Sales job and authenticity

[zt1]

I have an opportunity to have an internship as a door to door salesman this summer. While this may not sound that exciting, it is great for learning to better interact with people, Handle business on your own and just have more independence.

Has anyone ever done anything like this and how did it affect your authenticity? I mean, in sales school there is a whole lot of motivational speaking, saying things a certain way, being non-threatening.

What I don't want is to be told to do something or say something that I completely don't mean. Or try to be persuasive by telling someone something and while I can still be truthful about it, it doesn't really have any depth to what I say.

Can I still be authentic and do something like this?
Can I still be in touch with whatever I'm feeling and still be a good salesman?

[James81]

The key to being an authentic salesman is selling a product that you can be authentic about. It really is that simple.

In fact, people love it when they feel you are being real with them about your product and people hate it when they feel like they are just getting a "pitch."

But if you are selling a product that you can truly embrace and that you really feel is a quality product, you will be able to be naturally authentic and even give people it's limitations if you feel inclined about it.

When people sense that you believe in what you are selling, they will buy it.

I sold insurance when I was in college. I truly believed the company I sold for was a great company and that the benefits they offered were good. And I told people that. I also made no bones about what I knew and didn't know. I always told people that if I didn't have an answer for them, that I would find them an answer and get back to them.

As a result, I won an award for selling in my first months as an associate.