First experience of Sales at 16

This was me at 16...

The picture was taken just before my first day of work experience at an insurance company.

You can probably tell by the pink tie & incredible hairstyle - this was the 90s!

And I distinctly remember thinking how amazing that tie looked.

Like most 16 year olds I had no clue what I wanted to do.

As a painfully shy teenager, I was feeling really nervous about my first day in a proper company.

Probably why I can't bear to look at the camera.

I'll never forget entering the office for the first time and seeing this tall guy in the corner, suited & booted, stood up on the phone, speaking to clients.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"That's Sean, our top salesperson."

I was transfixed.

He oozed confidence.

He had real presence.

He commanded respect.

Almost like an actor on stage.

To me, as an impressionable 16 year old, he personified success.

I had imagined a dull office environment, so this had a huge impact on my perception of sales.

This was the art of communication.

Everything about Sean was the consummate professional.

- He asked thought-provoking questions

- He listened

- He injected humour

- He was genuine

- He seemed to really care

- He sounded like an industry expert

- He always seemed to be in control

I could sense his clients hung on his every word.

From that moment I felt a switch go off.

I wanted to get out of my shell.

I wanted to become more.

I wanted to do what he did.

I wanted a career in sales.