A young sales rep and his trusty pen set out to help healthcare heroes – one order, one smile and one patient at a time.
Editor’s note: Ever wondered how to explain the work you do to your kids? The team at Repertoire has created a series of short stories you can read to your children (or grandchildren) to help them better understand the work you do, and why it is so important.
Max Carter was not your average 12-year-old.
While other kids were thinking about what game to play after school, Max was getting ready for another day visiting doctor’s offices. In his backpack were product catalogs, notepads, and his best helper – a shiny blue pen named Scout.
Scout stretched with a yawn.
“Another day to write lots of orders!” Scout said.
Max laughed. “Maybe.”
Scout looked surprised. “Maybe? Isn’t that what we always do?”
Max smiled. “Today we’re doing something even more important.”
Scout tilted his cap. “More important than writing orders? Now I’m curious.”
Friends first
Their first stop was Green Valley Family Practice.
The waiting room was busy. Phones rang. Nurses hurried from room to room.
At the front desk, Maria smiled when she saw Max.
“Good morning, Max!” she said. “How was your weekend?”
“It was great!” Max replied. “My soccer team finally won a game. How about your daughter’s dance recital?”
Maria beamed. “She loved every minute of it.”
Scout whispered, “When are we going to talk about supplies?”
Max quietly replied, “Just watch.”
A few minutes later, Nurse Jamie walked by.
“Max!” she said. “Thanks for checking on us. Things have been so busy lately.”
“I can see that,” Max said. “Is there anything making your job harder?”
Jamie thought for a moment.
“You know,” she said, “we’ve been opening boxes of exam gloves all day. If there were an easier way to keep them stocked in every room, it would save us time.”
Max nodded. He listened carefully.
Listening makes a difference
Max thanked Jamie for sharing her idea.
Before leaving, he waved goodbye to Maria and the rest of the office staff.
As they walked to the parking lot, Scout finally asked, “So … we didn’t get a lot of orders today.”
“Nope,” Max said.
“Weren’t you disappointed?”
Max shook his head. “Not at all. Today we learned what matters most to them. When people know you care, they trust you.”
Scout thought about that. “So being a good sales rep isn’t just about selling supplies.”
“Exactly,” Max said. “It’s about building friendships, listening and helping people solve problems.”
Scout smiled. “I guess the best thing we wrote today wasn’t an order.”
“What was it?” Max asked.
“A stronger friendship.”
Max clipped Scout back onto his shirt.
“Ready for our next stop?”
Scout grinned. “Absolutely. Let’s go make some more friends.”