bishan street 22 - salesmanship 101

there's been quite a lot of rainfall for the past few months, and yet the durian are superb in their taste, not soggy, not diluted in that pungentness, not a bit less of its full-body, ever-so-matured flavor. D24, big seeds, ample meat..... bitter, and creamy.

marathon man got them for 4 for $10 in the bishan street 22 market, after his jog in that area.

the durian seller was very polite, though he talked a lot and loudly.

"come, come, come..... $1 for 1....."

"how about these?" the sign said 1 for $3.

"for you, 4 for $10. you want, pick for you the best, guarantee one."

"ok.."

he opened up a good-looking durian. marathon man saw the pale yellowish, succulent flesh, touched it with his finger...."good."

"this one is a little bit bitter, if you don't like, i will choose a sweet one for you."

"i like bitter."

he opened up the second one, "this one no good." the threw it into a basket.

he opened another one, "check this one out."

"good."

he opened the forth one, "hmmm.... this is the king of durian..... motakting hah.."

"ya, very good." marathon man has not come across a durian seller as polite and approachable and most of all, as considerate as this one. the typical one he met used to be a guy wielding a fat cleaver, shouting ," want durian? how many?"
and if you wanted to pick one and asked him to open, he would give you one-kind-of-a-look, "you pick, no guarantee."

"why you so happy?"

"new year is coming.... more over, you know durian is a very weird fruit?"

"what? how weird?"

"you should know durian has eyes, so when it drops, it would not hit any man.... do you know why it's so smelly, and pricky yet so tasty?"

"why?"

"because it knows as a fruit, there's no point to put any effort to perk up its look or smell. it's touch is also very repulsive, even its name sounds obscene..... but it knows, taste is what other animals are looking for. and it puts all it has to make itself the king of the fruit in the world - it says, to be king, you just have to be the very best at what you do!"

"and what has that got to do with you being so happy and helpful?"

"me.... any body can be a salesman, to be a very good salesman, no need to cheat, no need to scheme, no need to boast, or patronizing..... just be happy and helpful.... so that you can gain the TRUST of your clients...."

now, that's salesman lesson 101.