The Greatest Salesman In The World

Part 1

The Greatest Salesman in the World is the legend of Hafid, a camel boy from the early AD times. Hafid had a burning desire to improve his position in life. During his journey, he is given ten ancient scrolls, which contain the wisdom necessary for the boy to achieve all his ambitions and become the greatest salesman in the world.

Another quick read that benefits not only professional salesmen but also anyone who wants to improve their own life.

Instead of writing out the entire story of Hafid, I'm just covering what I got out of the book. I suggest reading the book if you can. Hafid's story is as entertaining and education as any I've read. 

The Greatest Salesman in the World:

No other trade or profession has more opportunity for one to rise from poverty to great wealth than that of a salesman. The rewards are great if you succeed but the rewards are great only because so few succeed. While many believe salesmen are born, they are actually taught.

Anyone could sell all the goods in the warehouse within a small passing of time if he but applied himself to learn the principles and laws of selling.

The book covers these laws in detail. However, you shouldn't enter the profession only for riches. Strive instead for happiness, to be loved and to love, and to acquire peace of mind and serenity.

Never feel shame for trying and failing, for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.

Scroll #1

Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure

You are a slave to your habits, so form good habits and become a slave to them. Only a habit can subdue another habit, so replace your bad habits with good but be careful not to replace your good habits with bad.

For example, if you are a smoker, replace smoking with jogging. Every time you feel like you need a smoke, work up a sweat.

When an act because easy through constant repetition it becomes a pleasure to perform and if it is a pleasure to perform it is man’s nature to perform it often. When I perform it often it becomes a habit and I become its slave and since it is a good habit, this is a good thing.

• Scroll #1 can be summarized as: have good habits.

Scroll #2

I will greet this day with love in my heart. I will look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will dig for reasons to applaud.

When I am tempted to criticize, I will bite my tongue. When I am moved to praise, I will shout from the roofs. I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired. Just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.

When I meet someone, in silence I will address him and say I love you. I will love myself. I have no time for hate. I will greet this day with love and I will succeed.

• Scroll #2 can be summarized as: be happy, smile, and love everyone.

Scroll #3

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered into this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning. I will consider each day’s effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking. I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt.

I must fail often to succeed only once. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I will attempt to achieve one more sale.

• Scroll #3 can be summarized as: If I persist long enough, I will be successful.

Scroll # 4

I am nature’s greatest miracle. None that came before, none that live today, and none that come tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me.

I will capitalize on this difference for it is an asset to be promoted to the fullest. I will begin now to accent my differences; hide my similarities.

I am the end product of thousands of years of evolution. I am better equipped in both mind and body than all the emperors and wise men who preceded me.

Nevermore will I be satisfied with yesterday’s accomplishments nor will I indulge in self-praise. I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and my product. I will practice and improve the words I utter to sell my goods. Many have attained great wealth and success with only one sales talk delivered with excellence.

I will seek constantly to improve my manners and graces. There is no room in the marketplace for my family. There is no room in my home for the market.

• Scroll #4 can be summarized as: I'm unique. If I use this to my advantage and practice, I'll be successful.

Scroll # 5

I will live this day as if it is my last. I will not waste a moment. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more. Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday.

I have but one life and life just a measurement of time. When I waste my time, I destroy my life. Procrastination I will destroy with action. Doubt will bury under faith. Fear I will dismember with confidence.

This day I will make the best day of my life. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best and I will live this day as if it is my last.

• Scroll #5 can be summarized as: don't waste a single second.

Scroll #6

I will be a master of my emotions.

Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions. Strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.

If I feel depressed, I will sing. 

If I feel sad, I will laugh.

If I feel ill, I will double my labor. 

If I feel fear, I will plunge ahead.

If I feel inferior, I will wear new garments.

If I feel uncertain, I will raise my voice. 

If I feel poverty, I will think of future wealth.

If I feel incompetent, I will remember past successes.

If I feel insignificant, I will remember my goals. 

If I become overconfident, I will recall my failures.

If I overindulge, I will think of past hungers. 

If I feel complacency, I will remember my competition. 

If I enjoy moments of greatness, I will remember moments of shame.

If I feel all-powerful, I will try to stop the wind. 

If I attain great wealth, I will remember one unfed mouth. 

If I become overly proud, I will remember a moment of weakness.

If I feel my skill is unmatched, I will look at the stars.

No longer will I judge a man on one meeting. No longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.

Scroll #6

can be summarized as: don't let how you feel or how other people treat you impact your performance or attitude towards the task at hand.

Scroll #7

I will laugh at the world. I will laugh at myself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously.

Will my concern for this day not seem foolish in ten years? This too shall pass. If all things shall pass, why should I care today? I will laugh at my failures because they will vanish with new dreams. I will laugh at my successes and they will shrink to their true value. I will laugh at evil and it will die untasted. I will laugh at goodness and it will thrive.

Only with laughter and happiness can I truly become a success.

• Scroll #7 can be summarized as: have fun and laugh often.

Scroll #8

I will multiply my value a hundredfold.

The wheat can be placed in a sack and dumped in a stall until it is fed to swine. The wheat can be ground to flour to make bread. The wheat can be placed in the earth and allowed to grow until its golden head divides and produces a thousand grains from one.

The wheat cannot choose its destiny, but I can choose mine.

I must nurture my body and mind to fulfill my dreams. I will set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and my life. To surpass the deeds of others is unimportant; to surpass my own deeds is all that matters. Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. I will not commit the crime of aiming too low. I will do the work that a failure will not do. I will always let my reach exceed my grasp. I will never be content with my performance. I will always raise my goals as soon as they are met. I will strive to make my next hour better than this one. I will announce my goals to the world. I will not proclaim my accomplishments. I will let the world approach me with praise and I will have the wisdom to receive it in humility.

• Scroll #8 can be summarized as: aim high and set public goals.

Scroll #9

I will act now. Action alone is the tinder which ignites the map, the parchment, this scroll, my dreams, my plans, and my goals into a living force. I will not avoid the tasks of today and charge them to tomorrow for I know that tomorrow never comes.

Only action determines my value in the marketplace and to multiply my value I will multiply my actions. Success will not wait. If I delay, I will lose forever.

This is the time. This is the place. I am the man. I will act now.

• Scroll #9 can be summarized as: do it now because success only happens after you do something.

Scroll #10

I will pray for guidance. I will not pray for material things. I will not seek delivery of wealth, love, health, fame, or success. I will only pray for guidance.

Guide me so I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities. Help me remain humble through obstacles and failures. Assign me tasks to which others have failed and guide me to pluck the seeds of success from their failures. Endow me courage to laugh at my misgivings. 

Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again. Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown. Suffer me to know that all things shall pass, yet help me count my blessings today. Let me become all you planned. Guide me

• Scroll #10 can be summarized as: don't ask ANYONE for anything other than advice/guidance.

Final Thoughts

While the book, as you can see, is written in a highly motivation manner, I can't disagree with any of the "core" teachings.

Having good habits, smiling, being persistence, using your differences, not wasting time, controlling your emotions, laughing at yourself, aiming high, acting now, and asking for advice are all actions everyone should follow.

I'm not sure if this is all it takes to be a great salesman. However, I can nearly promise you that if you don't follow the book's advice, you won't be as good as you would if you did.

(Source: Layton Cox)