Bunhill: Sales gag

GEORGE DUDLEY and Shannon Goodson, a pair of US psychologists who teach sales staff how to counter stress, have put it all into a book called Earning What You're Worth? And a pretty weird volume it is, too.

To demonstrate the impact our senses have on how we feel, it offers this sort of home exercise: for the next few seconds, just think about eating a bad oyster, and read the following text aloud, slowly. 'The putrid, green morsel slides from its half-shell into my open mouth. To my surprise it feels warmer than room temperature, not cool as I expected. As I bite down, starting to chew, I realise it lacks consistency. It has turned into a foul, slimy liquid.'

Nervous and tense now? Try a spot of self-flagellation or 'rapid-fire neck-slapping' to take your mind off things. But 'use the soft underside of your fingers. Don't make a fist.' Before you mock, be advised the book is a bestseller in the US and a three-day seminar by the duo in this country was well-attended by staff from the likes of ICL and British Airways, which paid good money to send them along.

IS that the Christopher Heath on the share register of Chance Holdings, the entertainment and marketing group? Yes it is. The man once dubbed Britain's highest-paid executive, who recently left Barings, his City employer, has taken a big stake in Andrew Chance's company.

The founder of the Chance Band, a five-man combo that thrilled debs in the 1970s and '80s, Chance has moved backstage, organising events for City firms and the Royal Family. (Chance Holdings arranged the Buckingham Palace combined birthday ball for the Queen Mum's 90th, Princess Margaret's 60th, Princess Anne's 40th and Prince Andrew's 30th.)

Three years ago, Chance met Heath, who took a fancy to his business and is now a large shareholder, along with the Duke of Roxburghe. 'Christopher has provided some excellent introductions,' said Chance, enigmatically.