Talk Past the Sale at Your Own Risk

There is a time to stop selling and close the deal. The salesperson who misses the moment and keeps on talking may find it an expensive error.  A wonderful illustration of this was provided by Samuel Clemens. Clemens had attended a missionary meeting and was deeply impressed by the speakers simple religious fervor.  He was so much in favor of the mans appeal that he decided he would donate five dollars when the collection basket was passed, instead of the dollar he usually contributed.  Later, becoming even more enthusiastic, he decided he would write a large personal check to the missionary's charity.  Unfortunately, the preacher, carried away by his own oratory, spoke on and on.  Clemens interest began to cool, sinking even lower as the evangelist continued to talk.  The man's lack of judgement irritated Clemens so much, he says, that instead of making a contribution he took a dime out of the collection basket when it cam around.