Lessons Learned From a Comfy Job, a Dead Salesman, and the Benefits of a Honda Accord.
The world changes. Our technology changes. Our society changes. Our knowledge changes. Why are you stagnant?
My first ‘real’ job after college was as a sales rep. I didn’t need a degree for the job. Just the ability to bang on doors, walk-in, and sell something. I’d skipped that class at school so I just winged it.
I got the job over 3 other applicants because I had a reliable car. It was a 1984 Honda Accord Hatchback. I’d gone into debt to get it. I tended bar to pay my way through college and my girlfriend got tired of picking me up at 3:00 AM. So I got a car. It got me a job.
That’s just good career planning.
The company represented 10 - 15 companies at one time. They, we, specialized in plumbing products. Sold cast iron pipe, PVC pipe, faucets, shower heads, and other stuff that spurted water in your house. It was fun. Selling stuff.
Everyone needed plumbing supplies.
They handed me off to their lead salesman. We’ll call him Sonny. Sonny was about 65. Same age I am right now. He’d been working for this company for 40 years. He drove an old pick up truck. He ate lots of hot dogs. Drank Miller Genuine Draft beer.
Sonny was a good guy. He knew everyone on his route. Everyone smiled when he walked in. He taught me about sales and follow up and consistency. He never missed a day. Not one in 40 years.
On my last day of training, Sonny fell down as we walked up to a distribution center. Face first. I rolled him over and he had foam coming out of his mouth. I didn’t know CPR but I’d seen it in the movies. I pumped on his chest. He was dead in about a minute.
Massive heart attack.
I went to his funeral. About 10 people showed up. I thought there’d be more. The owner of the company couldn’t make it. He had a conflict. Sonny had a brother that showed up. One customer came. Everyone else was a no show.
I quit my job within the week. Started my own company. It flopped within the year and I just went onto the next one. Everything I owned fit in my car. I stayed lean. I kept searching and learning and failing.
Until I didn’t.
That car stayed with me for 250,000 miles or so. My knowledge grew, the car stayed the same.
What’s the lesson here.
That sales company is no longer in existence. Sales Agencies in general are few and far between. The 2-step distribution model - manufacturer to distributor to end user - doesn’t exist in most industries. Home Depot and Lowe’s and the ‘Big Box Stores’ concept killed this business model for anything related to the home improvement industry.
Point is the world changes. We evolve. Had Sonny lived, he would’ve been out of a job within the next couple of years.
Manufacturing moves to China. China ships directly to Walmart and Home Depot and Lowes. Amazon is born. China ships directly to Amazon. Each evolution changes the marketplace. Each change cuts fat in the process. Cuts jobs. People.
There is no safety in 9-to-5.
Because 9-to-5 doesn’t last. It can feel like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. Keeping you safe and toasty. But outside the world is moving forward. It’ll rip off the blanket and throw you outside in the cold.
Better to prepare.
Embrace new technologies
Accepting and learning new technologies is a mindset. New technologies offer opportunities. Yes, advances cause chaos. But in chaos is opportunity for those who have prepared.
Changes can be small but still have huge impact. A new retail concept changed - I won’t say destroyed - an entire industry. Channels of distribution changed. People lost jobs. But fortunes were also created.
It is a mindset.
Today, we are seeing an AI revolution. It will change industries. It will kill jobs. But opportunity will arise. It will give you as an individual power. If you learn. If you adapt.
Or you can stay at home under your blanket. It’ll feel safe and warm.
Core Values
Accepting new technologies and continuing on a path of self-development will create questions. This is good. Question everything. Even your core values must be questioned from time to time. Society changes. Our understanding of the universe and science increases. Our world expands as we are exposed to more people, cultures, and traditions. These should have an impact on our world view. This should change and expand our core values.
Haven’t change your mind in 5 years? Why not? Everything else has changed.
Learn. Grow. Fail. Adapt. Expand. It’s the only safe path.
Think about it…
Been thinking about the term ‘solo’ business. It’s tricky to get right.
If the money stops, when you stop working, it’s not a solo business. It’s a job. A 9-to-5’er. Regardless of whether you’re working for yourself or someone else.
A solo business has to be able to sustain itself at some point. Your past work has to remain valuable.
Maybe we all start this way. But it’s just a starting point. Writing articles that make money is not a business. It’s a job. Creating a portfolio of articles that can be shared, or turned into a class, or re-purposed into other content and remain valuable, well, it’s a start.
Everyone says just keep writing. This may be true. But if you just do the same thing everyday you will get the same results. So yes, keep writing, but also keep testing, and learning, and changing. If you want different results you must try different tactics.
Fail until you get it right.
Is this all B.S.?
Do I need to keep thinking?
Do it…
Read it: Started The Expection Effect by David Robson this week. It’s about the way we think. I’m a firm believer that the whole manifesting things into existence is a ridiculous and verging on cultish behavior. But your mind set is critical. Brainpower can improve our lives. This is backed up by science. Loving this book so far.
Watch it: Blink Twice. Yep. I’m actually going to the movie theater.
Making it: I’ve been fighting Covid for several weeks. It’s been tough but I’m finally feeling better. Might celebrate with one Blood Orange Margarita this weekend. Just one. To beat the heat.
Quote it:
“If you are under the impression you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of.”
― Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
If you want to check out some great reading list and see which books have influenced, surprised, educated, and entertained me, check out my book shop here. The lists grow monthly and I don’t recommend any books I haven’t personally read. Or use my book recommendation engine and specific author chatbots. Check it out. It’s fun.