The Man Who Sold Very Good HOT DOGS: A Story About Perception!

Here is a little story for you. In fact, it's become a kind of classic in basic economics, which could apply to our current pandemic situation. It goes like this:

A man lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.

He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. It’s too bad.

He had trouble with his eyes, so he read no newspapers.

But he sold good hot dogs.

He put up a sign 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.

Old Hot Dog.jpg — BUY A HOT DOG, MISTER?

He stood on the side of the road and cried;

He increased his meat and roll (bun) orders.

He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.

He got his son home from college to help him.

But then something happened!

His son said, “Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio? Some people say we are heading for a decline in business. There may be a big recession coming on. You’d better prepare for poor trade."

Whereupon the father thought, “well, my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”

So the father cut down on his meat and roll orders, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway and sell hot dogs.

AND HIS HOT DOG SALES FELL ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

“You’re right, son!” the father said to the boy.

“WE ARE CERTAINLY HEADED FOR A RECESSION.”

A simple little story but it has a lot of truth to it.

The welfare of a business just like the welfare of a person or a family depends upon the attitude of the person in charge, but attitudes are contagious.

Once the words get around that the bad times are coming, like the current global circumstance, and everyone believes it and pulls in his horn and expecting it, it then comes as a matter of course.

The best attitude to take is the one that realizes that the economy has been growing over the last two centuries with all the problems. There have been dips in its growth, of course! But overall, it's been up. And anything with such a remarkable record of growth tends to continue to grow and prosper.

So the best plan is to expect more growth and prosperity in the years ahead, with good judgment. In trying to find the best words, I think "Conservative Optimism" might be used.

Look for long-term growth and prosperity and expect short-term problems, which are a normal part of living and business. It is better this way than the other way around. But if you’ve got a growth situation on your hands, as did the father in our story about the hot dogs, keep it rolling.

Our body and motion tend to remain in motion until acted upon by an outside force. In our little story, the outside force was the pessimistic son home from college. And follow your own counsel and intuition. Don't listen to the gloomy predictions you hear or read about. Don't let it infect you with its virus and do not repeat it.

As William James the renowned psychologist and philosopher who is considered to be the Father of American psychology said,

"It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome."

In conclusion, as Zig Ziglar said, “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”

There was never a time when there were more opportunities in the world than today. How is your outlook?

Adopted and extend from Earl Nightingale!

Hot Dog Vendor