Just had sex with ex girlfriend. We were more honest with each other now than ever. Interesting how we both lied to each other to protect each others feelings and it ended up being the reason we fought and split up. Honesty is the way to go. In the words of a former boss, "Don't worry about people's emotions, worry about your pockets!"
Worry about what you want, and the rest takes care of itself.

Why the **** am I going to be selling windows for a living? I have a mensa level IQ, I have read books on a gazillion subjects, have a sharp business and poker mind. What the **** am I doing?? Why can't I find a job in a business making business decisions? That is what I would be amazing at!!??

If you would be amazing at big business, then you would be amazing at selling windows. Your IQ...... I mean look around. Look around here. There are a LOT of smart people here. IQ matters but only may be like 5 % in having a good career.

You're right. Determination and focus are probably more important

I've seen so many of my smart students go out into the world only to crash and burn, because they thought that the skills they had that took them so far in college (IQ, determination, focus, etc.) were the same skills required to be successful in the real world.

They are not. What really matters is your emotional intelligence. Your ability to develop personal relationships, get along in teams, make friends at work, etc. It's virtually impossible to get promoted very far unless you are liked by the people who do the promoting.

There are books on this that will explain it far better than i can on a message board.

I agree to some extent. I've read How to Win Friends about a dozen times. For the past five years I've worked hard on getting along with people. I think you need social skills to get into positions of power, and when you're there, you need to have business skills and IQ to make good decisions.

I'd say most successful entrepreneurs are very intelligent people. Emotional intelligence and working together with people is a small part of what they do; a lot of being a CEO is being a huge dick. You have to be capable of being the bad guy, and making cold decisions. Even Richard Branson seems like a really nice guy but I'm sure he has a ruthless streak.

pretty short term outlook on life. pleasure and pain are both fleeting

But why do we do anything we do in life?

Seems to me pleasure is good and pain is bad and no reason to complicate it more... there are diff types of pleasure of course... some more like "contentment" and others like sexual or fleeting highs.

I agree. This is pretty much how all animals work, but most don't realize it. Those who espouse delayed gratification, etc., are still trying to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Even those who take current pain so they will have future pleasure are taking the long view of the same concept.

OTOH, if you're only seeking short-term pleasure, then life is going to hit you upside the head eventually.

For the first part of my life I was ultra responsible, always delayed gratification... then i realized I was having no fun and I never would have fun... was just being a tool. Started living life, got into trouble, had bad consequences but some good consequences. Learned a lot about real life, not book life. The result... now I have my head on straight finally balance seems to be the key.

Update: one sales guy at my company is hilarious, and a master salesman. I"m learning a ton from him. Guy could sell ice to an eskimo. Great communicator, very charismatic. I sometimes have daydreams of ruling the world. I'll never be president (wouldn't want to be) but being a salesman is the next best thing. How about making big bucks from just talking to people??? Seems great.

MOney no fame

deep thoughts itt

I'm usually guilty of thinking too deeply and not taking enough action... time to change that!!!

The owner of my company is not college educated, not what you would call an intellectual, but a multi-millionnaire!! Grit, sales, determination!

Is it possible to be genuinely nice, open, and honest, and still be successful?

Or is life fundamentally a pit of evil, where the strong survive and dominate the weak?

I refuse to comprimise my morals, and I am in the gutter financially. I wonder if I should kill myself. Life is hard for the honest.

Direct sales is hard as balls. Imagine getting dealt 27o fifty times in a row. Then the dealer insults you to your face.

I'm realizing that I have to be much tougher, more in your face with these people. They all think they know what they want, and they are not respectful of my time or what I have to say. I am failing hard and I know it, but my manager is going to spend more time with me.

I am hoping integrity will carry me through the day. I will not lie to my manager and tell him I am doing well when I am not.

Ambition is a powerful thing.

Having a hard time selling anything. People are shoppers. They don't want to purchase on the spot. I have to get better or get a new job.

My personal POV to sales:
sales is an unbelievably ****ty job. You have to try to make an eskimo buy a fridge. Main thing is make a sale, no matter if people need it or not. It is heavy pressure on you, because your money depends on it. And you making a sale depends only partly on you, but mainly on your clients. You have to take a ton of rejection and be just fine with it.

I would look in a different career. But there are people who are good at sales. From what you wrote here, I don't think that you are natural sales man. I mean it not as something negative, but like "you are blond/brunette" . It is just so.

It is absolutely not a career advice, just my POV here.

Appreciate the observation...

I got a sale today. That helped boost my confidence.

I think you are right that I'm not a natural salesman, I'm an introvert for one, so too much blabbing makes me tired. I am quick on my feet though. It's not easy. Nothing is easy. The one thing about my personality that makes me think sales is right is that I hate sitting in an office all day. I've done that, and it makes me really antsy. I like moving around, seeing a variety of situations on a daily basis. Sales provides that.

I also love the negotiation process. I love the feeling of outsmarting someone (just like poker).

The main downside is that paychecks are not steady. I'm going to give it a few months. If it doesn't get better, then I'll have to look into other lines of work. But I think sales is it for me since I have no other real skills. So inside sales as opposed to direct sales would be the next option.

"The weak in courage is strong in cunning"

William Blake!!! Pure gold!!

Grunch.

I have been inspired and started this project myself.

Good luck to you, sir.

Maybe if you ask your parents to give you an allowance for doing chores around the house you can achieve your goal even faster?

Awww, a wee jealous are we?

It's funny how people act just like crabs in buckets.

*** haters aside, got two sales today. Got eaten alive on commission but it's a learning curve. Motivated me since I was on the verge of quitting; asked a buddy for a job and he might have one for me, one with a steady paycheck, but not nearly the same income potential.

My rules for success:

1. Know what you want.
2. Go for it.
3. Get knocked down.
4. Get back up.
5. Get knocked down.
6. Get back up.
7. Get knocked down.
8. Hit the other guy.
9. Get rich.

sold 5 in a row, two with manager with me (split comm). 3 on my own, one to a chinese guy. Proud of that one since chinese are tough, very price conscious, very hard bargainers.

Almost got one yesterday. Gotta keep my energy up. Sales is a transfer of emotion! Always stay positive no matter what, and go for close all the time. ABC if you want the knife set you fing fgats.

I'd advise you get back up again before trying to crack the other guy. A fist to the shin is not good for anyone