I feel like I’m in a reality show themed rags-to-riches. Almost yesterday I was knocking on doors trying to sell ADT security systems, and today I’m sitting in my own office with a window, a desk, and a new computer!
The “rags” part of my drama started with part-time piano teaching. It was never enough to pay the bills and consumed all my time. So, I found a job with ADT. I carried the blue and white ADT sign in my hand and pepper spray in my pocket. But I failed to grab it fast enough to stop a pit bull! He charged out an open door and bit me on the stomach! I got out of the courtyard and closed the gate. Have you heard of good pit bulls? This one was. It was a nice gentle bite that didn’t break the skin, but left four tooth-marks on my belly. Well-bred Christian that I am, my reaction was to forgive him immediately. The owner appeared and I said with a smile, “I guess you don’t need a security system!”
“I’m not the owner,” he replied, “I’m just here.” So, I moved on down the street hoping to make a sale. On further reflection, I think he might not have been telling the truth and worried about a potential lawsuit or something.
A couple days later, I told my adventure to my friend Tina over sushi. “Kathy, please stop going door-to-door. I’m so afraid you will be sucked inside a home by a bad man who will take advantage of your trusting nature …!” Her eyes filled with tears as she verbalized her fears. I was moved by her emotion. But I went back to the streets. Was it fate or foolishness that led me to the next situation?
“Come on inside,” said the man with a warm smile. Getting a salesman off the street and inside your home is easy. We are trained to expect a 90% close rate once we are inside--especially if we call the team leader to come make the close. Soon I was seated beside a stranger on his couch. He asked me if I was married, told me I was attractive…. In fact, would I like to sell insurance for him? I would make better money selling insurance than security systems, he promised. I saw the open bottle of Jack Daniels in the kitchen, but it took the whole hour before I realized he was drunk! I managed to keep the conversation professional, made my pitch, and called the team leader. Papers were signed, and I sold my first system! It was about time! Ten days of knocking on 600+ doors. When I got back into the van with my team, I said, “Is it OK to sell a security system to a drunk guy?”
The next morning I went on my morning run up the mountain. My ritual at the top is to proclaim to the world my goal for today. I stepped onto the top rock, but what should I say? Am I a quitter? Am I afraid of mean dogs and drunk men? What will Tina say if I tell her about the drunk? I can’t tell it to her unless I quit. Should I quit? I reminded myself how lucky I am: two encounters with potentially horrible outcomes, and I’m still fine. How long will my luck last? I made my decision and shouted, “I’m going to get a new job TODAY!”
I set out with my ADT brochures, thinking I would sell security systems to businesses—and look for a job. The second stop an insurance office. I asked the receptionist if they needed a security system. She said no. Then I asked if they needed sales people and she said YES! Moments later I had my interview with Marc McKay, the owner. He liked my varied experience: piano teaching, tele-marketing, and door-knocking all sounded like a combination of technical savvy and courage. “You’re a perfect fit,” he said. “You can have the job!” I was stunned!
In the “riches” part of my drama, I’m not rich yet. I feel it though, sitting here at a big desk with my own window, freshly licensed, selling a range of the best coverages available for home and auto! This is the first day of my new career and I wanted to share it with you, my friends.
Forgive me for asking you to check out our website, but now this is what I do. I’m not opposed to giving preferential service to friends—in fact, I’ve already insured some of my best friends and saved them several thousand dollars!
Call me today!
Kathy Page -- 951.575.9449 -- www.SiloInsurance.com License # 0F27219
The “rags” part of my drama started with part-time piano teaching. It was never enough to pay the bills and consumed all my time. So, I found a job with ADT. I carried the blue and white ADT sign in my hand and pepper spray in my pocket. But I failed to grab it fast enough to stop a pit bull! He charged out an open door and bit me on the stomach! I got out of the courtyard and closed the gate. Have you heard of good pit bulls? This one was. It was a nice gentle bite that didn’t break the skin, but left four tooth-marks on my belly. Well-bred Christian that I am, my reaction was to forgive him immediately. The owner appeared and I said with a smile, “I guess you don’t need a security system!”
“I’m not the owner,” he replied, “I’m just here.” So, I moved on down the street hoping to make a sale. On further reflection, I think he might not have been telling the truth and worried about a potential lawsuit or something.
A couple days later, I told my adventure to my friend Tina over sushi. “Kathy, please stop going door-to-door. I’m so afraid you will be sucked inside a home by a bad man who will take advantage of your trusting nature …!” Her eyes filled with tears as she verbalized her fears. I was moved by her emotion. But I went back to the streets. Was it fate or foolishness that led me to the next situation?
“Come on inside,” said the man with a warm smile. Getting a salesman off the street and inside your home is easy. We are trained to expect a 90% close rate once we are inside--especially if we call the team leader to come make the close. Soon I was seated beside a stranger on his couch. He asked me if I was married, told me I was attractive…. In fact, would I like to sell insurance for him? I would make better money selling insurance than security systems, he promised. I saw the open bottle of Jack Daniels in the kitchen, but it took the whole hour before I realized he was drunk! I managed to keep the conversation professional, made my pitch, and called the team leader. Papers were signed, and I sold my first system! It was about time! Ten days of knocking on 600+ doors. When I got back into the van with my team, I said, “Is it OK to sell a security system to a drunk guy?”
The next morning I went on my morning run up the mountain. My ritual at the top is to proclaim to the world my goal for today. I stepped onto the top rock, but what should I say? Am I a quitter? Am I afraid of mean dogs and drunk men? What will Tina say if I tell her about the drunk? I can’t tell it to her unless I quit. Should I quit? I reminded myself how lucky I am: two encounters with potentially horrible outcomes, and I’m still fine. How long will my luck last? I made my decision and shouted, “I’m going to get a new job TODAY!”
I set out with my ADT brochures, thinking I would sell security systems to businesses—and look for a job. The second stop an insurance office. I asked the receptionist if they needed a security system. She said no. Then I asked if they needed sales people and she said YES! Moments later I had my interview with Marc McKay, the owner. He liked my varied experience: piano teaching, tele-marketing, and door-knocking all sounded like a combination of technical savvy and courage. “You’re a perfect fit,” he said. “You can have the job!” I was stunned!
In the “riches” part of my drama, I’m not rich yet. I feel it though, sitting here at a big desk with my own window, freshly licensed, selling a range of the best coverages available for home and auto! This is the first day of my new career and I wanted to share it with you, my friends.
Forgive me for asking you to check out our website, but now this is what I do. I’m not opposed to giving preferential service to friends—in fact, I’ve already insured some of my best friends and saved them several thousand dollars!
Call me today!
Kathy Page -- 951.575.9449 -- www.SiloInsurance.com License # 0F27219
