blog
Those were memorable times. Young and living in a very small
house. The heat was not a furnace, but a small heater. We were
certainly struggling at the time. We kept a few cats to fetch the mice and there were a few mice roaming about. But what was so
special was this big beautiful garden. Just two love birds starting out. My young wife, myself and our cats and little house....
I put on a suit. Went for an interview and came home, telling my
young wife that a grey haired gentleman named Jack hired me
to sell music lessons. For every $25 I collected from each new student I basically got to keep that money. The idea being, the more sales, the more you earned. I worked with Bob, a recovering alcoholic and former football star. Bob was an excellent teacher in the art of sales. Before long I was a junior
sales manager and started hiring and training. One fellow I brought in was Sicilian and had an accent which was quite noticeable. But what caught my attention - Gino was great
with people. He was a natural salesman.
I was told if I personally met a goal of 8 sales a day for 8 weeks
I was eligible to become the new Instrument Sales Manager.
That excited me. Everytime I was a little down - I would go to
Jack (the General Manager) and Jack would turn excuses and
problems into opportunity. Such as the time the exhibition came to town with rides and candy floss and a parade and I insisted there would not likely be a sale because in my mind, everyone was at the fair. 'Wrong' -Jack would say. 'Not everyone' - as a matter of fact many people simply don't go the fair' and that
turned out to be a great night for sales.
We had someone doing surveys during the day, appointments were made for salespeople (myself included) and besides hiring and training during the day, I went out in the evening on my appointments.
I made it. Eight sales a night for eight weeks. I was elated.
Until I found out this position went to a cousin of the owner.
But before quitting my job to seek other opportunity I spoke to
Jack and thanked him for his encouragement, even under the most trying times. I told Jack, if not for him, I could not have possibly met my goal. And the little train went up the hill and down the hill....I knew I cold, I knew I could...
Jack passed on some years later. I became a property manager
and life moved forward but so many times I have thought of Jack with his big smile and list of reasons why one cannot get
discouraged....
God Bless you Jack.