Sales Director
Sales saved my life. I was scared to talk to peopleโฆIf you handed me a phone to order a pizza, I would give it to you straight away - I just didnโt know what to say.At that point in my life, everything seemed so much bigger than me & I felt so powerless - life was just happening to me.I entered adulthood trying to make a living in various factories - I didnโt know any better. I was being told growing up, I would become someone important - but here I was, a minimal-wage foreign worker at some fabric in Germany.I hated my life & just didn't want to wake up in the morning.Then, that one night...I decided to go for a ride.I drove for almost 2 hours in the dark & at one point I stopped by the road.I got out of the car & suddenly I knew."Iโm going home."I had no idea where exactly do I go, or what do I do - I just needed a change & couldnโt keep living like this anymore.The decision was instant & final - I quit my job, packed my things & got back to my country.I stayed at my friendโs home, his mother loved me visiting so I had a little time to plan my next move.Meanwhile, he told me he just got a job in โsalesโ. I was 19teen & I had no idea what that word even meantโฆHe said he worked in a big office, with hundreds of other people & called strangers to convince them to sign a telecommunication contract.I couldnโt see myself doing thisโฆ But If he could do that, "it couldnโt be THAT hard!"So I went for the interviewโฆ & after โclosingโ my first client, I could feel it - my life was forever changed.I didn't feel powerless anymore.From a telemarketer to managing my first sales team, I owe this career who I am. The sense of responsibility, discipline & patience I developed over the years, as much as the sales skills you can only develop through relentless practice, thousands & thousands of reps. Yet, the most important lesson I learned was on that one life-changing night - to ALWAYS listen to my gut.