At a get-together party for some of the nation's top manufacturing and retailing executives, a highly successful sales manager predicted glowing possibilities of increased business for the next twelve months. The rather gloomy vice-president of another firm chided him severely and asserted in a mournful voice that no matter how national and international affairs went, a slight recession was inevitable. He droned on unhappily at some length, concluding, "Our firm has planned for a 5 percent decrease in sales."

"From the way you've laid your plans," the target of his talk replied, "I think you'll make it."

-- Merrill Marshall