Long Long Ago...
Over 30 years in fact, I walked into an interview for a trainee sales job, I was told that when I passed my driving test to come back. So, 2 weeks later, that’s exactly what I did and got the job. From the age of 17 I quickly realised that sitting back and waiting for it to happen was never going to be a way to be successful.
Within 12 months and aged 18 I was promoted and had the honour of being the company’s youngest ever sales rep, a company that was over 100 years old at that point in time.
I went on to hold managerial and regional positions, achieve Director levels positions with 3 different PLC companies and to start a business from nothing to £50m turnover inside 8 years employing almost 500 people, which was eventually sold. All that by the age of 38.
I believe in teams, these can be teams of 2 or more, but to achieve what I have has meant being able to work with people, good people who have the skills that I don’t. I have always been willing listen and learn, and that will never change, no matter how old I am.