ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — He stood in the GTE annual meeting holding a well-prepared manuscript typed by his wife, and readied to tell the story of his first sale for the company's marketing department.

He earned this place of prestige selling a switchboard to Ridgewood Groves in Seminole on his first day. His first day.

His boss encouraged him to explain how he crafted the deal at the meeting. A salesman talking sales. Sounds simple, right?

Emmett Clary says he can't remember a single word he uttered that night. Not one.

"I got up there in front of the group and my hands were shaking like t...