“Rantings of a Machine Tool Salesman” to Be Released During IMTS 2018

Scott Walker, chairman of Mitsui Seiki USA Inc., has written a book, Rantings of a Machine Tool Salesman, to be made available on Amazon during the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). The book is described as a sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes sentimental collection of the author’s favorite selections taken from bi-weekly newsletters that he included in his employees’ paycheck envelopes over the past 20 years. Topics range from the highs and lows of sales calls, balance sheets, holidays, winning and losing orders, hobbies, manufacturing technology, and business travel.

“It’s about the business of selling machine tools, through my filter, so there’s plenty of philosophy, inspiration and wine tossed in,” says Mr. Walker.

Mr. Walker will be signing books during IMTS on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 11-13, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Mitsui Seiki’s booth (338519). The book will also be available on Amazon beginning September 11 for $23.00, which includes tax and a contribution to charity.

“I never planned on writing a book,” says Mr. Walker. “As a dyslexic growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, before the condition was addressed in the school system, I avoided reading and writing and didn’t study much. What I did was listen and talk and memorize my way through school.” He explains that “something clicked” after getting into oil painting, whereupon reading and writing became much easier. This led to an avid reading and writing regimen. Mr. Walker’s work-journal-cum-newsletter became a 20-year long habit and ultimately the basis for this book.