Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Robinson, Founder of Kim Robinson D2D Sales Training, located in Des Moines, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Based upon my own first-hand experience, I created a formula for starting successful cold-call sales conversations and I teach that opening and the consultative sales process to anyone who sells their products and services door-to-door. However, my primary customer base for many years has been direct sales reps who sell cable TV subscriptions and high-speed internet connections direct to consumers.
Tell us about yourself
I went broke rather quickly about 30 years ago (hey – it can happen…) and found myself in desperate need of a job and a paycheck, so I answered an ad to be a commission-only door-to-door salesman for the local cable company because it promised two weeks of paid training. I had no intention of actually being a door-to-door salesman (I thought myself better than that!) but my honor dictated that I give it a try out of respect for the “training” paycheck I’d been given. I learned nothing about starting a cold-call sales conversation in the training so I just made
it up as I went along and, much to my surprise, I made five sales my first night! In one night, I earned more money in commissions than I was paid for the previous two weeks of “training.” I was making money so I stuck with it and, over time, I created a specific formula that anyone could use to consistently start cold-call sales conversations at the door to make sales. Years later, I launched my own sales training company and have since taught thousands of sales reps all over North America, Mexico and parts of Europe how to start cold-call sales conversations that lead to good sales. I am now retired from my sales training company but still
keep my hand in it by conducting one-on-one live training and coaching sessions with frontline sales reps via ZOOM and TEAMS. I help them to be more successful and I love it!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I wrote and published the best book there is about how to be successful in selling goods and services door-to-door— The Door-To-Door Sales Pocket Bible.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Keeping your sales funnel full is critical. It is too easy to get lazy when things are going well, so the search for new leads to load into your funnel slows down, and before you know it, ka-boom, no new business is coming in! Keep the funnel full.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Research your idea for a new business and do not think a lack of competition for your "great idea for a business" is a good thing. Highly competitive areas of commerce are good because that means people want what it is, and there is money to be made. No competition may mean no one will care about your "great idea," and you'll go broke. The next hardest thing for a small business owner to do is to just start. Take the leap and make it happen. Do not let the search for perfection be the enemy of good. Just. Do. It.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.d2dcable.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.robinson.iniowa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1smmartguy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimRobinson23
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrobinsond2dcable/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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