Campfyre Stories

I think I am predisposed to like salesmen.  I’m not sure what it is, and I know that there are a lot of people who look at the salesman archetype and shudder or cringe.  But I like them.   I like the way they make jokes and, for just a fleeting moment, the corniest pun can feel like a private inside joke, and the two of us have something from which the rest of the world is excluded.

I was talking with Girl this weekend about matters of the heart and I came to the conclusion that anyone who could use the phrase "and what do I need to do right now to make this happen tonight?" in a romantic fashion would not only be my personal hero, but would likely become a legend in the dating annals.  It’s all about selling yourself, dating is.  Just like resumes and job interviews are about selling yourself.  Most things in life, in fact, can be construed as being some how based in the idea of sales.

The more I think about it, the more I see that those with sales experience or even just the sales persona tend to succeed.  Look in any industry, in any successful position, these people have spent their lives selling something, not necessarily something tangible, not necessarily selling for money, but it’s sales nonetheless.

I look at the things that salesmen need for success and the list is fairly short and common sensical.  A honest demeanor; regardless of the stereotype of used-car salesmen, you’re generally not going to buy something from a sleazy person who doesn’t seem trustworthy.  A likable disposition; salesmen tend to LIKE people, and interacting with people, and if they don’t, they can fake it really well.  You want to be around people who want to be around you, right?  A never say die philosophy; these are not people who allow themselves to be kicked when they’re down, hell, most of them don’t even allow themselves to be down when they’re down.  No matter how bad a day you’re having, you have to get out there with the expectation that the next day will be better, otherwise, what is there?

I think that I live by some kind of sales philosophy.  I’m all about selling myself or my ideas, whether in business or in romance or even in family life to a certain degree.  Maybe I lean a little more toward marketing, since I am pretty consistent about changing the packaging periodically, although the core product stays the same, even when the intention to revamp is there, it doesn’t usually take flight as I get distracted by something shiny.

Like that shiny…  what is that?…

*wanders off*