How to Sell Anything to Anybody Ch 2

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Questions and Answers

What does the author suggest about his identity as a salesman?

He believes he was born a salesman.

He felt destined to be a salesman from childhood.

He made himself a salesman through hard work. (correct)

He thinks that all successful salesmen are born into the profession.

How does the author describe the neighborhood in which he grew up?

It was predominantly Italian, specifically Sicilian. (correct)

It was well-developed with modern amenities.

It was a safe place with friendly neighbors.

It was a wealthy area with many opportunities.

What experience does the author recall regarding coal collection?

He disliked collecting coal due to its dirty nature.

They bought coal instead of gathering it.

He never participated in gathering coal.

He and his brother collected coal to heat their home. (correct)

What was the author's relationship with his father?

His father often abused him physically. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the author's view on prejudice?

He believes everyone experiences prejudice against them. Signup and view all the answers

What feelings did the narrator experience due to his father's treatment?

He believed he was no good and would never amount to anything. Signup and view all the answers

What influence did the narrator's mother have on his self-perception?

She was unable to change his perception due to her lack of authority. Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator cope with his father's behavior during his childhood?

He ran away and hid in boxcars. Signup and view all the answers

What was the economic situation of the narrator's family during his childhood?

They were often reliant on welfare during the Depression. Signup and view all the answers

What personal initiative did the narrator take to contribute financially to the family?

He created a shoeshine business. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the narrator's experiences in bars have on his views of adults?

He witnessed both generosity and meanness influenced by alcohol. Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator believe should be the relationship between a child and their father?

He should honor and obey his father. Signup and view all the answers

What item did the narrator offer as a service when he was a child?

Shining shoes Signup and view all the answers

What motivated the narrator to sell newspapers?

He sought to win a contest for new subscribers Signup and view all the answers

What was the narrator's father's reaction to his financial contributions?

He was angry and often punished him Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator feel about his childhood experiences?

He was proud and wanted to remember them Signup and view all the answers

What illegal act did the narrator eventually participate in?

Breaking into a bar Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator and his friends steal during the burglary?

A car and liquor Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator do to ensure he could sell more newspapers?

He knocked on every door in his route Signup and view all the answers

What incentive did the newspaper company provide to boost subscriptions?

A case of soda for signing up new customers Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator's relationship with his father change over time?

It became more contentious over time Signup and view all the answers

What primarily influenced the narrator's decision to stop pursuing easy money from burglaries?

Pressure from his father to get a legitimate job Signup and view all the answers

What was the narrator's reaction upon finding himself in the juvenile detention home?

He experienced fear and regretted his past actions. Signup and view all the answers

After the incident with the bar burglary, what was the consequence the narrator faced from his father?

His father physically punished him. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of job did the narrator find after leaving juvenile detention?

A job at a factory handling insulation Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator feel about his numerous job losses?

He thought they were a reflection of his incompetence. Signup and view all the answers

What incident at school ultimately led to the narrator's expulsion?

Fighting with a counselor over ethnic remarks Signup and view all the answers

What occupation did the narrator NOT mention having during his job experiences?

Working at a grocery store Signup and view all the answers

What was the significant impact of the narrator's night in juvenile detention?

It deterred him from returning to criminal activities. Signup and view all the answers

Which job did the narrator describe as one of the worst he had?

Working on an assembly line at Hudson Motor Car Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Author's Early Life and Struggles

Born November 1, 1928, on Detroit's lower east side, to a Sicilian family.
Experienced significant poverty and discrimination, being called names like "wop," "dago," and "greaser."
Father's violent and abusive behavior, often beating the author, created a profound sense of inadequacy and anger.
Frequent runaways and experiences in boxcars or flophouses further solidified self-doubt.
Childhood characterized by hunger, limited resources, and reliance on charity, highlighting profound poverty.
The author initially believed the father's negative assessments and sought to prove him wrong.

The Early Selling Experiences

Started working at a young age, shining shoes in workingmen's bars and at factories.
Developed sales strategies—tricks to get tips from customers in establishments or delivery.
Earned money through newspaper subscriptions by persistence and door-to-door selling.
This selling experience gave the author a taste of success and demonstrated the importance of commitment.
Gained success by making sales and creating sales strategy from selling small items to more expensive things—Newspaper Subscription, Pepsi Bottles

The Turning Point-Juvenile Detention and Aftermath

Implicated in a bar break-in, eventually arrested and sent to juvenile detention.
This experience was a wake-up call, leading him to reject a life of crime.
Father's disapproval and renewed abuse after release further reinforced self-doubt.

Various Jobs and Career Choices

Worked several low-paying jobs and endured harsh working conditions, but the author's perseverance stood out.
Experimented with different jobs in factories, transportation, and even hotel service positions.
Reflects on the importance of determination in overcoming the author's challenges and negative perceptions to earn a live-able wage for his family.
Developed an understanding of different sales methods—selling a need.

The Initial Business Venture

Worked in an actual sales job and built a home-building business.
Learned about running a business from an actual coach and instructor—Lessons learned from Saperstein.
Had to learn the complexities of operating and running a business and what it meant to be a true businessman.

The Real Estate Deal and Failure

Purchased undeveloped land with promised future infrastructure.
Overestimated future and opportunities based on an incomplete understanding of facts.
Financial failure and bankruptcy—realizing the crucial need to do accurate research.
Author's deep failures and mistakes reflect the challenges of business practices and sales.

The Path to Success

The author's wife's question about providing for the family pushed him to create a new path to recovery.
This event triggers the author to restart and become a car salesman, highlighting a successful and driven person with goals.
Learned the importance of perseverance from previous struggles and began applying his experience in sales—learning the importance of persistence, hope, and hard work.

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Description

Explore the formative years of a prominent author born into poverty and discrimination. This quiz delves into the struggles and experiences that shaped their early life, including familial abuse and early work adventures. Gain insights into their resilience and how these factors contributed to their later success.