I could've chosen a different path, went to college right after High School and found a more secure job, but instead I chose to work as a sales representative for ChocoPower Protein Bars. I was scouted out at a career convention for High School seniors. The slick man told me about how much I could make if I was a talented sales representative and I figured that I could try out the job over the Summer, "what could it hurt?" I worked over the Summer and was amazed at the potential to earn a six-figure salary by working for the company, and the work was easy!
I'm not naive, I know that I was chosen for my beauty, and that my looks helped sell the product, but if life is willing to hand me a short cut, I was inclined to take advantage of it. I've had a rough life. I grew up in Poland and moved to the United States in High School. I had to learn a second language, and the students were not patient nor kind with me, it was a rough transition, but the hardest part was watching my parents struggle. I knew that my mom and dad worked so hard at the factory, they used to be doctors in my home country, but here-- they had to start from scratch. I always told them that I would go to college, and that I would take care of them, the way that they took care of me. Working for ChocoPower looked like it was going to accelerate my dreams, that I didn't have to go to college, and I could have everything I could have dreamt of.
Fast forward to 13 years later. I'm married, and I have a special needs son that needs to go to an expensive private school. I'm 30 now and I notice that I don't sell as much as I used to, but I'm still making enough commission to afford my very first home, send my son to school, and take care of my husband, who was laid off. I'm in the car and I'm on my way to my number one client in the Midwest, he always buys an impressive amount of product for his hotel and grocery chains. I'm feeling optimistic, until I received a call from my boss.
My boss told me that my service would no longer be needed. I pulled over, feeling the stress and tension of the call. He said, "Anna from East Coast sales will be taking over your position, she has sold three times as much product and we'd like to expand her region." My jaw dropped, Anna is barely eighteen years old, she doesn't know my customers like I do, she doesn't know the names of our customer's spouses, their birthdays, and the names of their little ones. I'm experienced and my customers love that I know them, they will never accept a brand new sales rep, I have a personal relationship with my clients! I tried to explain this to my boss and I listened to him reject me. I begged him to give me one last opportunity. I will sell 5,000 units to my next client. "Please allow me to sell, one last time, I will prove to you that I'm worthy."
