The making of a salesman

In my high school days, long ago. It was just fun, boys and girls laughing and talking about horoscope- the stars in the heavens and their relations to one's fate. The popular song then was "Que sera sera whatever will be will be". My turn was opened and it read, "you will be a good broker", what is that? Non of us knew what the word broker mean, so we just left it at that. Three years later later after our grduation I left our hometown for Manila, even without my prents knowing, if just for exposure in another world and perhaps for greener pasture. The spirit of youth then was so high in me. I was 19 years old. In my first few days in Manila I saw in the newspaper ads, "Sales Reps needed" so with address and phone numbers. So I went. At the door lobby a notice read "salesmen applicants please proceed to...", I will be a salesman? I said to myself. A few days later I saw myself with a black shoulder bag selling door to door bottled drinks, with two pesos daily allowance and another two pesos per bottle sold. After a week or so I decided to quit. Then moving from one job to another I found myself enrolled at the Lyceum of the Philippine college of journalism, a four- year course. When we graduated in 1972, Marcos declared martial law and all newspaper publications, radio and TV stations were padlocked and those left were government owned or controlled companies. By then I already knew the meaning of the word broker that could also mean salesman. Not long after I was employed by a company selling Japan-made air condirioners. The first few weeks and months we were kept busy by the trainings an seminars. My new job was truly challenging, but the fact that I fully understood the nature of my work and knew how to execute them was more than enough to uplift my spirit. After some time I just sold one or two units per month. Then the icebreaker, I happened to pass by a building under construction, and talking to the foreman I was told to come back the following day and talk to Mrs. Uy. And oh my God! Mrs Uy was the owner and after some shivering salestalk Mrs Uy ordered fourteen units of various types of airconditioners to be installed at the now Cpacabana Hotel along EDSA near Roxas Blvrd. I earned seventeen thousand pesos by her firs order. That deal made me a salesman at least to myself. My friends become many and as we move around our daily job, I found my work fulfilling. After a year or two I trasferred to a bigger company selling Japan-made cars and trucks. There I felt a salesman's job is just all earning, learning and yearning. There in my new company the trainings and seminars became more intensive, now not just how to be an earning salesman but how to be a professional salesman. My new company gave me a new car and good compesation. Too long? Yes talking about myself make me feel lulled tozzzzzzzzz... If you are not sleepy then I must. See you, lets talk about professional salesman.#Mel bye