A Yard of Bubblegum: How Bad Do You Want It?

A friend asked me, “When is the first time you ever sold something?” My initial answer was an annual lawn care service contract. However, as I drink my coffee this morning, I realized this was inaccurate. The truth is, I was introduced to sales in a middle school cafeteria.

Each fall, our school held a magazine drive where students would sell magazine subscriptions in exchange for donations to the school. The magazine drive was announced in the cafeteria at lunchtime. There was a representative from the magazine sales company with a microphone. He may or may not have been saying anything. His lips were moving, but it all sounded like gibberish. All I could focus on was the massive prize table, a huge poster that said, “WIN A LIMO RIDE,” and a yard of bubblegum. I had tunnel vision. When the lunchroom monitor handed out the contest rules, I literally ripped them from her hand. The rules were simple: get people to buy magazine subscriptions, accumulate tickets, and trade them for prizes like currency. Just like in a real sales career, the more you sold, the more tickets you could spend.

As a kid, there were two ways to get what I wanted. First, I could wait until a birthday or holiday. Second, I could do chores or work to buy it myself. When I say chores, I mean cutting the grass, raking the leaves, and taking the smelly garbage cans out after one of my dad’s fishing trips. The magazine drive stated I could win amazing prizes for doing nothing more than talking to people. I was all in! The first thing I did was write down the three prizes I wanted:

1. The yard of bubblegum
2. A raffle ticket to win the limo ride
3. A boombox with a black-and-white TV, tape deck, and radio (some of you know what I am talking about)

My next step was to go GET IT DONE! I really didn’t have a strategy or a plan. I just got after it. I woke up in the morning with magazines on my mind, thinking about who I would sell to today, and the vision of my head popping out of the moon roof of a moving limo like in the movies. My mind was sharp, wheels were turning, and shoelaces tied to hit the pavement. I spent the next month selling my heart out. I even went door-to-door with a clipboard I took from my dad’s office so I would look more professional. As each day passed, my skill improved, and sales came rolling in.

The contest ended four weeks later. I came in second place in the school. Ironically, the person taking first place is a successful sales professional in the medical device field today. Although I am not a big fan of losing, I did have enough tickets for the yard of bubblegum and a raffle ticket to win the limo ride. I didn’t have enough for all three of my original goals. I could have selected the sweet boombox, but to this day, I still love the thrill of a good gamble.

At lunch the following day, five names would be drawn for the infamous limo ride. The trip included being picked up at school and taken to James Dominic’s Pizza for lunch. I could visualize myself waving like a pageant winner through the window of the limo as the rest of the students looked on with envy.

“The first winner of the limo ride is… Robby Peeples!”

As I heard my name called, I leaped from my lunch chair! I had accomplished my goal, and all I had to do was talk to people and get them to sign something. I didn’t have to sweat, get blisters on my hands, or need a nose plug to mask dead fish smells from garbage cans. I didn’t need to wait for my birthday or a holiday to get something I really wanted. I set a goal and made it priority number one.

Sales and business, at its essence, is nothing more than talking to people. Reflecting on this story, I look back at my life. Any time I decided to succeed at all costs through absolute commitment, success has been achieved. It truly is mind over matter. When we decide to win, we will. It really is that simple.

In conclusion, I took the yard of bubblegum with me on the limo ride to the pizza place. I felt like MC Hammer going to eat at a 5-star restaurant. (I was too legit wearing hammer pants.) On the way home, I found the button to the moon roof and stuck my head out to let the wind blow through my hair. The rest of the kids followed suit, and we got in trouble for it. I guess you win some and lose some…

As we head into a new year. What are the things YOU want to achieve? When you want something as bad as a yard of bubble gum, it’s guaranteed to happen. Get after it today!

P.S. – My grandfather was a sales professional and was so proud of me that he went out and bought me the sweet boombox. He said, “consider it a bonus”. 😊

Sell Well,

Peeps

Robert Peeples

Sales Performance Consultant