Our top sales leader for the 2013 Classroom to Career summer internship program, Patrick Gibbs, took a break from selling to share his perspective on his Dardis experience. With sales totaling nearly $16,000 and priceless hours of on-the-job experience, it’s clear that Patrick had a successful summer.
How would you describe your Dardis Classroom to Career internship program experience in one word?
I think my summer is actually best described in two words – challenging and rewarding. The summer was not easy, as every day was a new challenge, whether it was unexpected rejection or just finding the motivation to keep calling and stopping in places.
Overcoming these challenges was, by far, the most rewarding feeling that I’ve had. Seeing that I was able to address obstacles and overcome them for both personal and financial reward left me feeling accomplished at the end of every day.
What was your most memorable sale of the summer?
For my last sale in June, I had to drive an hour and a half to Iowa City. Two appointments had cancelled, and I was making the trip for one potential client. The week had been long, and my sales were far lower than I wanted for that week. I thought about rescheduling, but decided the morning of that I had made a commitment and would follow through. The client asked if I would mind if his business partner also sat in, which I was more than happy to accommodate. After the consultation, I determined that their needs together added up to the Elite Package.
I proposed that they take advantage of that package pricing and split it with just a few modifications. They accepted, and I was the first person in the history of the company to sell our largest package option. Needless to say, selling $4,257 worth of merchandise in one sitting was more than worth that trip! This meant more to me than just a big sale because it reminded me to keep my head up when times got challenging and that hard work will always pay off in the end!
Would you recommend this internship program to your peers?
I would recommend this program to any of my peers. No matter what your major is or where you want to end up in life, this internship will make you better prepared. I had always considered myself a salesman by nature and very personable, and I was amazed at how much my interpersonal communication ability grew from the Dardis Academy and then practicing Greg Dardis’ training in the field. The skills that you learn in the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program will prove to be what sets you apart from the rest of the pack in any career or lifestyle!
Regarding the Academy, I was not looking forward to 40 hours of training, and I had not been a fan of any professional training that I had gotten before. I expected to be bored and learn redundant information, but Greg and his entire team captivated me the entire time. I can easily say that I learned more applicable skills in the Academy than three years of college. This was an amazing opportunity, and I am so thankful that I gave this program a try. I know that I learned skills that I will use for my entire life!
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