I started my career by selling newspapers on street corners and then when I was old enough, I landed a job with Time-Life Books, promoting their best-selling nature, science, and food libraries by phone.

Since then, of course, Ive sold a lot of other things. But the thread that runs through my career, what I really enjoy, is creating and selling knowledge: seminars, consulting, coaching, books, tapes, newsletters, and the like. I suppose I just have an affinity for learning and teaching.

Others may like technology or travel or agriculture or boating.

I bring this up because you should sell items for which you have a good temperamental fit, goods and services that you respect or personally enjoy. If you dont, I believe youll underachieve, and worse, youll be unhappy. And you might blame the profession of selling for your woes, instead of identifying the real culprit.

If I were in the car business today, Id sell Porsches. I drive one, and I wouldnt mind collecting them, when I have a close encounter with a ton of extra money!

But I wouldnt be happy at all, selling average cars. While they have their place, they simply dont inspire me.

There are cars on the market that cost as much, if not more than Porsches, but I know, from direct experience, that their engineering is vastly overrated, and they spend too much time on hoists. Theyre not for me. Ill have nothing to do with them, given a choice.

Call it snobby, but I know myself. Id be a misfit if I had to sell something I didnt respect or enjoy.

Ive often thought about the maxim that a salesperson must believe in his product. Im not sure that exactly captures what Im referring to. I think appreciate, admire, enjoy are closer to the mark.

I knew a fellow manager at Time-Life who, on more than one occasion said, If they didnt pay me to do this, Id hang around for free, just to watch!

If you feel that way about what youre selling, or about the company for which youre working, then that is one of the best rewards you can get.

Then, youre selling one of the finer things in life.