Hey Madysen and Joshua,
I want to tell you a story. Part family story, part lesson about life and work, and maybe a little advice too.
Ask most people if they always wanted to be in sales and they’ll laugh and say no. Most people think of that 70s stereotype: fast talking used car salesman with a big smile. That was what I thought salespeople were like. And honestly, that image came from someone I knew well, my dad, your grandfather Joe.
You didn’t really know him. He passed in 2006. But people loved him. He was blunt, honest, sometimes rough around the edges, but loyal, hardworking, and deeply respected. Some people had a love hate relationship with him, but that was him. When I was a kid, I knew for sure I was nothing like him. I could never be a salesperson. I wasn’t bold in that way, I didn’t have that kind of confidence, and I definitely didn’t talk like him. I’m probably more like my mom or maybe my grandpa. But even so, pieces of my dad rubbed off on me without me realizing it.
My grandfather taught me other lessons that mattered too. He worked hard his whole life. Both sides of our family were migrant workers, traveling north to pick cotton, potatoes, corn, or whatever needed harvesting. I grew up in Edcouch, Texas, a small town where many families still lived that way. When I was little, my grandparents were retired and took care of me while my parents worked.
Every morning, my grandpa and I ran errands. Our first stop was the post office. He’d pull his mail from the little metal box, open each envelope carefully, and people would start talking to him. He didn’t talk much, but he listened. He nodded, asked a question here or there, and kept the conversation going.
If there was a check in the mail from the government, we went to the bank. No drive through. We would wait, and when it was his turn, he would ask the banker about their family before handling his own business. On the way home, we would stop at the bakery. He didn’t just grab pastries from the display case. He pointed out what he liked, and the baker would make it fresh. While we waited, he listened. To the baker, to other customers, anyone walking by. He made people feel important.
People loved him for that.
After he passed away, strangers would come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed talking to him. Not because he had the best stories or strongest opinions, but because he made them feel heard. And without realizing it, I had been learning something important. Sales isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s not about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about listening. Making people feel seen. That’s what my grandfather was really good at.
I didn’t expect to end up in sales, but life has a funny way of guiding you. I graduated from the University of Texas in 1995 with a degree in Advertising. I had completed an internship at GSD&M Advertising Agency and thought I was ready to start my career. I sent out my resume, interviewed, and got an offer, or at least I thought I did. Then the call came. The position I expected had been given to someone with more “research experience.” I was crushed. Research experience? I had done research in school, but apparently that wasn’t enough.
A few weeks later, I found Harris Publishing at a job fair. They were hiring for a “Research Associate” position. It sounded perfect. I needed research experience! I went in for the interview and the first thing the interviewer said was, “Sell me this pen.” I froze. I fumbled. I did it, but I did a bad job. And that’s when I realized the position was a sales job.
I got the job, and I stayed. I learned fast. And I discovered something I didn’t expect: I was actually good at it. I learned how to structure conversations, how to ask questions, and most importantly, how to listen. Listening, connecting, caring, everything I had watched my grandfather do, I started doing too.
I stayed at Harris Publishing for a while. I was making more money than some friends starting out at Advertising Agencies around town. Over time, I realized that the lessons I learned from my grandfather and from watching my dad had all come together. I could connect with people, understand their needs, and help them. And that’s what sales really is.
If you all decide to get into Sales, it’s up to you. Joshua, with your ambition and business mind, sales could be a place where you really thrive. You’ll need patience, discipline, and the ability to listen more than you talk. Madysen, you have the personality for it, but it will test your patience and energy, and you’ll need to protect both. Sales isn’t always glamorous. It’s stressful, full of rejection, and unpredictable. But if you approach it like my grandfather approached life, with care, respect, and attention, it can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll learn, help people, make connections, and control your own success.
Sometimes I think about what life would have been like if I had kept chasing a job at an advertising agency. Maybe I would have ended up as an Account Executive, still a salesperson, just a different title. Life works in funny ways. I even named you, Madysen, after Madison Avenue, because of that path I almost took.
Sales is like my grandfather’s errands. It’s not flashy or loud. It’s showing up, paying attention, listening, and making people feel valued. That’s a lesson that will serve you no matter what you do.
Love,
Dad
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