Damn Swede

When I was taking a break from advertising, one of the jobs I did was sell a gutter protection system. I know what you are thinking. A gutter protection system ensures that you will never have to clean out your gutters again. I sold the industry-leading system and was also trained to inspect gutters and roofs, identify problem areas and recommend solutions. Leads were generated via newspaper and radio advertising, but for a year and a half I would show up on an unknown doorstep with my kit.

I still can’t believe I did that.

An introvert by nature, for many years of my life the thought of making conversation with unknown people was terrifying. In fact, I thought this “trial by fire” method would help me overcome some of those insecurities and I was right. This job not only helped me confirm what I knew to be true - that I was not cut out for sales - but also taught me several valuable presentation and persuasion skills that I still use today.

Oh, but the stories!

There was the woman who fell asleep during our conversation, the run-in with the mafia, the decorated war hero author, the federal judge and several meetings with middle-age Mr. Corporate America, who could not believe a woman was sent to do a man’s job and looked for ways to stump me in order to prove they were right. (When I could answer them, they resorted to just plain being rude.) I usually did well with old men and women, but for different reasons. Old men liked to flirt with me (a reoccurring theme in my life) and old women thought I was adorable and appreciated the companionship.

One elderly woman in particular I will not forget. Her husband of over fifty years had recently passed away and her children did not live in the area. It was no longer safe for her to clean her own gutters and there was no one around to do it for her. Of the two hours I spent in her house that day, I think we maybe spent 20 minutes discussing the features and benefits of the product. The remaining time was spent sharing our life stories; mostly me listening to hers and chiming in when appropriate. When she spoke of her late husband, we both got teary. Finally we completed the paperwork and it was time for me to go. As she hugged me goodbye, she said, “You’re a joy to know.”

I could not wait to get to the car and call my boss. “I’m a joy to know, I’m a joy to know!” I exclaimed. “Yes,” he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You are a joy to know.”

I was reminded of this today when my priest’s wife told me at coffee hour today that I am “just fun to be around.”

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In other random thoughts, I have found a way to be even more productive. (In an earlier post I described my love for laundry because I am automatically doing two things at once.) Today I am not only doing laundry, but also making bread in the bread machine and watering plants/taking out the trash/blogging all at the same time. I decided today was a good day for fresh made bread, so I can have grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. It’s going to be good.

I could also add procrastinating to the list of things I am doing, but that doesn’t see all that productive. I have to do the minutes from last Monday’s parish council meeting and today’s all parish meeting. But first, maybe I’ll change the laundry . . .