One year, just before Christmas, my radio advertising sales manager lit a fire under us to get on the phone and sell some cheapo holiday greetings spots to our clients. This was long before anyone had ever heard the term "telemarketing."

I'd just had surgery so was grounded to the office for a couple of weeks anyway, so I went like a house on fire and racked up several thousands in those little couple hundred dollar packages. He was so impressed, he was going to create a strictly phone sales position for me, but I quit right after that, for other reasons.

Sure stood me in good stead, though. Years later when I contracted at an arts center, they needed to get some response from a mailer they'd sent out asking members for $100 donations. I said why don't you let me call a few. They were horrified at first, treating these high-rollers with kid gloves, never dreaming of being so gauche as to call and outright ask for money.

Fianlly, they let me have a list of ones they thought wouldn't go completely bonkers, I called, said have you received our request and may I put you down for $100. By the end of the day, I'd brought in about 20 of those, the most they'd ever seen in a day and they were just astounded. It was stupid, simple easy for me, but fun to dazzle 'em! **BG**

Loved your story Steve. It always amazes me when sales people don't go for the kill.

Spaw, hard to imagine anyone being that rigid about a script! Sheesh!

Oh, Rickee...my hair needs a good shampooing and I'll bet with those instrument-sensitive fingers of yours, you'd give a much beter massage than Warren ever dreamed of! **BG**

kat