DeepGreenLawn
09-22-2008, 10:38 PM
I trained my new sales guy today. He is hopefully going to be more than just a sales guy but that is his job for right now. He is a grad from GT and just got back from playing in the minor leagues and obviously is having a hard time landing a job with the market the way it is. A real stand up clean guy.
I had him ride with me today, had some handouts for him while I treated yards. He impressed me, a real go getter. I know when I did door to door the first time I was nervous, he didn't even look back. He put out about 85 cards, talked to about 15 people, most of which blew him off and by the end of the day put out 6 estimates of which we landed one. By the end of it all he was doing all the estimates and talking and I sat back and watched ready to step in if needed. Never did... I was impressed... I didn't expect to get much at all from it but we made a huge sale and 4 of the other 5 seemed really promising.
He goes back out on Thurs alone, but in the same area I will be working in case he needs help or has any questions.
At the end of the day when we were headed back to his truck I asked what he thought...
1. I am wearing shorts next time.
2. It was hard at the beginning when no one wanted to talk with him/were blowing him off.
3. Once people started saying they wanted estimates it made it a lot easier.
4. When we sold the first one it made things A LOT easier.
5. By the end of the day he felt a lot more comfortable as he had a better idea of what to say.
6. He feels that it will be promising...
I am paying him hourly, part-time for now. He has done great so far and it looks like he will be able to take a HUGE load off of me next spring when we expect to get slammed like we did this year.
I just hope I can keep him busy enough through the winter to keep him with me... I told him to get a part-time job somewhere else, he is looking into being a sub for the local schools, and then he could work on his days off/when he is out of school. He has had interviews with other companies but said he would MUCH rather work outdoors with me than be stuck behind a desk wearing a shirt and tie.
And the best thing is that I don't see this one going off and starting his own company any time soon. Some people are made to be entrepreneurs and some are made to work for someone else... it's about time I found one that just wants to work for someone else.
Any one else having any luck with employees?
I had him ride with me today, had some handouts for him while I treated yards. He impressed me, a real go getter. I know when I did door to door the first time I was nervous, he didn't even look back. He put out about 85 cards, talked to about 15 people, most of which blew him off and by the end of the day put out 6 estimates of which we landed one. By the end of it all he was doing all the estimates and talking and I sat back and watched ready to step in if needed. Never did... I was impressed... I didn't expect to get much at all from it but we made a huge sale and 4 of the other 5 seemed really promising.
He goes back out on Thurs alone, but in the same area I will be working in case he needs help or has any questions.
At the end of the day when we were headed back to his truck I asked what he thought...
1. I am wearing shorts next time.
2. It was hard at the beginning when no one wanted to talk with him/were blowing him off.
3. Once people started saying they wanted estimates it made it a lot easier.
4. When we sold the first one it made things A LOT easier.
5. By the end of the day he felt a lot more comfortable as he had a better idea of what to say.
6. He feels that it will be promising...
I am paying him hourly, part-time for now. He has done great so far and it looks like he will be able to take a HUGE load off of me next spring when we expect to get slammed like we did this year.
I just hope I can keep him busy enough through the winter to keep him with me... I told him to get a part-time job somewhere else, he is looking into being a sub for the local schools, and then he could work on his days off/when he is out of school. He has had interviews with other companies but said he would MUCH rather work outdoors with me than be stuck behind a desk wearing a shirt and tie.
And the best thing is that I don't see this one going off and starting his own company any time soon. Some people are made to be entrepreneurs and some are made to work for someone else... it's about time I found one that just wants to work for someone else.
Any one else having any luck with employees?