We all have to discover our niche. I wasn't very successful at in-home sales. But I loved selling to businesses and did well at it. If I had not had that interview, I probably would have given up on sales. It changed my whole attitude. The sales came and my confidence blossomed. Thanks for continuing to read and comment, Ira.
Selling on straight commission really built my confidence and motivated me to start my own business. As you say, I was motivated by circumstances, but the understanding I got from the numbers game made all the difference. I appreciate your comments and support, Ron.
Great points all around. Selling anything is one of the most difficult things to do on the planet. You seem like one of the rare ones K.C., you like it and you're good at it.
I stunk in the beginning, but the numbers game set me on fire. Selling is like any other trade; no matter where you go you can find employment. Outside commission sales gave me a lot of freedom, too. Thanks for reading and commenting, Marty. I appreciate the support.
Wow, that's something I needed to hear. The fear of failure truly has the power to paralyze a person and dupe them into thinking, "I can't fail if I don't do anything." Treating failure as a necessary building block of success is such a game changer. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, K.C.! This was a very inspiring read for me!
I'm pleased you found it inspiring, Christopher. That interview changed my life. Suddenly I was in charge of my success. By the way, a year later that Regional Manager and I had both quit the company and formed a successful partnership that lasted five years. I always look forward to hearing from you, Christopher. Thank you for the support and encouragement.
This was a great way to put things in perspective, K.C. Having worked a number of sales jobs over the years, this kind of working takes a certain backbone. Whether it's doors being slammed in your face or phones hung up, you just have to keep going. You have to keep showing up. Failure eventually leads to success as long as you keep trying.
The thing that changed for me was I quit thinking of those no's as failures. They became successes because without them there would be no sales. Thank you for commenting. I appreciate your support.
I also like the numbers game. It takes the pressure off quite a bit. I like how you broke down your thought process here. With the numbers game, it's all about doing the work and the results will come. It's work but you do get results which keeps pushing you forward. I've thought of a way to do the numbers game on Substack. Maybe I should email every reader and try to sell my work. Hehe. I did a little of that on X and I did get results. Who knows? Perhaps life is a numbers game. If you encounter hundreds of people, results will follow. Awesome post, KC.
The numbers game changed how I viewed the work. I thought selling was the work, but the numbers game taught me that making calls was the work. Sales were the result. So every call became a win whether I sold or not. I was doing the work and succeeding. You picked up on this in your comment. You can apply this to book sales and to writing. Writing is the work. If I don't write because I'm afraid it won't be good enough, I will never have a finished piece. If I write because that is the work, I will find the words and produce a story, poem, essay, or article. Thank you for the encouraging and thoughtful comment, Parker. I appreciate your feedback.
I think it was smart policy to tell the prospective salesperson up-front that the number of rejections would far exceed the number of sales. That takes the pressure off, as you said. Not all leads are good ones, especially if cold-calling. I enjoyed this one today, KC.
The numbers game turned me into a productive cold caller, knocking on doors, sometimes calling on the phone. I never had leads except those I picked up through networking but that was later in my career. Experience taught me that someone who didn't buy the first time, might buy later when their circumstances had changed. So I made a habit of calling back on good prospects. I'm pleased you enjoyed this post, Jim. That always makes my day.
Great information, Ken. I always thought, and admired, those who could sell. If they sold one thing, they could sell anything. They seemed to have a knack for it. And were extroverts. I remember when I was a kid trying to sell holiday cards in my neighborhood. I definitely lacked the knack. : )
Thank you for sharing your experience, Ron, and for restacking my post. I appreciate the support. I never thought I would sell for a living. I tried selling holiday cards as a kid, too. Total failure. I'm no extrovert, either. Sales opportunities paid more than other entry level positions for which I could qualify. As it turned out, outside sales suited me well. I don't really like someone telling me what to do. In outside sales, I am in charge of my day even though I work for someone. I decide where I will work that day and who I will call on. Selling on commission, I earn based on my production. The more I produce, the more I earn. I liked that. Eventually, I started my own businesses and worked for myself, still earning based on my production and profit margins. The numbers game made sales fun for me.
The opening paragraph effectively sets the tone for this piece. Entering an interview while facing a house closing in ten days, expecting a newborn, and having quit two jobs already adds emotional depth. It elevates what might be a straightforward business lesson about the 'numbers game' into a human narrative of desperation turning into steady confidence. The stark contrast between the supervisor's critical oversight in previous roles and the liberation found in trusting a statistical principle is particularly compelling.
Thank you for the thoughtful review of my post, Jay. I'm pleased with your assessment and appreciate the time you took to write it. I'm not sure I would have continued in sales if I hadn't gained an understanding of the numbers game.
You’re very welcome, K.C. I was glad to restack it. What stood out to me was how you made the “numbers game” feel human rather than abstract. It wasn’t just a sales principle—it was a turning point in a season when the stakes were very real. That made the lesson land with a lot more weight.
I can see why understanding that principle helped you keep going. Sometimes the right framework does more than improve our work; it gives us enough steadiness to stay in the arena.
That says everything, K.C. A principle that can keep a person in the arena for forty-six years is more than a sales technique—it becomes a working philosophy. That’s what made your piece land so well. You weren’t just explaining the numbers game; you were showing how it gave you the steadiness to keep showing up.
Fascinating, KC. I'd never thought of sales in this way. Although, I have to say, that receiving rejection letters from editors always felt like a kind of victory for me. At least the editors had the courtesy to reply and often included encouraging words. And it proved to me that I was out there, actively working on getting published. Rejection letters don't have to be a negative thing, for what it is worth. Great writing, cousin.
The first few days in the field after that interview, I acted a bit cocky and became a little obnoxious with my closes. I settled down after that. Rejections of my writing have never bothered me because I understand that it is a very subjective process. Thank you for your insightful comments, Cousin. I appreciate your support and encouragement.
A realistic look at what it takes to sell. I was in a “Party Plan” jewelry sales job once. I loved the product, and that helped. The idea was to encourage ladies (it was the 70’s, and gender roles were set) to have parties, like Tupperware, but the product was upscale costume jewelry. It was fun! I made manager, after a while, and did it until I had my second baby. I did a lot of door-knocking, and it always payed off, in numbers. I love your story, K.C.! It is an interesting, and candid, look at selling.
It's kind of like panning for gold: move enough sand and rock and the nuggets appear. Liking the product is essential. I sold Saladmaster stainless steel, greaseless, waterless cookware for a couple of years. I recruited hostesses and cooked dinners for four couples. I was fun, but I never really liked selling in the home. I excelled at selling to businesses. Sounds like you had a knack for selling in the home. It does not surprise me. You seem to have the personality for it. Thank you for sharing your experience, Sharon.
Hi KC. Nicely done. A clear, concise, a cut-to-the-chase.
I once took a stab at "selling";
it was in a retail sport diving shop in San Diego.
The owner gave me a quick tutorial:
"It's easy"!
"Ninety eight percent of people who enter the store want to 'buy'"!
"They want YOU to make the decision (to buy) for them"!
"You learn the product!"
"You develop enthusiasm for the product."
"You transfer your enthusiasm to the customer"
I never got the hang of it.
There was one occasion
on which someone came in
and spent a couple thousand with me,
but it was THEIR doing, not mine,
that made the sale.
I thought, for a day,
that maybe I had found my mojo.
NOPE!
Then I decided to go to vocational school.
AND, the rest, as they say, is history!
We all have to discover our niche. I wasn't very successful at in-home sales. But I loved selling to businesses and did well at it. If I had not had that interview, I probably would have given up on sales. It changed my whole attitude. The sales came and my confidence blossomed. Thanks for continuing to read and comment, Ira.
I love it, K.C.! Anything that demystifies success and failure. Kudos to you for stepping out. (sometimes there are motivating forces as well!)
Selling on straight commission really built my confidence and motivated me to start my own business. As you say, I was motivated by circumstances, but the understanding I got from the numbers game made all the difference. I appreciate your comments and support, Ron.
Great points all around. Selling anything is one of the most difficult things to do on the planet. You seem like one of the rare ones K.C., you like it and you're good at it.
I stunk in the beginning, but the numbers game set me on fire. Selling is like any other trade; no matter where you go you can find employment. Outside commission sales gave me a lot of freedom, too. Thanks for reading and commenting, Marty. I appreciate the support.
Wow, that's something I needed to hear. The fear of failure truly has the power to paralyze a person and dupe them into thinking, "I can't fail if I don't do anything." Treating failure as a necessary building block of success is such a game changer. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, K.C.! This was a very inspiring read for me!
I'm pleased you found it inspiring, Christopher. That interview changed my life. Suddenly I was in charge of my success. By the way, a year later that Regional Manager and I had both quit the company and formed a successful partnership that lasted five years. I always look forward to hearing from you, Christopher. Thank you for the support and encouragement.
It's amazing how one thing led to another! I always enjoy reading your true stories just as much as your fiction pieces. Wishing you all the best!
This was a great way to put things in perspective, K.C. Having worked a number of sales jobs over the years, this kind of working takes a certain backbone. Whether it's doors being slammed in your face or phones hung up, you just have to keep going. You have to keep showing up. Failure eventually leads to success as long as you keep trying.
The thing that changed for me was I quit thinking of those no's as failures. They became successes because without them there would be no sales. Thank you for commenting. I appreciate your support.
I also like the numbers game. It takes the pressure off quite a bit. I like how you broke down your thought process here. With the numbers game, it's all about doing the work and the results will come. It's work but you do get results which keeps pushing you forward. I've thought of a way to do the numbers game on Substack. Maybe I should email every reader and try to sell my work. Hehe. I did a little of that on X and I did get results. Who knows? Perhaps life is a numbers game. If you encounter hundreds of people, results will follow. Awesome post, KC.
The numbers game changed how I viewed the work. I thought selling was the work, but the numbers game taught me that making calls was the work. Sales were the result. So every call became a win whether I sold or not. I was doing the work and succeeding. You picked up on this in your comment. You can apply this to book sales and to writing. Writing is the work. If I don't write because I'm afraid it won't be good enough, I will never have a finished piece. If I write because that is the work, I will find the words and produce a story, poem, essay, or article. Thank you for the encouraging and thoughtful comment, Parker. I appreciate your feedback.
I think it was smart policy to tell the prospective salesperson up-front that the number of rejections would far exceed the number of sales. That takes the pressure off, as you said. Not all leads are good ones, especially if cold-calling. I enjoyed this one today, KC.
The numbers game turned me into a productive cold caller, knocking on doors, sometimes calling on the phone. I never had leads except those I picked up through networking but that was later in my career. Experience taught me that someone who didn't buy the first time, might buy later when their circumstances had changed. So I made a habit of calling back on good prospects. I'm pleased you enjoyed this post, Jim. That always makes my day.
Great information, Ken. I always thought, and admired, those who could sell. If they sold one thing, they could sell anything. They seemed to have a knack for it. And were extroverts. I remember when I was a kid trying to sell holiday cards in my neighborhood. I definitely lacked the knack. : )
Thank you for sharing your experience, Ron, and for restacking my post. I appreciate the support. I never thought I would sell for a living. I tried selling holiday cards as a kid, too. Total failure. I'm no extrovert, either. Sales opportunities paid more than other entry level positions for which I could qualify. As it turned out, outside sales suited me well. I don't really like someone telling me what to do. In outside sales, I am in charge of my day even though I work for someone. I decide where I will work that day and who I will call on. Selling on commission, I earn based on my production. The more I produce, the more I earn. I liked that. Eventually, I started my own businesses and worked for myself, still earning based on my production and profit margins. The numbers game made sales fun for me.
The opening paragraph effectively sets the tone for this piece. Entering an interview while facing a house closing in ten days, expecting a newborn, and having quit two jobs already adds emotional depth. It elevates what might be a straightforward business lesson about the 'numbers game' into a human narrative of desperation turning into steady confidence. The stark contrast between the supervisor's critical oversight in previous roles and the liberation found in trusting a statistical principle is particularly compelling.
Thank you for restacking my post, Jay. I appreciate your support.
Thank you for the thoughtful review of my post, Jay. I'm pleased with your assessment and appreciate the time you took to write it. I'm not sure I would have continued in sales if I hadn't gained an understanding of the numbers game.
You’re very welcome, K.C. I was glad to restack it. What stood out to me was how you made the “numbers game” feel human rather than abstract. It wasn’t just a sales principle—it was a turning point in a season when the stakes were very real. That made the lesson land with a lot more weight.
I can see why understanding that principle helped you keep going. Sometimes the right framework does more than improve our work; it gives us enough steadiness to stay in the arena.
Thank you, Jay. It kept me in the arena another forty-six years.
That says everything, K.C. A principle that can keep a person in the arena for forty-six years is more than a sales technique—it becomes a working philosophy. That’s what made your piece land so well. You weren’t just explaining the numbers game; you were showing how it gave you the steadiness to keep showing up.
Fascinating, KC. I'd never thought of sales in this way. Although, I have to say, that receiving rejection letters from editors always felt like a kind of victory for me. At least the editors had the courtesy to reply and often included encouraging words. And it proved to me that I was out there, actively working on getting published. Rejection letters don't have to be a negative thing, for what it is worth. Great writing, cousin.
The first few days in the field after that interview, I acted a bit cocky and became a little obnoxious with my closes. I settled down after that. Rejections of my writing have never bothered me because I understand that it is a very subjective process. Thank you for your insightful comments, Cousin. I appreciate your support and encouragement.
A realistic look at what it takes to sell. I was in a “Party Plan” jewelry sales job once. I loved the product, and that helped. The idea was to encourage ladies (it was the 70’s, and gender roles were set) to have parties, like Tupperware, but the product was upscale costume jewelry. It was fun! I made manager, after a while, and did it until I had my second baby. I did a lot of door-knocking, and it always payed off, in numbers. I love your story, K.C.! It is an interesting, and candid, look at selling.
It's kind of like panning for gold: move enough sand and rock and the nuggets appear. Liking the product is essential. I sold Saladmaster stainless steel, greaseless, waterless cookware for a couple of years. I recruited hostesses and cooked dinners for four couples. I was fun, but I never really liked selling in the home. I excelled at selling to businesses. Sounds like you had a knack for selling in the home. It does not surprise me. You seem to have the personality for it. Thank you for sharing your experience, Sharon.
This was really interesting. Twenty calls a day! In my mind, that's a lot, but you did it.
Sales has never been a part of my work experience, and that's probably because I don't have the confidence in my ability to sell that you do.