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True story: after I graduated college, I had trouble figuring out what to do next, as you do. I didn't want to "work" work, I wanted something different.
So, I tried selling vacuum cleaners door to door.
Not just any vacuum cleaners, no, $2,000 ones.
In Oklahoma.
So, I tried selling vacuum cleaners door to door.
Not just any vacuum cleaners, no, $2,000 ones.
In Oklahoma.
Now, there is very big money in Oklahoma-oil money. But oil money doesn't buy vacuum cleaners, it has servants to handle all that. So, we humble salesmen would drive fruitlessly around the greater Tulsa area-Bixby, Broken Arrow, even as far as Claremore.
Selling to poor folks.
Selling to poor folks.
I grew up relatively poor, with most people arround me really poor. Kids with no shoes poor.
And, folks, I could not do it. I'd go to appointments and do the spiel, and be like "listen, it is a nice vacuum, and I'll gladly demo it for you, but, well, it's two thousand bucks."
And, folks, I could not do it. I'd go to appointments and do the spiel, and be like "listen, it is a nice vacuum, and I'll gladly demo it for you, but, well, it's two thousand bucks."
And they'd laugh, and we'd chat, and I'd drive off wondering how on earth anyone ever sold these things.
A couple of weeks went by, and the guy in charge of our office was like, "Listen, Jim, you need some help. Why not go out with Willy?" (Don't remember his name, but it'll do).
A couple of weeks went by, and the guy in charge of our office was like, "Listen, Jim, you need some help. Why not go out with Willy?" (Don't remember his name, but it'll do).
Willy was gray. Gray hair, gray moustache, gray. And he was a closer. Lead sales like a boss. So, perfect guy to show me the ropes.
First day with Larry, I have to sit in the back of his car because the front is filled with tapes: motivational stuff, sales talk, Tony Robbins...
First day with Larry, I have to sit in the back of his car because the front is filled with tapes: motivational stuff, sales talk, Tony Robbins...
The back was full of books in the same vein.
And Willy SOLD. He got names on the line that was dotted. And he did it by lying, smooth as butter.
"This thing will pay for itself in carpet cleaning bills."
"The resale value never goes down."
Lies, but not damned ones.
And Willy SOLD. He got names on the line that was dotted. And he did it by lying, smooth as butter.
"This thing will pay for itself in carpet cleaning bills."
"The resale value never goes down."
Lies, but not damned ones.
And he did it 10 hours a day, six days a week.
No wonder he lead the sales team.
He also didn't care how many of those goddamned vacuum cleaners eventually got repossessed, or how many people ruined their credit over them.
I very quickly learned to hate that son of a bitch.
No wonder he lead the sales team.
He also didn't care how many of those goddamned vacuum cleaners eventually got repossessed, or how many people ruined their credit over them.
I very quickly learned to hate that son of a bitch.
I quit even trying pretty soon after that. There's more I could talk about--the preacher who ran the office and his bag of dirty trucks...
But, anyway, I never got a single sale, and I am glad of it.
Fuck "selling."
If something is good, all you need to do is let people know.
But, anyway, I never got a single sale, and I am glad of it.
Fuck "selling."
If something is good, all you need to do is let people know.
