$50k in Sales in 4 Months

My first job out of college was in sales, selling digital marketing services to local businesses in the greater Nashville area. I hadn’t planned on a career in sales — it wasn’t even on my radar. But an unexpected injury changed everything.

In my previous job, I broke my hand and needed surgery, which meant I was out of work for weeks. No work meant no income. Forced into a frantic job search, I sent out countless applications. When I finally got an offer for a sales role, I took it — mostly for the base salary, not because I had any passion for sales.

Thrown Into the Deep End

The hiring process included a ride-along with a sales rep. I watched as he walked into businesses, pitched strangers, and handled rejection with ease. I thought, This is going to be tough. Who in their right mind would do this all day? But then I reminded myself — I didn’t have a choice. I needed the job.

Training lasted three days over Zoom, covering the services, pricing, and, most importantly, how to handle rejection. The word rejection stuck with me. What if business owners told me to get lost? What if they didn’t even shake my hand? It felt embarrassing, but there was no turning back.

On my first day in the field, I stood outside my first business, nerves creeping in. How do you just walk in and get someone to buy something? I pushed past the doubt, opened the door, and started talking.

That day, I made 30 in-person sales calls. By the end of the week, I had walked into 150 businesses — and closed exactly zero deals. Meanwhile, my new hire cohort was celebrating their first wins. Doubt crept in. Maybe I’m not cut out for this.

The Breakthrough

Then, on the following Monday, I walked into a local jeweler’s shop. I gave my pitch, not expecting much — but this time, they said yes. Just like that. The pitch wasn’t perfect, but my confidence had grown through repetition. Something clicked.

Over the next three days, I closed eight deals, propelling me to the top of my cohort. What changed? It wasn’t a new script or a perfect technique. It was my mindset. I stopped fearing rejection and focused on understanding the businesses I was talking to.

One of my biggest wins came before I was even trained on our higher-tier product. I wasn’t supposed to sell it yet, but I understood the customer, believed in the solution, and closed the deal anyway. That’s when I realized — people don’t buy because of perfect pitches. They buy because they believe you can help them.

Building Relationships and Speaking Their Language

As I got more comfortable, I realized sales isn’t just about pitching — it’s about building relationships. The more I focused on rapport, the better my results became.

I started visiting more Hispanic-owned businesses, and I quickly noticed that many weren’t comfortable speaking English. It wasn’t that they didn’t need marketing — they just didn’t feel understood.

So, I made a decision: I was going to improve my Spanish.

At first, it was simple phrases — introducing myself, explaining who I was, and making small talk. But as I kept practicing, something incredible happened. Business owners who had been hesitant before opened up. We talked longer, and I wasn’t just another salesperson — I was someone they could trust.

One day, I walked into a small auto repair shop. The owner had brushed off other reps in the past. But as soon as I greeted him in Spanish, his face lit up. We had a real conversation — about his business, his family, and his struggles with online visibility. By the end of the meeting, he signed on for our services.

That experience taught me an important lesson: People don’t buy from businesses. They buy from people they trust. Sales isn’t about pushing a product — it’s about understanding people, adapting, and genuinely trying to help.

The Lesson? Keep Going.

Sales taught me something I never expected: Success isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about persistence. The first 150 businesses said no, but I kept going, refining my approach, and eventually, things fell into place.

In the beginning, my nerves and lack of knowledge were obvious, and business owners could sense it. I even fumbled an introduction so badly I apologized and walked out. But I kept learning. I doubled down on my training, refined my pitch, and truly understood the value of what I was selling. A key insight: Know your product so well that you can quickly identify the right customers to help.

By month four, I had sold over $50,000 in digital marketing services. I had proven to myself that this wasn’t just luck — I had figured out how to sell.

I started this job thinking sales was about persuasion. I was wrong. It’s about showing up, taking the hits, and moving forward. And that’s true not just in sales — but in life.