At 20, living with my grandmother and desperate for work, I stumbled into what seemed like a temporary gig selling printer toner and office supplies. The company offered me $100 a day just to show up, with a simple promise: survive three weeks, and they'd evaluate whether to keep me.
The reality was brutal. I spent up to three and a half hours daily making 100-150 cold calls, trying to convince strangers to buy printer ink—arguably one of the most uninspiring products imaginable. Most people couldn't care less about toner cartridges, and getting them to trust a voice on the phone felt nearly impossible.
When those three weeks ended, my manager delivered the verdict: "You did pretty well. We'll keep you another week." I thought, Great, another $500, but then I'm definitely out of here.
That "one more week" mentality sustained me for six to eight months. Then something shifted. I realized I wasn't just surviving—I was actually good at this. What started as a temporary fix had become my calling.
Six years later, armed with hard-earned sales experience and a network of relationships, I launched Quire Office Products, LLC. Last year alone, I sold over $2 million in toner and office supplies.
The Golden Rule of Sales (and Life)
Through countless conversations and closed deals, I discovered a fundamental truth: People forget what you say, but they never forget how you made them feel. This principle became my blueprint for getting anyone to listen, regardless of what I was selling.
Three Strategies That Changed Everything
1. Embrace Authentic Vulnerability
Most people hate being sold to because it feels manipulative. They sense when someone is putting on an act. So I did the opposite—I got real with them.
After the standard pleasantries, when prospects asked how I was doing, I'd say something like, "Honestly, I'm at a new job and feeling pretty uncomfortable. I'm literally sitting here with my teddy bear and blanket just trying to get through the day."
They'd laugh. The tension would break. Suddenly, I wasn't just another pushy salesperson—I was a real person dealing with real anxieties, just like them. That vulnerability made me relatable and trustworthy.
2. Project Unshakeable Confidence
I learned that if people like you, they won't want to hang up on you. The key was becoming genuinely likable through confident energy.
Smile while you talk. It sounds simple, but people can literally hear a smile through the phone. Your voice carries a different tone that signals warmth and positivity.
Speak with volume and conviction. Loud doesn't mean aggressive—it means confident. Quiet, mumbled speech suggests uncertainty and timidity. When I spoke with genuine enthusiasm and volume, prospects felt my confidence and began to trust my expertise.
3. Build Real Connections Before Selling Anything
My biggest breakthrough came when I flipped the traditional sales script. Instead of jumping straight into product questions, I focused entirely on connection first.
I'd be upfront: "Hi, this is a sales call, and I don't want to trick you into anything." Then I'd share something vivid from my life—maybe a basketball game I watched, a funny story from my morning, or an observation about my day.
I discovered that adults love descriptive storytelling just as much as children do. When you paint a picture with words, people get engaged and start visualizing what you're describing. They become invested in the conversation.
These weren't brief exchanges. I'd spend 20-30 minutes learning about their favorite teams, their background, their interests—building a genuine relationship before ever mentioning printers or toner.
The magic happened after we connected. I'd say, "I've really enjoyed talking with you, but I should mention why I called—I'm here to see if I can help with your office supply needs." By then, they wanted to help me because we had a real relationship.
The Ultimate Differentiator
Here's the truth about sales: When you don't have a relationship with customers, your only value is your product and price. Every competitor can match your offerings and undercut your rates.
But relationships? Those can't be commoditized. When you've made someone feel heard, understood, and valued, you become irreplaceable. You're not just a vendor—you're a trusted partner.
That's how a 20-year-old with no experience, armed only with authenticity and genuine care for people, built a million-dollar business one conversation at a time.