What I Learned From Reading ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’

[Joachim]

“Who is of so little faith that in a moment of great disaster or heartbreak has not called to his God? Who has not cried out when confronted with danger, death, or mystery beyond his normal experience or comprehension? From where has this deep instinct come which escapes from the mouth of all living creatures in moments of peril?”

Five years ago, when I spent two months in the hospital because of a spontaneous pneumothorax (a collapsed lung), I read “The Greatest Salesman in the World” (1968), from which I quote above. Its author, Og Mandino, has written several books that I’ve read, but this one I especially enjoyed. It focuses on leadership skills, but it also teaches character building and humility. That’s my takeaway.

While absorbing the book’s knowledge, I started practicing some of its principles of character building. This wasn’t the first book I’d read on the subject. Back in the ’80s, I took the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations course. At that time, I was selling high-end video production systems, and this course was mandatory for me and the sales reps I worked with.

I’ll admit it was difficult to start “Greatest Salesman” while I was worrying about my health and trying to get back to my normal. I finally bit the bullet and started reading, and Mandino’s words began to make sense to me.

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“Greatest Salesman” taught me that much depends on how we talk to people and not so much on what we have to say. I remember addressing every nurse as “Ms. (insert name).” Even though they insisted I call them by their first name, I always addressed them properly.

And that led to results. After a few days, for instance, I noticed that the nurses were coming by more often to check on me. I even developed an awesome rapport with the housekeeper, Ms. Marylyn. Every day before she took her lunch break, she would stop by and ask if I wanted anything from the outside world. On occasion, she brought me my favorite wonton or egg drop soup, and she sometimes played my lottery numbers: small vices for a cooperative patient.

When the day of my release finally came, I think everyone had teary eyes. All of the nurses came by to wish me well, and they gave me a card and a lung-shaped pillow. Each of them told me how much they enjoyed having me as a patient. I guess I learned more than I thought while reading.

I can’t believe five years have passed.

Some things have changed, and some things have remained the same. I’ve learned that pulmonary sarcoidosis has changed me in a positive way. This condition has taught me empathy, humility, and patience. This journey has also taught me about those in my life who need to learn those lessons.

I’ve learned a lot from living with sarcoidosis — primarily, not to take any day for granted. Each new day I’m blessed with is an opportunity to improve on the day before. Whether I’m exercising at the gym, cooking, or enjoying life, I have to do something; anything productive improves my condition. I don’t have the luxury of complaining.

I posted the book excerpt that leads this column on Facebook five years ago, on my first Thanksgiving after my two months in the hospital. I forgot all about it until recently, when the post showed up in my Facebook memories. I’m thankful that I got another chance to see it after all of these years.

I need to reread that book to remind myself of the lessons I learned. The bigger task is to put those lessons to work.

Over the past five years, I’ve had various health challenges related to sarcoidosis that I’m able to talk about. These challenges have become my testimony. We all have a testimony, so don’t be afraid to offer it. My spirit, and yours, are bigger than sarcoidosis.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” — Philippians 3:13 (King James Version)

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