Hire for attitude, train for skills

This was the creed I learned in MBA.
Never realised how important it could be.
I'm now onto my 3rd batch of new recruits, and hopefully, their attitudes will see them through the tough training they will be undergoing.
To illustrate just how important your attitude will be, take a good read below.

If your company, a comb manufacturer, assigns you to sell combs to the monks in the temples.
Can you do it ?


What is your answer ?
a) No Way , Impossible !

b) Crazy !

c) I will give it a try in order to follow my boss'instruction.

d) Well, I will try.

e) Ya, I think I can sell ??? (5pcs ? 10pcs ? 50pcs ? or more...you name it)



Pick an answer above and read below to find out if you are or are not going to be a successful person or not at all.



The Story: SELLING COMBS TO THE MONKS



There is one company "manufacturing combs" which intends to expand its business and therefore, the management needs to employ a new Sales Manager.


The company ADV ERTISED the vacancy in the newspaper. Many people turned up for the interview daily....adding up to almost a hundred interviewees in just a few days.


The Company now faces the problem in choosing the right candidate for this position. So the Company's HR manager sets out a task to those who wanted to come for the final interview.


The task: Selling Combs To Monks In Temples


Only 3 applicants are willing to stay on for this Final Interview challenge:- A, B and C

The HR manager instructed: "Now I want three of you to sell these wooden combs to the monks in the temples. You only have 10 days to do it and report to me."
After 10 days, they reported.
The HR manager asked A: "How many have you sold ?"
A answered: "Only One."

HR manager asked: "How did you manage to sell one ?
A answered: "The monks in the temple scolded me when I showed them the comb but on my way downhill, I met a young monk who bought it to scratch his head due to dandruff."
The HR manager then asked B: "How many did you sell ?

B replied: "10 pieces. I went to a shrine and noticed that many devotees' hair were in a mess due to strong winds outside the shrine. The monk listened to my advice and bought 10 combs for their devotees as a mark of  respect to Buddha."


Then, the HR manager asked C: "What about you ?"


C replied: "1,000 units."
The HR manager and the other 2 interviewees were astounded.
HR manager asked: "How did you do that ?"



C replied: "I went to a famous temple. After observing for a few days, I discovered that there were many tourists. I then told the Chief Abbot there. "Sifu, those who come here are very devoted. If you could give them a gift, it will be more elating to them. I told him that I have a bulk of combs here and asked him to put his signature on the combs as a present to these visitors. He was very delighted and immediately ordered 1,000 pieces."



MORAL OF THE STORY:



HARVARD UNIVERSITY did a research:-



1) 85% of success is due to attitude and 15% is capability

2) Attitude is more important than intelligence, specials skills or luck..



In other words, professional knowledge only constitutes for 15% success factor while 85% is due to self-cultivation, public relations and adaptability.

Still remember the story of Selling Shoes to Africans ?


When 2 Salesmen were sent to Africa , one of them reported: "Cannot do it.

No one wears shoes over there !"


The second salesman said: "It is good to market. A lot of opportunities."

Success or Failure is dependent on how we face problems.


Remember, when the economy is good, there are people going bankrupt.
When business is bad, there are many new millionaires as well. So apply the 85% of the right working attitude fully.



Something 2 Share:



I believe this basic principle of 85% right working attitude is also applicable to Plantation Management.



Many problems encountered by planters can be overcome because they are not as difficult as "selling comb to the monks". Logically, it's impossible for the monk to buy a comb to comb hair. Monks in temples are simply not your customers!



With this story, we learn to "think out of the box" and even with 15% capability, we are confident to solve problems as long as we have the RIGHT WORKING ATTITUDE, COMMITMENT, DISCIPLINED, DEDICATED and DETERMINED.
Every time when we watch MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, the ending is always POSSIBLE


DO NOT FIND EXCUSES NOT TO DO THE POSSIBLE BUT INSTEAD, FIND WAYS AND

MEANS TO DO THE! POSSIBLE! . That's the right working attitude !