I help tech sales AEs perform to their full potential in sales and life with coaching, courses, and community | Sales Coach | Former #1 Enterprise AE at Salesforce | $100M+ in career sales
So proud of my son Max. He left his favorite stuffed animal in Mexico, and the hotel was going to charge $110 to ship it back. Out of principle I told him it wasn’t worth it, since it was worth $20 at most. But he was super upset and said he would work for it. On the 4th of July holiday in 90 degree weather, we set up a lemonade stand. Instead of just having people come to him, I showed him how to approach people, smile, and offer the lemonade to them. Even though he was nervous, we practiced his pitch and he mustered the courage to approach everybody on the beach. We sold out within an hour! Several people came back for seconds and one guy gave him a big tip. He’s also helping me with chores around the house so that he can pay for the shipping on his own. It’s been a great bonding experience for us and also an opportunity to teach him about basic business and sales principles. While i love spoiling my children, I don’t want to raise spoiled children. This experience has been worth its weight in gold, way more valuable than the cost of shipping the stuffed animal back.
Brit Ballard
2w
Adorable 🥰 Agree with all that! So many of the powerful lessons I've learned in Sales have bled into my personal life unintentionally, but impacting all of my relationships positively--even improving my parenting. What I did *not* expect, was for my 3yr old to start using the strategies he hears me use when communicating, just from listening to me. He's recently starting offering me options for 'what we could do', which ALL include the thing he actually wants mixed in with a combination of other trivial things--ending the presenting of options with, "do any of those sound fair?" I'm in trouble. 😂😂😂
Good parenting right here 😎
Scott Torney
2w
First, great job, Dad! Second, what a great lesson you’re teaching him well on the bonding experience! Third, I wish I lived closer as I often will stop at neighborhood lemonade stands to get a cup, but then also tip just to let them know what a great job they’re doing
Mark Geppert
2w
Love this!
Jared Pins
2w
Max's dedication is inspiring. Losing a precious item taught valuable entrepreneurial lessons. Ian Koniak
Francesca L.
2w
Did he make enough money to get his toy back?!
Learning early! 👏
That's an amazing story. It sounds like a valuable lesson for Max. Teaching kids about hard work and responsibility is truly priceless.
💎 Resource for founders navigating Revenue Growth • Redefining the Sales Function • ✍🏻 "Conquering Founder-Led Sales: Thriving in the Uncomfortable" • Championing diversity in sales and entrepreneurship • Advisor
2wIan Koniak We had this same experience! My son lost his favorite $1 at-cost stuffy - to him it was priceless - at a resort in Cabo. The resort told us $105 to ship it back. I said no way. Some lovely woman who was staying at the resort after we left (I put out an APB on Facebook) contacted me and carried it back in her suitcase (after taking photos from all over the resort to ensure my son that his stuffy, Sherbert, was not only okay, but had learned to speak Spanish) and shipped it back to us in CO after she came back to the US. It was quite an ordeal, but so impactful for my son. It's amazing the attachment that kids make to their loved stuffies.