In my last blog post, “Working Girl”, I was lamenting how I was looking for a “real job,” one that provided health benefits, 401k’s, one that didn’t include icing my hands down at night. My resume just didn’t cut the mustard when trying to attain an interview in a corporate setting.
Then stuff happened. In another blog post, “Do you believe in Angels?,” I wrote how I look for the signs that point the way for me. Through a massage client I hadn’t seen in 6 months, I received a direction. One I couldn’t let go of. A sign? I don’t know, but it was an opportunity I decided to follow.
An opportunity in sales. Ugh. That’s a bad 5-letter word for me. Me, sell stuff? Something I’ve mightily fought against during my kid’s school days. No, I don’t want to sell raffle tickets. No, I don’t want to sell wrapping paper. No, I don’t want to put myself out there and take a chance on rejection.
That’s what it really comes down to, is rejection. My already fragile ego didn’t need anymore knocks against it. So, why did this time, I decide to pursue this career direction in sales? Because they wanted me. They looked past my lack of sales experience and looked at me. The girl who graduated with a Speech Communications degree, the one who passed the financial Series 7 exam on the first attempt, the one that could talk to just about anyone about just about anything. Isn’t that what selling is all about? Talking with people and convincing them that your product will change their lives for the better in some way.
It’s an exciting, scary, nerve-wracking time for me. What about if I’m not good at it? What about if I can’t pass the Oregon state insurance exam? Yes, it’s selling insurance. Health insurance to senior citizens. Supplements to Medicare. I haven’t quite wrapped my head around it yet, but I will.
This is a time to practice what I hear others preach. “Happiness is a Choice,” “Opportunities Are What You Make of Them,” and “Whether You Believe You Can or You Can’t, You are Probably Going to be Right.”
This is my test. Can I keep a positive attitude? Can I believe in myself? And finally, at 52, can I learn something new and work harder than I’ve ever had to before?”
Yes, I can. Just watch me.
Sharon Ogle 
woohoo, go get em!
I sold insurance for 7 years as an agent then was promoted to be a sales manager and trainer for Life Insurance in the State of Maine. Little known tidbit about me.
And I can totally see you in insurance sales, because you are so personable and caring. People like that make the BEST sales people. Talk to people, let them tell you what they want/need, then just figure out how to make it work. Sometimes it means you can’t help them. Which means they respect the hell out of you. Lots of times you can. And they respect the hell out of you.
I will never say many disparaging things about insurance. I believe it is more than a necessary evil, it is something many people need. But they need something that works for them, not just for my wallet. If I weren’t selling the hell out of myself right now, I’d say I already miss sales a ton!
Good luck – sure you will do swell!