I have a confession
I have a confession to make.
I was once…
A vacuum cleaner salesman.
Yes, it’s true, and I grimace even as I write these words.
I experienced some of the lowest points in my life trying to sell freaking vacuum cleaners.
I was not a natural. I hated it. I had this spiel I was supposed to go through, and at first, every time I did it, I just wanted to turn and run.
In fact, one of the lowest points in the whole affair (notice I said one of the lowest points) was when I was doing my demo for a young couple, and I was trying to make some light small talk.
Have you ever said something completely stupid to someone that you wish you could take back?
I stick my foot in my mouth
I noticed the woman had some bulge to her stomach, and without hesitation, I cheerfully asked, “So, when’s the baby?” with a big grin on my face.
“I’m not expecting,” she said flatly.
Blink. Blink.
At that moment, I pretty much wanted to just kill myself.
Time slowed to a cold, sluggish crawl. I could not just say, “Well, this is over with,” and just get up and leave. I went through the entire remainder of my demo, feeling ashen and queasy from how stupid I was. It was already over, and I was just going through the motions.
When it came to the point where I asked for the order,we already knew exactly what was going to happen. She just looked at me coldly, chin on hand, and with the faintest smile on her lips, she said, “No, I don’t think so.”
But then I turned it around
But the next day, it was all different. After a terrible day like the previous one, I just knew it had to be better. I had the feeling that I was going to kill it. I just knew it would result in a sale.
And that’s exactly what happened. It all went just it was supposed to: the couple loved the machine, and they liked me. I was just a nice man, earnestly showing them the cleaning power of the machine. Their faces were comic book caricatures of wonder and disgust at how well the machine worked and how dirty their carpet really was.
They bought one so eagerly, I probably should’ve asked them to buy two.
I got the sale… and a lifetime of lessons
To this day, I am still learning lessons from that surreal time in my life about selling, buying, psychology… and myself. I learned about throwing myself out there, making it happen… or not… depending on my frame of mind, my thoughts, my attitude.
It’s not that the machine wasn’t any good–it was. It’s not that I was telling lies–I wasn’t. The truth is, I really believed in that little machine. It was worse than that.
I was living the lie, because doing that for a job wasn’t really me. I really enjoy marketing and advertising, but I knew I was meant for something better than vacuum cleaner sales.
And now, when I think about my continuous personal evolution, I realize that what I’m trying to do is find my truth and live that. I’m trying to be my own truth, live my own truth.
Live your truth
And when you’re living your own truth, you’re no longer “selling.” You’re simply offering people your truth. You don’t need to “sell.”
The way I can talk about blogging and internet marketing non-stop without tiring could not happen if I was living a lie. People keep asking me for help, so I guess I’m doing something right. The more I understand about myself, and the more I bring what I do in alignment with who I am, the more amazing my results are.
When I look back on it, what I can now see so clearly is that how you feel and think about yourself determines a great deal of what “happens” to you. When it came to doing those demonstrations, giving the pitch, asking for the order, I would wonder: why did this one go so wrong and the other one work perfectly?
It wasn’t some magic formula in the words I said. It was my attitude and confidence, even before I set foot in the prospect’s home.
Ask the right questions
Even though people like to poke fun at him for being “Mr. Self Help,” or whatever, Tony Robbins said a really interesting thing in a video on his blog about what questions we ask ourselves. Often, they’re the wrong questions. If I asked, “How come I never make money online?” my mind would try to come up with the answer in a way that hurts, rather than helps. You never make money online because…
You see? The whole thing becomes a cycle of negative self-reinforcemement, because it started with the wrong question. Instead, ask, “What can I do to make more money online?”
I can talk about what you should do on your blog and on Twitter and all that, but outward tactics are hollow and will not fully succeed unless you’ve got your inner game figured out.
Scratch the surface to infinity
Scratch the surface, and you’ll find that attitudes, beliefs, and confidence have a lot to do with that. I’m not much of a “self-help” guy. I don’t read blogs or books on that stuff. Oddly enough, the more I learn about business, marketing, copywriting, and selling online, the more I learn about myself and what it takes to succeed.
I think the same can be said of nearly any pursuit. Take art, for example: does the artist make the painting, or does the painting “make” the artist?
Breathe in the blogosphere
As the technology and the tools become ever-present, like air, they will fade into the background, and it’s the people who will stand out. Sure, in part, the medium is the message, but what drives the message? Something primally human: the need for significance.
Michael,
What a remarkably inspirational and insightful post!
I think there is, indeed, a lot to be said about living your truth, living what you truly and utterly believe in. For example, I also apply the same litmus test as you – is this a subject I could carry on passionately about for hours upon end?
In my case, after a lot of soul-searching and journeys of self-discovery, I ended up making cash my personal religion. It’s certainly not glamorous – and there are quite a few people who find it shallow and narrow-minded – but, as you have put it, what truly matters, in the end, is living your inner truth.
For this reason, I can go on for hours about making money, how wonderful money is, how sweet and intoxicating the smell of freshly printed dollars is, how money can buy you happiness in spite of all claims to the country, how… *applies a mental break* Well, you get my point.
And, from experience (and, once again, in agreement with you) everything you do seems a lot simpler when what you’re doing is consistent with that inner truth you so wonderfully elaborated upon!
Thanks again for this great post,
George
Every word is so absolutely true. For me it was the door plant. It was ok, I liked working with wood, and I enjoyed making sure the customers receive the products the way they wanted them. But, I had almost a…I don’t know… restless feeling. Things just didn’t feel right.
Now I’m doing what I’m doing, and I feel the same way. I never get tired of discussing writing tips, SEO, marketing concepts, ideas, etc. Interesting, since I didn’t even own a computer say 4 years back.
In truth, I don’t think it is possible to be successful without that passion for what you’re doing. I’m not sure if you read Christine O’Kelly’s post awhile back on how she got to the top of Google, but she echos similar sentiments.
Work for me is like Mozart composing a piece; my day doesn’t feel right without it. Sometimes, I get started on an idea or concept and find it difficult to stop (not always a good thing
).
At the same time, there’s nothing worse than having to force yourself to go to work every day. This is the reason we deal with the grouchy lady at the grocery store, or see a customer service rep who couldn’t care less about you or their job.
You’re passion certainly shows through your work. It makes it easy for others to get into that same mindset and easy for them to learn from you.
Now if only everyone could realize the things you state in your post, this world would be a very different place.
Thank you very much for sharing. Being a ‘choked’ blogger, I know that takes a lot of guts.
@George – Every Sunday, I spend the morning in concentrated learning, note-taking, and planning around marketing, copywriting, and selling. I call it “marketing church.”
@Angie – Funny you should mention Christine. She once said that unless she felt a little afraid to hit “publish,” her post wasn’t really ready yet. I thought of her and laughed as my mouse hovered over the publish button (Christine, I hope you see this post).
The need for significance! Indeed. I wonder about that sometimes, like, when I’m watching someone else interact with a customer service rep and almost want to shake the rep and say, “SHOW UP in your job and you can actually make a difference,” because you can just see the way they both want to have an impact and yet are so completely oblivious to the acres of diamonds right there beneath their feet. Of course, I’m just as capable of overlooking them myself from time to time
.
I think it’s amazing to find your true work, but I also think it’s just as important to treat the work you’re doing *as* that true work (even as you may look for something that aligns more). Then again, I’ve been doing this running-the-show-thing since college, and I’d imagine it’s much easier to fully embrace a part time job than it is a full time one.
Lurve it.
I, too, attend “marketing church,” of sorts – but it involves my Wacom. Design church?
@Jessica – who knows what’s easier, and for whom? Easy is subjective. A lot of what I do is damn hard for most people, but I love it and I don’t even notice it. It comes easily.
@Laura – I have a Wacom Intuos. I guess that’s “evening services.”
You are not alone. I was once a vacuum cleaner (Kirby) salesman too. I did for a summer after college. The experience wasn’t pleasant for me either. My main issue was the markup on the vacuums. I felt like I was ripping people off. Although it was a horrible job, I did learn a lot about myself.
Anyway, I’m glad you confessed and shared your lessons learned!
I have no idea what went through your mind when you asked that lady if she was expecting. At that point, you just should have saved your breath and made up a story that you need to leave, maybe a good would be you forgot you have a company meeting and you need to attend it, sorry heres my card. Just some creative thinking on my part.
@Amanda – Heh… me neither! But this was about twenty years ago. Thinking on your feet is something you get better at with practice.
I’ve had a lot of practice, since then.
Great post Michael!
So, was it a Rainbow?
@Elaine – Thanks! It was the one in the picture (except this was a while ago).
Holy cow. I sold Kirby’s when I was 21 years old.
Michael, thanks for the post. I’ve been feeling a bit low lately, doing work that I know I should quit but have been hanging onto because of the income. I hadn’t thought of all the life lessons I could glean from that, so thanks for the reminder.
[...] True Confessions of a Former Vacuum Cleaner Salesman and the Meaning of Life [...]
[...] read this post from Michaek Martine (akak Remarkablogger) while half-watching American [...]
I’m a lousy salesman myself, which is one reason why I adore the Internet – there’s not a lot of face to face “ask for the sale” requirements!
I really liked your point:
“Scratch the surface, and you’ll find that attitudes, beliefs, and confidence have a lot to do with that.”
So very very true.
Data points, Barbara
@Barbara – Great points! Face-to-face networking and connecting with people is wonderful and really cements the relationships you’ve built online. But again, you don’t need to “sell” at all, just get to know others and provide value to them. Then, later, when there’s business to be done, you’ll the process “in the bag.”
LOL Michael – I’ve asked the baby due question before but it must have felt ten times as bad doing it while you were trying to sell something.
What you say about the questions we ask ourselves is so true and I guess a lot of people kill their confidence, by getting it the wrong way round.
And I love what you say about living your truth – it makes a lot of sense.
@Cath – Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. That “question stuff” from Tony really was an eye-opener for me. Jolted me right out of old, bad habits.
[...] under Branding, Career Management on March 6th, 2009 I read this post from Michael Martine (aka Remarkablogger) while half-watching American Idol. Yeah, yeah I know – [...]
Great post micheal! Love the look and feel of the blog. I came across your blog from my friends message boards, ill be sure to checkback!
Good work Michael! Your blog is very interesant. I read everyday your articles.
Thanks for your time!
Sergio.
Absolutely love the accidental pregnancy question.
I have done this myself. Talk about feeling stupid.
Thanks for the inspirational post.
Matt, it’s funny now, but I was completely mortified at the time! Glad I’m not the only one.
You experienced to sell freaking vacuum cleaners??I also said stupid things to someone.. And if I could turn back time.. I will take it back!!!
Yeah it was quite an interesting point in my life. I think direct sales
experience is good for business people… *before* they go into business.
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Good thing I dropper here.. I saw and read your blog.. nice post.. hope to read more topic like this soon.. thanks to the owner…
Good thing I dropper here.. I saw and read your blog.. nice post.. hope to read more topic like this soon.. thanks to the owner…
Good thing I dropper here.. I saw and read your blog.. nice post.. hope to read more topic like this soon.. thanks to the owner…
Good thing I dropper here.. I saw and read your blog.. nice post.. hope to read more topic like this soon.. thanks to the owner…