May 10, 2004!
Anantapur bus station- evening 7:15 pm.
Fresh from the joy of being engaged to a charming lady a couple of days before and… I shudder at the thought as to how I could break certain values…actually visiting her to attempt upgrading her to my soul mate, I was waiting for my bus that would take me back to my place of work.
After a good exchange of few sweet nothings.. (Oh! those memorable beautiful tinglings)..a hurried tap on my hand to point something at me. A young guy, probably 17-19 years old, full sleeved cream colored shirt widely chequered with dark navy blue lines and a dark red tie, with a pair of flip flops was selling socks.
ME: Poor guy! Donno how much short he is of targets! Running around at this time in this crowded place. Pity! He must be really putting in his efforts to make a living. But I admire his sincerity in approaching each person worth giving a try!
My missus: Is this the kind of job my husband does for a living? Face such humiliation almost begging everyone to buy something that does not give you anything but a living! Such inglorious job! How is it that I ended up agreeing to a relationship! Ami wrong in what I am doing???
Selling! The very thought gives me an adrenaline rush. And depression for thousand others. It is a fractal view that several people, including those who have taken it as a living, take up in understanding what selling IS about. But not everything about.
This is what I realised after I read the thoughts of my missus!
Though I was quick, rather smart, enough to tell my muse that my role of selling is different and how I am feared and respected by my channel partners, my realization dawned.
I have experienced selling in all the ways it can offer. Challenged, Appreciated, Ignored, Kicked Around, Empathized, Sympathized, Honored, Abused and also Manipulated. They, as I can now proclaim, were the stepping stones to achieve an honor par excellence. Because that shaped my life, my relations and gave my understanding of the world.
Now, every time I walk into my classroom to disseminate my knowledge on various abstract concepts and situations, my alter ego of a sales professional achieves that to perfection.
