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Sheep

Which is more important - courtship or closing the deal?

The family farm was in trouble.

Because of foul weather, they had several years of bad crops. Little by little, they reluctantly sold off equipment, land, and livestock. Once a thriving business, all that remained was the farmhouse and a small herd of sheep in a big echoey barn.

The farmer was way too proud to ask for help. So, it was his wife, knowing that she needed to take a chance, who decided to ask a neighbor for assistance. She confided in the neighbor that all they had left was a small collection of ewes. There were no rams to make lambs.

They'd done everything they could. And now, she didn't know what else to do. With only ten female sheep, there was no way to grow the herd. The ewes didn't produce enough wool to put food on the table, never mind to pay the taxes. It was a shear disaster.

It Had to Be Ewe

The friend and neighbor heard her story, listening to her concerns and her fears. When the farmer's wife was through, the neighbor said, "I don't know if it will work, but I have an idea. Here's what you need to do.

Tomorrow morning, load the dams [another name for female sheep- think damsels] into the back of your truck. Bring them over to my farm and I will introduce them to my rams. Your dams can come a courtin'. You don't have to tell your husband if you think it will make him mad. I can ask him if he can help me bring some of my vegetables to the farmer's market. That will keep him busy for a few hours."

The next morning, her husband left early to go help his neighbor. As soon as his truck lumbered out of the yard, the farmer's wife pulled on her boots and headed for the pen. She loaded the dams into the truck and carefully locked the tailgate. The truck sputtered and then roared. The girls were on their way.

Sheep Being Sheep

When they arrived at the neighbor's farm, the wife and the neighbor's oldest son carefully unloaded the ewes into the pen with the boys. They let them "do their thing" and not really needing to watch this, they went off to have a cup of coffee. After a bit of sheep being sheep, they loaded them back into the truck wagging their tails behind them and brought the dams home.

After about two weeks, she started watching the ewes closely to see if any of them were pregnant. Seeing no signs of little lambs in the oven, the wife had the vet come over. One by one, the vet examined the wooly creatures. She came over to the fence to tell the wife what she found. It turns out that not a single ewe was pregnant!

The wife called the neighbor and asked what she should do. The neighbor said, "Bring them over on Thursday. I'll make arrangements to entertain your husband."

On Thursday morning, they went through the same routine. The girls were willingly herded into the back of the truck. The farmer's wife locked the tailgate, got into the cab and made her way over to the neighbor's. Once again, the dams were loaded into the pen with the rams. Somehow, the wife couldn't put her finger on it, but they seemed a little more familiar this time. She was optimistic.

This time she decided to keep a closer watch on them. Sure enough, they were doing what nature intended.

Feeling somewhat relieved, she let them continue for about half an hour.

Two weeks later, she watched them closely to see if any were with lamb. Again, seeing no signs, she called the vet. Once again, the vet closely examined the mini-herd. Once again, the doc delivered the bad news. Not a single ewe was pregnant!!

She called the neighbor, ready to give in, sensing that the family farm was nearly lost. "Tomorrow," he pleaded. "Pleease." He convinced her to try it one more time. "OK, fine. One more time." She reluctantly agreed.

The next morning, the routine started again. Her husband left as planned. Before she could get her boots on, she heard a commotion out by the pen. She heard a loud noise. She looked out. She was amazed at what she saw.

All but one of the dams were already in the baaack of the truck and the one remaining dam, obviously the leader of the pack was on the front seat of the truck wailing away relentlessly on the horn.

Marketing Moral

Marketing is not always about getting pregnant (i.e., getting a check from the client). Sometimes it's just about having fun (and having a good story to tell).

Don't stress yourself out about signing the deal. Kick back a bit, listen to your client/prospect, start on the relationship and the marriage will happen if it's meant to be.

So get in the truck, beep the horn, and let the good times roll!

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