Careers
The following essay is by LPA Retail Systems President Tim Lano
Why I Love Sales
I love what I do for a living.
If you are not in sales the following will have little meaning to you. But if you make a living armed with only your personality and your ability to create a desire and generate trust in a complete stranger you are going to get this.
When I was young, I had an insatiable desire to compete and win in sports. The fact was that because of genetics or laziness, or both, my achievements never matched my goals. I wanted greatness but achieved only average.
This is my 28th year of running my own business and my 44th year in the art of selling technology solutions to independent businesses. Today I had a rock star day. I converted a “hell no” to “Can you tell me more?”. I moved a garden center in Massachusetts from “Who are you?” to “Can I do business with you?”. The best part is that this was done with the best possible team one could ask for. My victories are dependent on the ability of my talented staff to perform.
Will we make some money? Sure. But that is not the point. The point is in sales you compete every day. The fact that I cannot hit a 300-yard drive or hit a home run doesn’t matter. Every day is a new game and a new challenge. There are no rainouts in sales.
I will turn 65 soon. I get asked often if I will retire. The answer is “Hell no”. Every day that I show up for work may be the day that I hit a game-winning home run or sink a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Every day, armed with only my experiences and ability to connect with another person I take on the challenges of capitalism and forge forward with passion and the relentless pursuit of victory.
If you are a sales pro, I want to hear from you. Tell me about your victories. But, better yet share with me how you took on the challenge to be great; to make an impact; to do what mere mortals cannot even ponder.
If you get jazzed up by this stuff call me. I may have a job for you.
Interested in joining the LPA team? Feel free to contact Liz L’heureux at liz.lheureux@lparetail.com