Talk about ignorance. In 1975 I was excited because I had just scored a job as a truck driver, well so I thought. It was a simple concept, all I had to do was swap the bottles on my truck for the money people in their homes gave me. And I could do it again next week, the week after and every week after that. How good was that? Too easy … All I had to do was drive around in my truck and swap bottles of soft drink for money. And to add to the excitement I could go to any home in my area not on my list and get them to give me money for bottles full of soft drink. Life was so good.

To get other people to give me money for bottles of soft drink all I had to do was go to their front door, ring the bell or knock if their was no bell and say “Hi! I’m the drink man how many bottles would you like, 6 or 12?” Whatever their answer was it didn’t matter. I was so excited that I was a truck driver I came up with all sorts of responses. For example: Oh well here try these 2 bottles and I’ll pick up the empty bottles next week. I was able to give these bottles for people to try because I was given two crates or 24 bottles to take home. The next week people would ask for another two or 6 and they gave me money for it.

To cut a long story short … I soon broke company records. I just did what I enjoyed on a daily basis and learned to get good at it. Not long after I ended up getting my friends to join me and they too could drive their own trucks and do the same as me. 23 friends and trucks later I soon found myself being like the Supervisor that showed me what to do. I was showing others how to drive trucks and swap bottles for money. It took me two years to get to that level and I stayed in the industry for 12 years.

I have door knocked for a living for over 20 years for one company or another. Now having being a professional for so long I still keep to the basic philosophy as I did then.

1. Keep things simple

2. Have fun

3. Listen to people

4. Do what you say you are going to do.

1. To keep things simple I have found it is a lot of fun attending seminars and doing courses as I listen to those who can help me succeed as I improve my skills and knowledge so I can help others succeed.

2. To have fun is a must. A great friend of mine has this motto – If you’re not having fun then you must be doing something wrong. Door knocking is a lot of fun. You meet all kinds of people at different times of the day or days and they could be very receptive, non-receptive, happy, in a bad mood or whatever. The fun part is you are at their home on that day (whatever day it is) and if you are having fun you reflect it in who you are therefore you are better positioned to work better.

3. To listen to people is an active art that can be learned. To do that effectively you must be willing to be patient with people and have an attitude that says … “The number one priority is what’s important for you as opposed to what’s in it for me.”

4. One of the best ways to develop trust with people (it works both ways) is to “do what you say you’re going to do.” Have you ever had someone say to you that they will get back to you and they don’t? Then they come up with some lame excuse. I used to be like that and I soon learned that is does you no good.