This Content Was Written By Gabe Salinas for Gabesalinas.com
The year was 1990. I needed a job and was scanning the newspaper for an opportunity. Because back then, that is what you had to do when you were young, full of enthusiasm and broke as a joke!
My parents had finalized their divorce, and my two older sisters were off at college. So, my mom moved us to Southern Pines to be closer to her job.
Even though I was full of enthusiasm, I was also naive and needed some cash! So I did what most other unemployed people did back then! And that was to scan the newspaper classified section and look at all the help wanted postings.
Back then, cell phones were a novelty, primarily installed in cars. This was before the era of the Motorola flip phone and the famed bag phone.
Curious about the bag phone? Give it a quick Google search!
In those days, job hunting was very different from today. You would sit at the kitchen table, browse all the classified ads, and once you found one that interested you, you picked up the rotary phone and made the call!
This, my friends, was my first introduction to cold calling! Actually, it was a warm call, but I’ll save that for another conversation!
When the phone rings, someone on the other end crisply says their company name, leaving the floor to you. Now’s my chance to shine!
“Hey there, it’s Gabe! Saw your job ad in today’s paper. Is that position still up for grabs?”
How was my pitch?
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best and 1 being uhhhh – not so great, how would you rate it?
Would you say I was to the point?
How about conversational and engaging?
Does the tone of voice evoked professionalism while being direct?
My First Sales Job: Cold Calls
The young woman who took that phone call that fateful day back in 1990 was very easygoing, polite, and caring. She steered our conversation and took the lead. She asked me some simple questions about myself and listened to my answers without interrupting.
I remember it as if it were yesterday!
She set up an in-person interview for the next day, and I was to meet her after I got out of school.
3:30 PM – SHARP!
Pause for a moment, folks. I want you all to get your mind right about how today’s youth would react to what I’m about to share with you!
Remember, I was a fresh 16-year-old in the 11th grade!
I wrote the address down in the newspaper, with the time, and circled it. My day planner was my brain; at 16, today’s modern youth are on hope and a prayer to remember anything.
But not me! I was not average and ordinary and had a keen sense of time. I had this uncanny gift of putting a time-sensitive task in my head and visualizing it into existence.
Hence, I showed up at 3:30pm at the exact destination provided to me over the phone.
For all of you with young kids and for those of you young guns out there – get ready to shake your head!
The Interview Site
Have you ever heard of Howard Johnsons? You know, the motel chain?
Back then, Howard Johnson was a go-to motel chain in almost every town. Let me paint you a picture!
A long, single-story building where you’d park your car right outside your room. Each room, accessed by its own door, had two beds, a desk, and a modest bathroom. Simple and convenient!
This was my interview site!
My instructions from the initial phone call were to knock on door number 123. So, I did as instructed. I was welcomed by a friendly young lady with long, dark hair, wearing enormous round glasses and a dress reminiscent of the prairie era.
For those of you who remember the TV show “Little House on the Prairie,” you know what I mean!
For those who don’t – give it the old GOOGLE try!
I am sure most of you would not let your child go to a hotel room today for a job interview. Especially if they were female, 16, and with a freshly laminated driver’s license.
I was a 16-year-old teenager who was wild and thought I knew everything! Plus, I was fearless and was seriously lacking in parental supervision!
The Interview
Alright, picture this: I stroll into the hotel room, and Mrs. Long Hair directs me to a chair by a desk. Next thing, Miss “I’m-all-about-the-Prairie-look” takes a casual seat on the bed, pen and pad in hand, launching into 20 questions mode.
“How old are ya?” “When are you free?” “Schooling full-time or just dipping your toes in?” “Made calls before?”
Are your eyebrows hitting the ceiling yet?
Looking back, nothing about this felt off-kilter. It was just another day in my world. But today’s youngsters? I bet they’d be live-tweeting the encounter, Instagram storying, and maybe dashing off a frantic Facebook update – “911, weird interview alert!”
But let’s be honest: her questions? Totally legit. I tackled them like a pro – cool as a cucumber. She was chill, purely checking if I could handle some calls. The deal? A set wage plus some sweet bonuses for each appointment I locked in.
My brain went, “Jackpot!”
I was like, “I’m in.” And she’s all, “Great, how about now?”
What Was I Selling?
Hey, remember Glamor Shots?
If you’re nodding, know this: My job existed before they even hit the scene!
This job was for Olan Mills Photo Studios. My gig? Skim through the phone book, dial-up folks, follow a script, and persuade them to schedule a family photo shoot. Simple as that!
I was handed a script, and my job was simple: read it and book an appointment.
And let me tell you, I rocked it! That prairie-dressed lady probably thought she struck gold with me. And I felt the same! Daily cash pay, and once the folks I booked came in for their shoot? More cash is coming my way.
For a 16-year-old, having that daily cash made me feel on top of the world! I mean, I thought I was the real deal!
Life Will Put You In The Right Place, And It Is Up To You To Make The Most Of It
I’ve got a ton of stories like that one, and I wouldn’t swap them for the world. How about you?
Are you a daring soul or more of a thinker?
Ever wish you lived a bit more on the edge? Or are you the type to meticulously weigh the savings of sharing a meal versus cooking the same dish at home?
I’ve always leaned into risks. I have this knack for sparking conversations, asking those questions that make some people squirm, and always looking for ways to turn a chat into an opportunity.
Here’s the truth: Whether you’re the daredevil or the detailed planner, if you dream of wealth, the life you want, and financial independence, you must ace sales. And if sales aren’t your strong suit? Well, you’d better hire someone who can do it for you.
Nothing happens without a sale.
How did you meet your spouse?
Even if it was through one of those trendy dating apps, you had to pitch yourself with that profile picture. Trust me, if you can’t sell yourself, even slightly, any chance of a connection might die when you say “Hi.”
That phone sales gig from my past? Pure gold. It laid the foundation for my business success today. We don’t just make calls; we close deals. Want success? A better life? Why not ring me up?
What is it going to cost you?
What do you have to lose?
What can you gain?
CLICK HERE to Set up a time to chat with me
And we will talk about making your life epic!
Keep Shining!
Gabe Salinas – The World’s Greatest Window Cleaner
I have tons of stories like this. And I would not trade any of them for anything in this world.
What about you? Are you a risk taker? Or are you a contemplator?
Do you wish you were more risky? Or would you rather be the guy who runs a cost analysis on how much money you can save by splitting a meal with your partner because you can make the same thing at home for 90% less than the ticket price?
I have always been a risk-taker. I have always been good at engaging people, asking them what most think of as hard questions, and trying to learn more about them and how we can make some action happen.
Regardless of what category you fall in, If you want to make more money, live your dream life, and have financial freedom, you have to get good at sales. And if you choose not to be great at sales, you gotta pay someone to do it for you.
Nothing in life happens without a sale.
How did you meet your spouse?
Even if you met her on one of those crazy dating apps – you had to sell yourself in your photo.
And I promise if you did not know how to sell yourself slightly, your deal would have been killed the minute you opened your mouth!
Fortunately, I stumbled into that phone sales job back in the day. And it set me up for success in my business today.
We make cold calls. We make warm calls. And we close deals! And if you want to be successful and want a better life, why not give me a call?
What is it going to cost you?
What do you have to lose?
What can you gain?
CLICK HERE to Set up a time to chat with me
And we will talk about making your life epic!
