Dan Smith's Linkedin Analytics

In sales, honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only one that truly works. Very early in my career I was selling gas and electricity door-to-door in a highly competitive market, where every provider was offering something similar. I’d often be dropped off in some of the dodgiest areas, knocking on doors that were answered by people in dressing gowns, with intimidating dogs. Most of them had already had visits from three of our competitors that week, and they weren’t exactly polite in telling me. But instead of launching into a hard sell, I did something different, I acknowledged the weaknesses in our offer. This threw them off guard, lowered their defences, and earned their trust. I’d be invited in, offered a cuppa, and more often than not, I closed the sale....without being mauled by the hound. What happened next was the real eye-opener though, they’d take me next door and personally introduce me to their neighbour. My best winning streak? Six consecutive house-to-house sales, all thanks to that trust. By the end of my first week I was at the top of a leader board filled with people twice my age. Six weeks later, I was back at university, turning down a permanent position with what was a very compelling salary for me at that time. I never set out to have a career in sales, but that’s where I landed. I’m not a specialist in any area, I’m a proud generalist who thrives on lateral thinking and innovative problem-solving. This mix of skills has been the foundation of my success for the past 25 years. What drives me isn’t just closing a deal. It’s the challenge of overcoming scepticism, the thrill of building genuine connections, and the satisfaction of making a sale that works for everyone involved.