Big names that started in sales or were in sales at some point in their career…
Mary Kay Ash (1915-2001)
American businesswoman
Founder of Mary Kay
She first sold a child psychology book line door-to-door; later sold for Stanley Home Products while studying medicine. She ultimately chose sales.
Garth Brooks (1962- )
American music artist
Just months before releasing his first album, he worked as a salesman in a boot store.
Johnny Cash (1932-2003)
American music artist
After serving in the Air Force, he worked as an appliance salesman while pursuing music on the side.
George Clooney (1961- )
American actor/ producer/ director
Worked as a door-to-door insurance salesman and sold womens’ shoes.
Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
American inventor and businessman
First job was as a sandwich and peanut salesman on the Grand Trunk Railway. He was 12.
Medgar Evers (1925-1963)
American civil rights activist
First job was as an insurance salesperson.
Jerry Garcia (1942-1995)
American music artist
Worked as a salesman in a music store while playing music on the side in local San Francisco clubs.
King Gillette (1855-1932)
American inventor and businessman
Cofounder of Gillette
Worked as a traveling salesman for Crown Cork & Seal Company.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Dutch painter
First job was at the age of 16 – he sold art (some prefer art dealer).
Tommy Hilfiger (1951- )
American fashion designer
Founder of Tommy Hilfiger
When no stores would carry his jeans, he sold them from the trunk of his car.
Duncan Hines (1880-1959)
American businessman
A traveling salesman for a Chicago printer, he published Adventures in Good Eating in 1936 from several years worth of notes on the road. His name was later licensed and became a successful consumer brand.
Bob Hope (1903-2003)
American entertainer
Worked as a shoe salesman before becoming a vaudeville star.
W.K. Kellogg (1860-1951)
American businessman
Founder of Kellogg’s
Sold brooms before working with his brother on creating ways to make breakfast cereals from grains.
Ray Kroc (1902-1984)
American businessman
Built McDonald’s
First job after being an ambulance driver in WWI (from age 15-20) was as a paper cup salesman. He later sold mixers for 17 years before coming into contact with McDonald’s.
Ralph Lauren (1939- )
American fashion designer
Founder of Ralph Lauren Polo
Sold men’s clothing for Brooks Brothers before creating his own line of neckties.
Bill Murray (1950- )
American comedian and actor
Sold chestnuts outside a grocery store.
David Ogilvy (1911-1999)
American advertising executive
Founder of Ogilvy & Mather
Referred to by some as “The Father of Advertising”. Sold Aga cooking stoves door-to-door in England, after working in the kitchen of a Paris hotel.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
American civil rights activist
Worked as an insurance salesperson.
Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)
American minister and author
Sold pots and pans door to door.
Ross Perot (1930- )
American businessman
Founder of EDS and Perot Systems
Worked as an IBM salesperson.
Julia Roberts (1967- )
American actress
Worked as a shoe salesperson while taking acting lessons in New York City.
Oskar Schindler (1908-1974)
German industrialist and humanitarian
Worked as a machinery salesman.
Jerry Seinfeld (1954- )
American comedian
Sold lightbulbs over the phone.
Harry S. Truman (1884-1972)
33rd U.S. president
Sold men’s clothing from his own store (which eventually went bankrupt).
Vera Wang (1949- )
American fashion designer
First job was working as a salesperson at Yves Saint Laurent.
Mark T says:
I Agree whole-heartedly with Mr. Ramanath above. It does indeed take those fundamentals being in the very fiber of our being to be truly successful!
Go out there and have a terrific day!
7 August 2009
Forrest Ward says:
I first sold candy for my junior high band. From there, sales (& service) has always been a part of my life. I even sold Bibles door-to-door one summer in college. When we come from “who we are” (as opposed to a “monologue-on-broadcast”), we excel – and so does our client. That next phone call is with your next best friend. Enjoy the ride – it’s everywhere you go.
7 August 2009
Bruce Smith says:
There is no other work as great as sales. Shame is that 1% give the rest of us a bad image. I am a salesman and I am proud.
7 August 2009
Hitesh says:
If there is a will, there is a way..or rather, there are ways..
7 August 2009
A Ramanath says:
People who have done sales have gone through the hard ways of life and then it is perseverance which takes them to different levels. If there is no desire, dedication, determination, devotion and discipline then perseverance is useless.
7 August 2009