I started my 17-year career in sales in October 1996 as a Membership Representative for what was then known as the West Chamber.
It was one of the most rewarding positions I had during that career, in part because I had the opportunity to learn so much about the people and businesses in the western suburbs of Denver, the area served by the chamber.
Taking on this role challenged me in many ways. I had to take the initiative to call and email people I had never met, enhance my listening skills when meeting with prospective members, become comfortable talking with all kinds of people, and be brave enough to ask for the sale.
When Toastmasters and Sales Came Together
At about that same time in my life, I became involved with Toastmasters.
I quickly discovered that many of the skills I was developing through Toastmasters were also helping me become more effective in sales. I was learning to organize my thoughts, speak with greater confidence, listen carefully, think on my feet, and become more comfortable communicating with people I didn’t know well.
Over the years since I went full-time with my Boomers’ Social Media Tutor business in 2013, I have continued to rely on many of those same skills and practices.
My relationship with what is now the West Metro Chamber has continued as well.
In a wonderful full-circle experience, the chamber honored me in February 2024 with its Solopreneur of the Year award. When I stood on the stage accepting the award, I told the audience that I had worked as a Membership Representative for the chamber nearly 30 years earlier and shared how important the chamber has been to me.
A Similar Journey, Nearly 30 Years Later
That brings me to my friend Miriam Alvarez.
This week, chamber members learned that Miriam, who has held a membership position similar to the one I once had, is leaving the chamber after 3½ years. She starts a new job next week and is excited about her next adventure.
Miriam has been an integral part of my experience as a chamber member, as she has been for so many others. It has been a joy to watch her develop her skills and confidence in her role, much as I did many years ago.
Fortunately, leaving the chamber doesn’t mean Miriam is leaving my life!
We are both members of Timberline Toastmasters. And that’s another interesting connection between us.
Both Miriam and I became involved with Toastmasters while working in sales. Through our Toastmasters experiences, we strengthened skills that also made us better at building relationships, listening to others, communicating our ideas, and becoming more confident in ourselves.
The Skills That Go Beyond Toastmasters
The sales process is often thought of as being primarily about persuasion. My experience has taught me that being an effective salesperson is much more about communication and relationships.
And that’s where Toastmasters can make such a difference.
- The confidence to approach someone you don’t know.
- The ability to listen carefully.
- The skill to explain something clearly.
- The willingness to ask a question and really hear the answer.
- And, yes, the courage to ask for the sale.
Miriam and I began our chamber sales journeys many years apart.
Yet we discovered something very similar along the way: the communication skills we developed through Toastmasters didn’t stay at Toastmasters meetings. We carried them with us into our professional lives—and they helped us grow.
About Joyce
Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, become more effective social media users, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.
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