G.L. has a great post over at What Would Dad Say where he references a sales book from 1922 titled Modern Salesmanship. Here is the pull quote:
Believe in Your Price
When a man ask the price, you’ve got him interested. But the attitude of your answer largely depends the sale. Too many salesmen quote their price in fear and trembling—in their own inmost heart they feel it is too high.
And the commonest remark in a buyer’s mouth is, “Price is too high. I can buy the same thing for less money.” Pity the salesman who feels that the buyer is right. He’s going to lose the sale or his self-respect if he cuts the price.
If you feel that the price of the article you sell is too high—either convince yourself that it isn’t—or get another job.
But look at it squarely.
What a tremendous turn of phrase that last sentence is – “look at it squarely.” There is much truth in that short excerpt.