From Zero to Forty Sales

Sean: Welcome to our series on top sales professionals. Olivia, tell us about your profile and your first sales job in Columbus.
Olivia: Thanks, Sean. When I was nineteen, I started working for a book company. My morning meeting was at eight, and then I spent hours on the phone. My summary of that month is simple: pure panic!
Sean: What was the biggest problem on your phone calls?
Olivia: I forgot my script every single time. I stammered, I made a mistake with the price list, and clients said no instantly. I didn't sell anything for three whole weeks. I was so nervous that I wanted to hang up and quit.
Sean: But then something changed, didn't it?
Olivia: Yes! On the twenty-second day, I stopped reading the script. I just listened to the clients, found their real needs, and explained the benefits of our books. Suddenly, I wasn't nervous anymore. I sounded confident and relaxed.
Sean: And how many sales did you make that day?
Olivia: I made forty sales in one single day! It was my first big win. We celebrated with pizza, and I learned that mistakes help us grow.

Read again and choose the right answer

How old was Olivia on her first sales job?

• Eighteen
• Nineteen
• Twenty

How long did she go without a sale?

• Three weeks
• Three days
• Three months

What did Olivia change on the twenty-second day?

• She changed the price
• She stopped reading the script and listened
• She quit her job

How many sales did she close on her best day?

• Four
• Fourteen
• Forty

Sources: photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels