We represent many top salons, spas, wellness centers, etc... that revolve around health and beauty services. Its my job to market for these places, and bring in their customers for first time introductory services. We give from anywhere between $650-1300 worth of services for these high end places, for only $65 for anyone who is a new client.
Being in this nature of advertising, marketing, and sales, is quite the adventure and experience.
First of all, many people see us as "solicitors" and I guess in some way we are. But quite honestly, what isn't soliciting?
Despite the truth behind that, some people out in the community have these predispositions toward the reps of our company, including me that are negative. Breaking through those assumptions, and predispositions that tell them that we are there to rip them off, disturb them, or waste their time or energy, is quite the challenge. And maintaining a positive attitude is quite the challenge as well, considering out of about 200 people a day, I get rejected 190 times on average. Meaning I get 1 out of every 20 i approach. Getting people to even take 30 seconds of their day is half the challenge, but that's ok.
It takes a really strong willed and confident person to do my job, and succeed doing it. With time, one becomes even stronger and more confident, at least that's the case with myself. I now know I can do anything I set my mind and energy toward.
My favorite part about my job, is the fact that I have these incredible experiences every day. Sometimes I have alot of stories, and sometimes only one. But there is always a story to tell.
So my boss told me to write them down, because they can inspire people, and are fun to look back on.
So I figured, sure, why not share my experiences from each day.
I want to recap a few of my favorites though first, before I move forward :)
1. Halloween. I was in a ralphs in west hollywood, and this security guard finds me pitching and selling to a girl. She's very interested, but just on the verge of buying, so he patiently awaits me a few feet away. After the sale is complete, he looks to me as the customer awkwardly leaves and thanks me, as if he is about to ask me to leave. I say immediately with initiative, "HA! I LOVE your costume! Hilarious! You look just like a security guard! That's awesome! It's so fitting, because you're dressed as a security guard, and I'm dressed as a Solicitor! HA!" The guy laughs hysterically, and immediately thinks I'm cool. I then say... trick or treat? he says "what" I said, well You're the trick and i'm the treat. :)
It was funny... we left and he walked us out and I told him to make it look good, but he left us halfway. It was funny.
2. A guy looked homeless. Met him in the parking lot of bev. dr. south. This was one of the only times I took a package back abruptly after a pitch from a customers hands because i felt like he thought it was free. To my surprise, he pulled out his (sanitary looking bag) and had like 30 credit cards with ID, and said he wanted 4. WOW. Wasn't expecting that! He apparently travelled the world and just liked to dress down. Gets massages every week! I learned to NEVER cherry pick. haha.
3. THE 18 year security guard. HA! I snuck into a building through a back door, and worked a few floors, my meter was about up, so i went to one last floor. I see the security guard as I exit the elevator, and I'm like "Oh great, he's looking for me." I decide what the hell, i have nothing to lose i have to go anyways. So I go up to the front desk lady and pitch her quietly. The security guard is waiting for the elevator. HA. The lady says, i think he's looking for you and you can't do that in here. I say "ok." I walk back to the elevator. The security guard looks to me. I decide to engage with him for fun. I ask him "So, do you like your job?" He says "yeah! I've been doing it for 18 years" I say "Really?! That's great, what's you're name?" He says "Mario or something hispanic" I say "Cool, my name is Christina, and shake his hand" He says to me as the elevator opens... yeah, i've been looking for a solicitor in the building, they call me and give me no description, and it makes it hard to find them! I've been going from floor to floor and they are so fast! I say "wow, that sucks. Why don't they give a description? that seems dumb." Then he pushes the 9th floor at random... and gets off. I laugh to the guy in the elevator and say "Yeah, he's looking for me, it's really quite hilarious. and we laugh."
Good times. lol. He had no idea I WAS THE SOLICITOR!
Hysterical.
I met an amazing server once... that really blew my mind as I pitched him, and made me respect him based on how he handled my pitch and treated me with such respect though he had absolutely no interests for himself in what I was selling... only later to see him on a plane home from OHIO. That was a sweet meeting :) Definitely my favorite meeting!
I also met Hilary burton and pitched her, and her husband Geoffrey morgan. They were so sweet and wished me luck! I wanted to be their best friend! LOVE HER!
So there are a few of my stories. :)
Another aspect of my job that's interesting, is the realization of how bizarrely common it is for a general lack of social skills for people overall in the community. I've come to find that people generally, most of the time, have absolutely no idea how to handle the unknown respectfully, and treat people who interrupt their day or surprise them. People are very upset alot of times with the mere fact that someone is talking to them in public. It's really quite interesting how many people react negatively to me asking them "quick question." It's like they just want to live in isolation, even in public. It's pathetic to me honestly, and I find it incredibly sad how content people are with remaining in a closed world in a public setting. My philosophy about it is that there is a certain level of respect you owe the public when in public, that should be abided in. Meaning specifically in my experiences, that if someone walks into your office that you don't know... instead of being upset you have some random person approaching your front desk that you don't know... maybe put a smile on your face and greet them with hello, and maybe "how can I help you?" Not what is all too common response of "Who the HELL ARE YOU?" look on their face. Honestly, I've meet only 2 exceptional receptionists in my 10 months of opening doors everyday. That's kindof discouraging about people's understanding of social respect.
To my mind, I could be anyone... i could be a possible new client, or someone looking for a job, etc. You never know. So as a company, I guess I would think that people would consider how they come across to the community, and people just like myself. But sadly, most company employees simple don't.
On another note... I never take it personally, when someone is rude. Mainly, because I have enough understanding about people to know that if they don't know me personally, I can't take it personally, cause the chances are they simply don't know how to interact with people. I may be a solicitor, but I'm still a person. I think people forget this often. Some even try to hurt my feelings or ruin my day with hurtful arrogant remarks. Little do they know... my first thought in response to that attitude and approach is "I feel sad for them, because they are unhappy with their lives to the point of trying to make others feel miserable. How little social understanding they have, and sadly, that's probably why they act that way. They must be lonely, bitter souls. Sucks to be them." I don't think "Oh, man, I learned my lesson. LOL" It's funny what people try to do to ruin my job for me. It's hilarious really. Little do they see that I find it exciting actually to be chased in a building, because i know ultimately I am doing nothing innately wrong, because I am exercising my free will to talk to people. They have the free will to reject me... but I have the free will to talk to them. So when someone tells me "You can't do that in here." I think "Well, according to the constitution, I can." Some company policy that runs against the constitution, I could care less about.
I remember a guy in trader joes said I couldn't even "Talk to people" when I said "I won't sell in here, I'm just gonna tell people and if they want it i'll go outside" The guy said "NO! it's against our policy." My response, "Well if you're policy goes against the constitution you can't enforce it, and it's wrong, and i don't have to follow it." The guy said "Well then I'll call the police." I said "Go ahead, tell them you're violating my rights to free speech, and that i haven't sold anything in here."
The guy called... i walked up to him when he was on the phone and I basically gathered that the cops told him "You can't do anything about that, because she's right it is the constitution to free speech even if you don't like it." I won... but hey i had to head home, so i pitched and sold a person outside and the manager was just angry.
Truth be told I just wanted to see how they'd react to that fact. It was awesome. I won.
Anyways. There are many things to share ahead.
I will continue in my next blog. :)
-Chrissy
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