Dear Gramps
My husband is a sales rep for ultrasound equipment. As you know he works strictly on commission. My sister recently phoned and passed on a phone number of a private practice that is in the market for a new ultra sound machine. Now my sister is asking for a “gift” if my husband is able to make a sale off her lead. My husband and myself and frankly the rest of my family believe my sister is way out of line and acting completely greedy. How do I deal with such greed?
Korena, from Boise, Idaho

Dear Korena,
This little set-to has the potential of tearing your whole family apart. If you try to find a way to set her straight for being so greedy, she may well try to find a way of setting you straight for being so selfish. Commissions are given to those who are hired to find work for a client, and a little gratuity would not be out of order if her lead brought some business your way. Then we come to the size of the gratuity. Were you to give her a gratuity for getting you the added business, she would judge you as being either stingy or generous, depending on the amount of the gratuity. Now we come to the nitty gritty. This is the measure of how much you value your sister’s good will. You could easily give her something, but the amount could be so small that anyone would consider it an insult. Or you could give her a rather generous amount and she would feel that you were very appreciate of her interest in your welfare. So the question is now turned to how she is going to judge your selfishness.
Gramps