How my first Saturday job at 16 years old, in a baby retailer, shaped my business today.

7 Jan

My first job changed my life: yours probably did too!

We often forget the lessons we learnt when we were younger. We brush it off as something that everyone knows, ‘it’s common sense’ - but we shouldn’t!

I started a Saturday Sales Assistant job at 16 in a family-run baby retailer.

And it felt hard! The boss made me cry one day because he caught me chit-chatting when there was work to be done. If I spoke to him today...

I’d thank him.

Him, his wife, his team, his company - they all gave me the work ethic I have today. AND they gave me a critical lesson in selling & customer service.

Expectant parents would walk up the stairs and their jaw would hit the floor at the sheer amount of options available to them.

It was f*cking overwhelming!

But it became my job to ask the best questions; to find out about them, their lifestyle, their likes & dislikes, their budget etc. and then have the knowledge to be able to direct them to what would fit.

I never actually sold them anything, I simply served them.

They had a list of things they knew they needed, I just helped them decide which was right for them.

By asking great questions I could point them in the right direction.

And it’s the same in my business now.

A business owner comes to me, I ask great questions & provide a solution.