Second in a series:
We continue our conversation with former rock star and songwriter Jim Holvay of The Buckinghams on how he went from a career in rock to a career in sales.
His story continues...
"So, I asked him what he did and he said he was in computer sales. Remember, this is 1980...can you imagine being in computer sales in 1980??? He mentioned that he had started his sales career with a company called Pitney Bowes. He said, 'I'll give you a tip, Jim. If you go into outside sales, you need to go with the leader in an industry. And Pitney Bowes is the leader in their industry."
"Anyway, he gave me the name of a person to call. I get on the phone with them and they start asking me questions. Remember, I'm desperate...I hadn't worked in months, our savings was gone and my marriage was falling apart. So when the lady I was talking to asked if I had any sales experience, I lied! I said to her, 'Sure I do. I just moved out here from Chicago.' I told her I had sold men's clothing, cars...whatever came to my mind."
"And she says, 'Well Jim, today is your lucky day.' Sure enough, they were looking for a few new sales reps. They wanted me to come in the next day and interview."
"The trouble was, though, that I had gone into other interviews with my resume full of music and record accomplishments with the band. So I had this little inner voice telling me, 'Don't go down there with that same resume!!!"
What happened next? It gets funny...read the the third post in the series following this post.
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