Me and Artist Peter Max, making a $25K investment turn into $500K in gifts to the Data General sales force.

After I ran for the US Congress (and lost), Data General hired me to do advertising and "special projects." My literary agent also represented famous artist Peter Max, and we did a $25,000 deal with him.

He delivered an original piece of artwork, with 250 signed and numbered prints for awards to the Data General sales force. I told the recipients that they could hold the art prints for one year, and then donate them to schools and libraries after getting them appraised. The art prints appraised at over $2000 each, and that gave the sales guys (all high-income/high-tax-bracket people) a great tax write-off. The company had the option of donating the original at a much higher price, getting the same tax write-off.

I say "To heck with gold pens and special wristwatches. Give your high-performing salespeople something of REAL value."

As I was exiting Data General and heading to Silicon Valley, I did another art deal with Peter Max. The first year went over really well with people.

Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man