I'M AT THE OFFICE AT 6 O'CLOCK etc., etc.
 

I was asked by a friend of mine to meet, at lunch, with the Vice President of Sales of a large packaging company----a company specializing in the protection of industrial and commercial economic goods being shipped from one destination to another by air, ship, or truck. The VP wanted to know if I could help his company gain aerospace business in Southern California and that we would work out some kind of compensation.

I told the gentleman I could do it and knew exactly where to start with any number of companies.

Well, time moved on; nothing happened. About the third time we met he finally told me he was having a hard time selling his thought to the president of the company. I said, "Give me his name and number! I'll call him!"

I did just that! When he answered my call and determined who I was he said, in his habitually irritable (I found out) voice, "I'm 78 years old and I've been in this business for 55 years and I'm here at 6 o'clock every morning and I don't need some young ex-pilot telling me how I can do my business. Grumble! Grumble"  I said, "Yes, Sir. Thank you for taking my call. I wish you well. Have a nice day." And then I gracefully hung up!

I got up at 3 o'clock the next morning. Southern California was taking a hell of a beating from heavy rain and strong winds. I showered, shaved, dressed, put on my raincoat and hat, went to my car and headed for an address of an old warehouse in southeast industrial LA. I found it at 5:20AM; I also found an open doughnut shop.

At 5:50AM I was standing under a small awning in the light of a one bulb lamp at the front entrance of the JOHNSON PACKAGING COMPANY. The doughnuts were covered by my hunched up body and raincoat. I must have looked like a chilly Sam Spade.

And damn if at five after 6:AM a four door chauffer driven Pontiac didn't pull up, (a little slowly after he saw me) stop, and a man jumped out of the left front door, hurried to the rear door and helped an elderly man out of the car and proceed to the front door. We looked at each. I raised my left arm, moved it forward under the light, looked at my watch, and said, "Gee, Mr. Johnson, you do get here at 6 o'clock. I'm Jack Simpson! I've got the fresh doughnuts under my coat if you have the coffee!"

I could see he was stunned---overcome by paralyzing astonishment. No one had ever done this to him. I followed him through the door---even helped him with his coat, and proceeded with him to the coffee maker.  He finally spoke. "OK, he said. How much time can you spend and what's it gonna cost me?"

I spent almost three successful business years with what turned out to be a very nice man. He told me when he retired, "I will never forget the nerve of you meeting me at the front door."

He said it with a smile.