Griffs Jobs

My Dad had the office and plant built by a good friend of his Ernie
Branch and had been at the location since 1966. Another thing I loved
about my new career was unlimited lunch breaks…The downside was
I was working every day from typically 8:00am to 6:00pm. Outside of
work I spent most of my time working out at the Pasadena Athletic
Club where I became a member. It was at the club where I met my 1st
wife in 1978. Back to the printing sales job. As mentioned I knew nothing
about how to sell anything. Most companies when they hire salespeople
will put the rookies like I was through a 7 – 10 day, 8 hours a day
training course … My Dad’s training course was a bit different. He called
me into his office on my 1st or maybe 2nd day as the new executive. The
1st few days I just shadowed my Dad and watched everything he did.
From his arrival in the morning to walking through the plant greeting
everyone with a big smile and chit chat to going to the lunch room to
pour his 1st cup of coffee to carry back with him to the office. A habit I
quickly picked up.
Back to my intensive sales training. My Dad picked up a big yellow
phone book, handed it to me and then said, “Go Get Um Tiger”.
I will never forget those words.
I believe I asked my Dad the question what if no one wants to buy
printing when I call them? He answered saying then you will need to get
in your car and start driving to businesses, walk in and tell them who you
are and let them know you represent a printing company that can print
anything except taco shells. Well that’s all the training it took. Within 1
week I had landed a new account through door knocking which I always
preferred over cold calling on the phone. Within six months I was covering
my base salary with commissions earned. In my 1st year I was handed
a $6,000 check by my Dad’s business partner for billing over $100,000
in one month @ 10% commission which was a commission of $10,000
less my draw of $2000 a month and the additional $2000 I was overdrawn.
Being my 1st year in sales I felt like I may have found something
I loved to do that being sales. In all my jobs I really do feel that sales was
my calling somewhat. I enjoy being out and about meeting new people
and never really took rejection personally. I felt that I could leave no
stone unturned which led me to land some very good clients early on in
my printing sales career. It’s hard to succeed if you are not getting the
support you need in any endeavor. I really was being supported in every
way by the entire team at Porter & Griffin and of course without that
support my efforts in the field would mean nothing.
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