In memory of those who lost their lives, and commemoration of those who are fighting for our freedom, I am republishing this letter that I wrote on September 11th, 2001; the day the World Trade Center fell to the ground and the Pentagon was attacked. My beliefs are straight forward and strong.GOD Bless America, and GOD Bless Our Troops.
The original letter follows:
Like you, I am confounded by the senseless and horrific "attack of war" on our country. Both Lorena and I send our prayers to the families of the victims and to those who are experiencing direct consequences of the action.
During this time of turmoil and transition, I make an impassioned plea to professionals engaged in new home and neighborhood sales to offer your unyielding support to the nation in three ways.
First, in your prayers. Properly understood and applied, your prayers are the single most potent form of action you can take.
Second, offer your financial support to the disaster relief funds. Regardless of your financial situation, you cannot afford to miss the opportunity to contribute. Two places to start are with the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3433) and the Salvation Army at 1-877-RED-KETTLE (1-877-733-5388). A Web site providing links to organizations that have established a Sept. 11 Fund and to a variety of resources is www.helping.org.
Finally, go straight to work and sell.
Red Motley is famous for having said, "Nothing happens until a sale takes place."
Think about that. The salesperson sells cars, tractors, radios, televisions, refrigerators, computers, homes, health and leisure products, ambition and fulfillment. By knocking on doors, answering phones, responding to questions, and demonstrating products and services, he or she enriches billions of lives. Without salespeople, there would be no American ships at sea, no busy factories and no jobs. Everywhere they go, they leave people better off.
If we were to stop selling, someone would stop buying. If someone stops buying, then someone else stops making. When someone stops making, someone stops earning. And when people stop earning, they stop buying.
So you see, as a salesperson, you are very important to the productivity and success of this country. In addition to that, nothing happens for your company until you sell a home or a home site in your community. When you do, everyone — from the stockholders, to the president, to the support staff, to your own customer — benefits from your sale. At the same time, you flip on a switch activating factories across the world that determines the entire direction of the economy.
In 1997, an article in Forbes magazine included these calculated statistics: The average American salesperson keeps 33 men and women at work — 33 people producing that one product — and is responsible for the livelihood of approximately 130 people.
Every economic indicator makes reference to the level of sales in a particular company or industry. Our stock market and price indexes center around the goods and services being sold at any given time, and you — as a community salesperson — help fuel the entire social and economic process.
As trite as this may sound — you have a massive responsibility to go straight to work. Only this time, not just for your personal goals, but as a contributor to this magnificent nation.
Our free enterprise system is part of what makes this country strong. Like many of our other freedoms, it has been threatened — but not thwarted. We will not be deterred from focusing on our goals and accomplishing our purposes individually and as a nation.
As psychologists are telling us, returning to a routine in the aftermath of a tragedy provides solace to others and aids the healing process. So, give what you can — do what you can — and get back to work.
Be productive. Set an example. Exhibit hope. The discovery of a new America is before us and our course is far from run.
"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where you stand as in the direction you are moving. To reach the part of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
God Bless America and Your Efforts,
Myers Barnes
Myers Barnes Associates
