When I became the sales mgr in Houston, 1983...being new to the office, I found that my team did not always ask for a written purchase order for their contracts...big ones, trusting the word and handshake of their customers...good old boy Texas style.

I also found the Houston office had the highest in unpaid invoices for the country...i wonder why....disputes.....nothing in writing, so I put a stop to it.

In closing a major contract, after my new policy, I asked the contractor for a confirming P.O. be faxed to my office. He says, "Why Son, I'm a Man of GOD, you can trust my word".....so I said, "if GOD was giving me this contract, I expect him to fax me a confirming PO".

The guy was stunned at this boy from So .CA asking for something in writing...."Why young Man, what is it about me you dont trust?"....so I sprung my motto on him, shook his hand saying im going back to my office to check the fax maching. I'll be there in 30 minutes.

The PO was sitting on my desk when I arrived.

Yup, gonna have lots of friends...lmao....