Making A Comeback With A Difference

Before we proceed with today's story, I strongly recommend you make a quick visit to the post where I talk about two common mistakes new salespeople make and how to correct them. It gives an intro for new salesmen/women about the things to avoid when selling and gives the sales veterans ideas they can talk about with the young ones.

Now, off to our flavor for today ...

I sat with a friend of mine one day, at a Kopitiam (coffee shop), catching up on old-times. He just took his VSS (he work with Pfizer before), under worldwide Pfizer Inc. exercise to cut close to 10,000 employees to keep the company afloat on the stock market board (NYSE), and one month already passed. He looks 'usual.' He talks 'usual,' and personally, I don't think he ever left the company. Why?

Because he still rants, complaint, and talk about 'those' days in the pharmaceutical industry. He always makes a reference to his 'golden' days with Pharmacia (which later on was bought over by Pfizer), and he really disappointed working with Pfizer. Now, even worse... he lands himself on a new job selling medical equipment, but the 'total package' was nowhere near Pfizer. Being a loving husband, a dedicated father, I know he got 'KLCC-burden' (to show how huge it is) to carry on his shoulder. It's sturdy and Pfizer Inc. CEO, Jeff Kindler admit it... "the hardest, yet the most crucial decision has to be made."

Yeah sure, Jeff! It's easy for you to say...

At the other table in the same Kopitiam, there was this guy, who resigns from MSD previously, sat comfortably in his T-shirt and short (at 10 a.m) with a Product Price List and a calculator in front of him. His hand-phone looks like an appendage of his ear and his on it... like a chain smoker. Call after call after call. Nonstop. Roughly I can guess what he's doing, but that is a matter of discussion some other time ;)

When he was sort of unoccupied, I greet him from afar. "Hey! What are you doing now, Bud?"
"Oh, hey! Well, they call me back."
"Fuh! You must be printing money then... been called back."
"No, la. Few hundreds difference only. Not like the one next to you... millionaire!"
I just smile at the remark.

If my friend ever wanted to rejoin Pfizer, he had to wait 2 years. 2 years! The MSD guy... he barely waited for 10 months before he was called back... reemployed. One lucky son-of-a-gun! But is it really 'luck'? I have my doubt. I haven't asked about his portfolio, but I believe he'll start printing money straight away just like he used to. Some things do not change; it seems.

My equipment friend? I do believe he'll get his 'break' somehow, someday, if he's open to possibility. Things do not always stay the way it is... not in Pharma Industry anyway, but just like the big Maui wave, you have to be on the surfboard and position yourself on the right spot to 'ride' it. And the tide is almost here.

Maybe after the next election ;)