Have You Ever Gone Door to Door to Sell Amway? I Did and Here’s What Happened (Part 1).
Whenever I tell this story people just shake their head. They think “You are out of your freaking mind.” Let me set the stage.
The year is 1997 and I just took a job at a local car wash, selling wax.
First of all the job I had was cool. I literally stood outside in t-shirts and shorts and sold people more car wash than what they originally wanted. It was a great gig for a while. I made great money and was outdoors.
Anyway, one day this guy comes in to the car wash, in a nice Lexus. Of course, it was a $30.000 car and he only wanted to buy the cheapest wash. Okay, no big deal. He goes into the cashier and pays. He comes out and strikes up a conversation with me. He’s in a suit and tie and tells me he’s a retired real-estate attorney. Here’s the kicker, the guy was in his early thirties at the time. His name was Tim Taylor.
Yeah like Tim the tool man Taylor.
So I asked him if he had a rich family. He says no but has a great way to make money for about 15 hours a week without a part-time job. He asks me if I was open to making a nice part-time income that could surpass my full-time job in a year or two. Of course, I am I said I wanted to see what he had.
So we end up meeting at a Wendy’s or some place, and he draws circles. (If you have ever been in an Amway presentation you know what I’m talking about here.) So after he draws out the circles and shows me big money on paper, I pluck down my 100 bucks.
I’m in business baby!
Okay, right out of the gate, I have a dilemma. Who in the world am I going to talk to about this? I mean I got to come up with a fancy one-liner like Tim Taylor did. I made a list and blew through it pretty quick. My list was about 20 people. I was dead in the water. So I ask him how I can make some immediate money with this Amway gig. He says take a brochure and a trunk load of soap and go sell the stuff door to door. I am not joking.
Really? Door to Door?
He says to knock on doors and ask people if they needed Amway soap. His reasoning was that millions of Americans like Amway products but they can’t find a distributor to purchase their soap. He explained that people would become distributors and then quit right away. I just needed to do what somebody else did. Those quitters built a customer base and I just had to find them. It makes sense to me.
Okay I’ll give it a shot. It makes sense.
I go home with a few more hundred dollars of product that I now have to get rid of. I have to sell this soap. Rent’s coming due and I have a 2-year-old daughter who has really gotten used to eating and being cared for all the dang time. Although I made a decent buck at the car wash I also spent those bucks.
So I go home and put on a tie and slacks. Because Tim says I should look professional. I mean I’m used to going to work in a t-shirt and shorts but who am I to argue with success? So I do it.
Here’s to your crazy success.
David Wood
P.S. Leave your thoughts and comments belowComments
Sarah Miller, September 4 2011, 08:45
What an interesting story, David! I can’t believe you actually went door to door. It’s inspiring to hear about your determination. Your experience really highlights the lengths people go to make a living. Thanks for sharing!
James Thompson, September 4 2011, 10:30
This brings back memories of my own attempts at door-to-door sales. It’s tough work but definitely builds character and resilience. I admire your perseverance in facing such challenges. Looking forward to the next part of the story to see how things turned out.
Jessica Davis, September 4 2011, 12:15
I’m curious, David, did you manage to sell all the products? It must have been quite an experience going door to door. Your story is engaging and shows the hard work involved in sales. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Daniel Wilson, September 4 2011, 14:00
I appreciate the candidness of your story. It’s not easy to share failures, but they are just as important as successes. Your determination and willingness to take risks are commendable. Can’t wait to read more about your adventures in the next part.
Emily Johnson, September 4 2011, 15:45
Hi David, I found your story very relatable. I’ve had my fair share of sales jobs and know how challenging they can be. Your experience with Amway and door-to-door sales is truly eye-opening. Thanks for sharing your journey, and I’m eager to see what happens next.
Robert Lee, September 4 2011, 17:30
Your story about door-to-door sales really struck a chord with me. It’s amazing how resilient you were in facing the challenges of selling Amway products. Your persistence is truly inspiring. Looking forward to the next installment to see how everything unfolds.
Alice Cooper, September 4 2011, 19:15
I once tried selling insurance door-to-door and it was quite an adventure. Your story brought back some memories of my own experiences in sales. It’s great to see someone else who has gone through similar challenges. Thanks for sharing, David!
Michael Harris, September 4 2011, 21:00
This was a great read, David. I’m curious to see how things turned out for you with Amway. Your determination and hard work are truly commendable. Keep up the good work and keep sharing your experiences, as they are both insightful and inspiring.
