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If Napoleon were living today he would want to be a salesman. He would be attracted by the quick reward and the opportunities the work offers for generalship and initiative.

He would soon single himself out from the crowd, just as he did at Toulon, by doing things which the “Old Timers” said couldn’t be done. Saturday would probably be his biggest day ? because on that day his competitors would be off their guard.

He would succeed in a big way because he would plan his sales interviews, just as he planned his battles, the night before. One of his grenadiers said of him at Arcola: “He wins his battles by making us use our legs where we used to use our muskets.”

If he had a certain man to sell, he would find out all he could about that man, just as he spent months studying the Alpine country before leading his army to Italy. He would know exactly what the buyer’s problem was. He would have the battle won in his own mind, before he entered the prospect’s office. Nothing would be left to happen chance.

After he had won success, he would probably let it slip from him by being over-ambitious. He would not be content to climb the ladder, one rung at a time, but would scheme to get there in one jump. And he would fail, just as every salesman fails who lets his ambition run away with his judgment.