Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter Ch 4

Bill Porter's Career Journey

• Bill Porter, a graduate of Lincoln High School, faced the challenge of finding employment despite cerebral palsy.
• His father urged him to "Get a job!" immediately after graduation.
• Bill initially found work gardening for neighbours, earning $4 a week.
• This wasn't fulfilling for Bill or his father, who felt it wasn't a proper job.
• Bill's mother suggested selling items for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) in a fundraising drive.
• Bill thrived as a UCP salesman, earning favourable recognition and higher income.
• A market downturn in UCP items prompted Bill to think of selling different products.
• Bill created his own catalog of products from a mail order catalogue, using illustrations and pricing.
• Bill expanded his sales territory and excelled, becoming the top salesman at Watkins, Inc.

Challenges Faced by Bill

• Bill's cerebral palsy limited his employment options significantly.
• He struggled with jobs requiring manual labor, such as stocking, cashiering, and loading.
• He faced numerous rejections from potential employers, despite his enthusiasm and salesmanship skills.

Bill's Success Strategies

• Bill's persistence in searching for appropriate jobs and refusal to accept "unemployable" status were key to his success.
• He focused on sales roles rather than manual jobs, owing to his prior experience.
• He used illustrations in his own sales catalogs to overcome communication barriers resulting from his speech impediment.
• Bill tailored his approach for different customer needs, including using the 100% money-back guarantee to his advantage.
• Bill adapted his sales strategies based on individual feedback and customer needs.

Bill's Personal Impact

• Bill's perseverance inspired his mother and other people.
• Bill's career story is often shared to encourage others to overcome difficulties.
• The story illustrates that individual determination and resilience can lead to success, regardless of personal limitations.