A New Beginning

Well, after speaking with Ted in the previous post, I got off my duff and pounded the pavement trying to sell the only thing I knew how to sell, me. I went to every Verizon Wireless store I could find and was training within a week as an independent dealer. I now work for myself in a sales organization that provides me the inventory of phones, accessories, and support to make a comfortable living. There is only one catch. I will not get my first commission check until November the 10th.

My mother did not know this until last night, but she knows that God has a history of taking care of me and my family and that I am happy selling a product in which I believe.

I am still a bit uncertain about how to do some things, but I am learning. I was working a mall kiosk with my regional sales manager, Bobby, yesterday. I asked him how long it usually takes before the new guys stop feeling like idiots about the phone types, the procedures with the paperwork, and using the computer programs to activate the phones. He said, "About two weeks." Well, I figured that my time's up. The next person I spoke to bought one of our top-of-the line phones.

What do you think?

I had a meeting today with my new insurance agent, and when he found out that I was looking for a new career, he was quick to suggest that I talk to his managing director, Ted, about representing their company. I have to admit that I have never thought about selling insurance, but this guy took about an hour and a half out of his day to talk with me about what they offer and to get to know me.

I left with a video CD (selling people on the idea of working for this company) and a good impression of myself as a person who has skills in working with others. I have to admit that I am tempted to look further into it. An interesting result of this talk was that I learned a bit about ministering to people. Ted looked at me, not just "maintained eye-contact." He looked at me as he informed me and inquired of me what I wanted. I suspect that he is not merely a good salesman but that he is in love with his product. His product was not just the insurance because he trained others to sell that. His product is people working in his organization.

How often do we, when trying to bring others to salvation in Christ, focus on all that we have been taught to say and forget to look into the lives (as ugly as they may be) of the people to whom we are trying to share the good news? I sometimes forget that Jesus went to the homes of sinners and touched lepers.

I don't know if insurance is the career path I should take, but I would like to learn about "sales" from men such as Ted.