When I was starting out in sales, a big account told me they didn’t need my product. Harvey Levine lit up a cigarette and told me this story about shoes:

Two businessmen from two shoe companies are sent to africa, to scan the continent  and evaluate the potential for business.   After three days, the first one calls his boss and informs him that “Waste of time, there is no business to do here – nobody wears any shoes!!”.     At the same time, on another part of the continent, the second salesman calls his boss in a frenzy; “Boss, this place is a Gold mine! – nobody wears any shoes!!!”

There are two ways to look at every situation, and one of those is to spot the opportunity.

Harvey was right, although I never liked when he used my garbage can as an ashtray…