Kick Fear’s Ass by Kay Miller

Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash

Full disclosure: my first sales call was a disaster.  

This happened shortly after I started my outside sales career, just after college. I was the first woman ever hired for outside sales by a company called Amerock. The product: a line of cabinet hardware (knobs, pulls, hinges, and more).  

Amerock wanted to add women to their sales force. The problem was, they were concerned that a woman would be intimidated by calling on the mostly-male hardware market. I convinced them I could do it. I was hired.  

Fast-forward to my first solo prospecting call. I set my sights on a Seattle lumberyard called Blackstock Lumber. Before the call, I’d driven by and studied the layout. I’d packed up brochures and samples. On the day of the sales call, I dressed professionally, right down to the bow tie pinned to my blouse.  

I drove to the lumberyard, and into the parking lot. That’s when things fell apart.  

A huge load of lumber had just been delivered. Men in Levis, flannel shirts and hard hats swarmed in frenetic activity. There I was, a 24-year-old sales newbie. Everyone stared - I stuck out like a sore thumb.  

I slowly pulled into the lumberyard’s parking lot. As I eased my car into a parking spot, I felt my face turn red. I sat there for a moment. Then, to my horror, I watched myself peel a sweaty hand off the steering wheel and shift the car into reverse. I backed out.  

Expletive! As I sped away from my very first sales call, I was furious with myself. I’d chickened out. I’d failed at the exact thing I’d signed up to do!  

Here’s the thing: I didn’t give up.  

After that embarrassing failure, I asked myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?”  I decided NOTHING could be worse than the sick feeling I had after running away in fear. I decided to kick fear’s ass.  

The next day, I went back to Blackstock Lumber. I made it to the door and went inside. That day was the first step in selling a new customer. It took awhile to get to  know the owner and establish a solid relationship. Once I did, I recommended a small Amerock display. Eventually, he upgraded to a larger one. He became a loyal, repeat customer.  

Here’s an Uncopyable Secret: The next time you face the risk of rejection, failure or even looking stupid, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” As long as the answer isn’t death, force yourself to push past your fear.  And remember, the biggest opportunities (and sales!) lie outside your comfort zone.  

Famous golfer Jack Nicklaus once joked about facing critical shots during big tournaments. “I still get butterflies,” he said. “I just work hard to get them to fly in formation!”  

Want to make more sales? Decide to Kick Fear’s Ass.  

Kay Miller is an expert on Uncopyable Sales. As the first woman ever hired for outside sales by Amerock, a division of Anchor Hocking, she built her formidable sales career by emphasizing long-term relationships over one-time deals. Kay was later hired by Walker Exhaust, a division of Tenneco and the largest automotive muffler manufacturer in the world. While there, she was named Walker’s Salesperson of the Year, an accolade that earned her the nickname “Muffler Mama.” For more Uncopyable Secrets, order Kay Miller’s book Uncopyable Sales Secrets, available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.