I ventured out to Chicago for a little day-trip with a
top-notch
Polyglass sales rep, in an attempt to learn the ways of the roofing industry.
Lesson one:
Relationships.
That’s what this business is –building and growing
relationships, which eventually evolves into meaningful partnerships, some even
becoming genuine friendships.
While waiting for a connection flight in Philly, I chugged
down a brewski with two fellow passengers and eventually found myself in a
sales lesson with a former Insurance agent.
She was a mix between Pat Summit and Jane Fonda.
Fascinating, I know. Before hopping on her flight to Cleveland, she left me
with a tug of my hair and the following:
Know NASCAR down
south. Know your customers. Know where Bob’s son goes to college; when he tells
you, you write it down and the next time you see Bob you ask how little Tommy
is doing at Virginia Tech. Know when to be Miss Southern Bell and when to be a
hard- nosed woman. If you don’t know the answer, be honest about it. Return
phone calls and most importantly, don’t always be yourself… Nope, don’t do
that.
And that was good...
The trip was short, and full of roofer things. I said my
goodbyes to Chicago and hopped on a flight home. I found myself seated next to
an Orthodox Jew –a real one. As he so eloquently stated, “It is no accident we
are seated next to each other.” Within minutes the two of us were enthralled in
all things G-d.
After exchanging information, I hopped on his religious
based blog and read, “The underlying question for all Jews throughout all of our
history has always been whether we choose to grow or not. And
by “grow” I mean taking our corporeal existence, and aiming upward, always
seeking to improve."
Jew
or not, this is the ultimate question for all humans, or so it should be.
The
Jew and I parted ways and while heading to catch the midnight shuttle back to
my car, I ran into the man whom I had met during my flight to Chicago- "it is no accident."
A
smile erupted on his face as we exchanged words about our short trips. He lost his luggage- “A trip from hell” is how he said it. Ironic after my
previous G-d driven conversation. Our convo was quickly interrupted when the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball Coach,
Brenda Frese stepped in front of us.
Despite
my age (22) and my post-basketball playing days, I was star struck as I
introduced myself to the level-headed, friendly Coach. As we waited for our
shuttle, we exchanged words on her upcoming season, my personal college basketball experience and so
on.
I felt real fucking cool.
We
said goodbye and I headed back to good ol’ Shepherdstown, WV thinking only about how I had just
witnessed the best of America in less than 48 hours.
A
Chicago- based hospitalities sales rep
An
Asian, father of two, CEO of Canon
A
30-year insurance agent who is now retired, on her way to see her mother who
“doesn’t remember this morning”
A
former Military man who is now a Roofing Sales Rep
An
Orthodox Jew, writer and innovator
And
Brenda Frese –the woman at the core of every athletic dream, I once aspired to
conquer.
People
like to talk. I listen to them and they to me and that’s what this whole life
thing is about: experiences, encounters, relationships.
