • Profile picture of the author Writing Warrior
    Thanks for sharing this story. I've heard it before, but hearing it again reminds me that the quality of my life and the success of my business is determined solely by my attitude and actions.
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  • Profile picture of the author EcoverGuru
    Wow...what a story! It really a good reminder to one self, thanks for sharing the story.
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  • Profile picture of the author educationist09
    I loved this story Motivating, optimistic, self learning, encouraging and stimulating.
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  • Profile picture of the author educationist09
    What a thought provoking story! This indeed gave me a new enthusiam and new motivation to do something in my life.
    It is absolutely right that no matter how many hiccups one has to face but he always succeeds if he is determined to do what he wants to do. Economic situation, recession, people not agreeing you.... nothing matters if you know what you are doing and you have faith in yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author thomas1984
    I have no Ideal why I just brought up an old thread but here it is... lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author JOSourcing
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Jigar Banker View Post

    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.
    Point made, but I have a problem with the way the quoted part reads.

    Almost overnight? After no longer standing on the highway?

    :-|

    Insert your custom hashtag fail here: #_________
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    • Profile picture of the author JOSourcing
      Banned
      Originally Posted by JOSourcing View Post

      Point made, but I have a problem with the way the quoted part reads.

      Almost overnight? After no longer standing on the highway?

      :-|

      Insert your custom hashtag fail here: #_________
      You know, I feel bad about poking fun at that story because it puts out an important message. But I think even more important (and the reason why I'm following up) is that logic plays a critical role in "moral of the story" prose.

      This story is guru-speak. I don't particularly care for guru-speak because most of it is so ambiguous, it's worthless. But this one had potential, and then completely blew it at the end.

      So let this be a lesson to all guru wanna-be's. Stories should not only be touching, they should also be well-written.
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    Sigh...
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    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

    ― George Carlin
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Joseph
    Interesting story, thanks for sharing!

    Let's us think. Who's really right? To follow the crowd or follow our instincts.
    I'd say follow a consistent approach, with a plan that is mapped out with structure.

    When something works, then Wash Rinse Repeat!
    Signature

    Jon

    "Success comes when people act together; failure tends to happen alone." -- Deepak Chopra

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