Anyone with Door to Door experience, how did it transfer into other sales roles?

Main question is in the title!

I sell pest control door to door. Learned quickly to get used to doors slammed in the face, oh what I would give to hear the nice gentle click of being hung up on.

Ya knock 250 doors a day, cut across lawns, pee in neighborhoods, etc... is going from this to 100 dials from your home office a relief or does it come with its own headaches that are not in D2D?

The close can't be as satisfying as selling a 1 year pest control service to a guy that opened the door expecting the pizza delivery kid, or is it?

😂 Sales Humor
📈 Closing
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15
CuriousFox
WR Officer
7
🦊
People coming to my door freaks me out a little so mad respect for your hustle. 
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
5
VP of Deez
"Yeah man idk why those door knockers are out here, pretty weird, I was just servicing your neighbor Jerry's home and wanted to come by to make sure you heard about what was going on"
stratman
Politicker
0
Sales Engineer
And then you call Jerry and he's like "WTF? That guy just came by and was dropping your name!"
GeneralCorp
Notable Contributor
5
General of The War Room
I respect the shit outta you. 
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
1
VP of Deez
My man 🙌 tell engineering we need a badge for that
BigCheese
Notorious Answer
3
Agency Recruiter
I sold pest control D2D my first summer after college and absolutely hated it. However, the experience was invaluable. I think it's a great gateway into more typical sales roles. Obviously different, but the fundamentals are the same. You've learned to take punches and develop thick skin. The high volume of people you talk to allows you to learn and develop different approaches, closes, etc. Goes without saying that it also conditions and sharpens your work ethic. Would never do it again, but very glad I did just for a summer.
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
5
VP of Deez
I hear that! I had a rough first year but figured the time invested in the learning curve would pay off with more time knocking. That and the higher commission as a manager was appealing for one last Summer job before graduation. 
From what I have been told by an AE at a larger tech company, the downsides of D2D are faaaar worse than the downsides of SDR/CSD roles
BigCheese
Notorious Answer
1
Agency Recruiter
I mean, there's a lot of money to be made if you're a sales savage, so if you like it/can put up with it, by all means go get that bag
AboutThatSalesLife
Praised Answer
3
Director of Sales
I sold print advertising in the back of a student planner for Northwestern University one summer in college. Door to door sales, and it made me question my own existence. It was a horrible experience but I learned a TON that made every job after it feel like a walk in the park. Keep grinding man, you’ll learn a lot about yourself doing stuff like that. 
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
2
VP of Deez
Thats a tough product to sell! I'm lucky to be in pest control as its basically a utility. But you're right... there were days I wanted to wander out into traffic 🙃 
Gotta grind through it and use that experience to land a b2b tech sales role
AboutThatSalesLife
Praised Answer
2
Director of Sales
There you go! Best of luck. 
ATLSalesQueen
Contributor
1
Sales Consultant
@AboutThatSalesLife  I’m pretty sure we had the same internship. I did it for Vanderbilt University. Worst summer of my life but I learned a ton. University directories? Or I think now they are called around campus? 
AboutThatSalesLife
Praised Answer
1
Director of Sales
Bingo! That was the one. Haha. It was called University Directories back then. 
ATLSalesQueen
Contributor
0
Sales Consultant
Yup worked there in college too. What a terrible experience 😂
Smithy
Politicker
2
Director of Sales
I did door to door for one day and I now have mad respect for those who do it for a prolonged amount of time
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
1
VP of Deez
Takes grit for sure
Captain_Q
Arsonist
2
Sr. Account Executive
If you can hustle on pavement, the dial pad is easy.  Stay Hungry!
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
1
Manager, Outbound Sales
My career began in the door to door trenches...

I can’t speak for everyone but I think for me it gave me the ability to practice communicating with various personality types...

Best part is, door to door teaches you hustle - if you succeed that is...

Plus it’s great for chain smoking and shenanigans! Hahah
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
2
VP of Deez
Yeah working different communication styles is a big part of the skill building. From the powerlifter that asks why tf you are bothering him, to the sweet yet senile old lady that asks you to come in and introduces you to her stuffed animals. 
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
2
Manager, Outbound Sales
Hahaha seen it all!
MrWhite
1
Sales Associate
I did D2D for a very short time and would recommend you make the switch. There is a lot more room for growth and you'll also get better pay.
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
1
VP of Deez
Those are two main reasons im intending to switch!
How did D2D prep you for that switch?
soldmywayintoyourwifesbooty
Good Citizen
1
AE (Account Executive)
Yo! I moved from Costa Rica to the US in April 2020 because of a covid job loss. 

Got here and my first job was selling alarms door to door. 

I started in May (hot Texas summer), and transitioned in January 2021 to a sales role in a big data startup. 

I would say b2b tech is a tooootally different game, and most of the sales tactics I was taught do not fly in b2b with VP's of IT or other real leaders. 

To answer your question: the sales b2b sales game a TON easier - physically, mentally, emotionally. After d2d my resilience and work ethic is built like a brick shithouse compared to some of my panzee MBA coworkers. 

It's sad in some ways though because comfort is somewhat of a killer to work ethic. Sometimes I really miss grinding 10 hours a day, burnt skin, headache, and arriving home knowing I made a shit ton of $$ that day. 
WillSell4Commish
Opinionated
0
VP of Deez
I was also in TX last summer! In Austin. 
Appreciate your insight, the hard work certainly is rewarding, but I could go for some comfort and less physical grind
TheFemaleWolf
Opinionated
1
Director of Sales
I’ve been in D2D sales for 11 years ... but all B2B! I could never do residential like that...mad respect for real. 

The companies I’ve worked for have added tech to make prospecting easier / faster but there is no better value gained than learning how to navigating awkward / difficult / uncomfortable situations in the field. If you can do that effectively and hustle the way you say you do, you can translate that skill set to anything. Seriously. 
Cleopatra
Opinionated
1
Regional Sales Executive
Fake it til you make it! March on!!
Adslanger1
Opinionated
0
Senior Account Executive
I salute you sir. D2D is no joke and quickly separates the men from the boys. My first sales job was selling steaks D2D. It’s the only reason I am where I am. I live in Phoenix tho so of course I prefer wfh on the phones now 😂
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
0
Senior Account Executive
Im glad it's not within our culture, ill always be suspicious about them.
goose
Politicker
0
Sales Executive
I may be in the minority but with the advent of Google I think door to door selling is a thing of the past.  I would never buy something from someone knocking on my door.
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
I'm not saying cold calling is easy, but if you can knock on 250 doors a day you should be an absolute beast at cold calling. 
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