Your Firsts are always the one you don’t forget.
Let that be your first date, your first vehicle, your first interview, your first salary so on and so forth. I clearly remember my every First’s!
Biology didn’t interest me and being an above average kid of the 90’s, I entered Engineering college. Somehow managed to complete the course. The actual ride started, when I started off with a job and dived into the ocean of Sales.
When I sit back reminiscing my first Sales Call it just gives me fond memories. I had received a list of numbers for cold calling and after a few rejects initially, I happen to setup a meeting. That was one proud moment for me and I exactly remember calling my best friend and saying, “Bhai ne pehla meeting set kar diya” (translated as your brother has setup his first meeting). As soon as I disconnected the call, nervousness started to roll in. The next day I had to go and visit the customer.
Never in my life, I had gone to someone to sell. I had taken a 30 minute slot to discuss about the product. As soon as I woke up, I very clearly remember was planning the time till the meeting. From daily routine to breakfast and from travelling to reaching 15 minutes early. I have a habit of going into the zone since childhood, so try to keep 10-15 minutes for that.
As planned, I reached 15 minutes early and had continuous jitters in the belly. I went at the reception and was asked to sit for a few minutes. My legs were a bit shaky. I went inside and shook hands. Till date, what happened next is, blank. I really don’t remember what had happened in that 20-25 minutes. I recall that I just smiled at the end, again shook hands and came out of the cabin.
12 days later, the first order was punched in from my side, with one follow-up. And thus, began my journey.
I started with the memories of just being blank. Memories of just going there out and being myself. Memories of a college boy turning into a confident professional. Memories of just blabbering whatever I could understand of the product that I was selling.
How was your First Sales Call or your interaction with your First Customer?
