Suli Zink – Business Opportunities For Women in door-to-door sales

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35 Min Read

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Last Updated: November 8, 2021
Summary:
Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

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Sam Taggart 00:40

There we go podcast mode. So this Sam Taggart and I’m on this awesome podcast called the D2D podcast with this amazing person called Suli Zink.So we got she has started females knockers United.

Are you now so just female knockers unite, unite, and we you know we’ve crossed paths through the years you’ve been knocking for how many years?

Suli Zink:

This is my 13th summer.

Sam Taggart:

13th Summer guys, like a lot of people don’t last 13 days, she’s lasted 13 summers, that’s a big deal. Been an industry staple. And it’s fun because I see a lot of people, you know, pop up on the whole I want to be a social media knocking coach and I want to go help, you know, be an Instagram influencer. And I’m always like, yeah, you’ve done it for one summer, like, you know, like, you’re still making, you’re still making your first 100 grand, like, Good job, man. And one thing about Sue, she’s been a top rep but aptiv She’s been, you know, done some solar now done some other stuff and really is built an amazing foundation in donor cells, you don’t last 13 years, if you’re not making any money, you know, you

Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

01:48

know, I’ll be here if I can afford things in life. Sure, but it’s a good stepping stone.

Sam Taggart 01:55

Well, I’m excited. So we jammed because I was like, man, we want to get some kind of female empowerment and empathy towards this the diversity in this industry, like not only a female but your auto color. You know, you’re African American. So it’s like, you know, a lot of people are like,

02:12
my grandma tells me stop forgetting that and politics. Yeah.

Sam Taggart 02:15
But it’s like, you know, a lot of people are like, Oh, Sam, you can do it. You’re like this little perfect white boy with blond hair and blue eyes the

02:22
misconception is it just like it’s Oh, but there are certain companies, when you see them, you know, it can be they’re looking for the blue haired, blue eyed blonde hair. I’m here to like, Mom, three kids. Married 11 years of those 13 summers knocking Yeah, so

Sam Taggart 02:37
it’s just it, it brings some realness to like, oh, the, you’ve got the traditional golf his mission 21 year old kid that goes out slays or you’ve got so many. It’s like, I built a career, a lifestyle. I’ve been married 11 years, I’ve got three kids, I’m the breadwinner, and badass like making good money doing it. So that that that’s what I’m so excited for. So if you’re listening to this, hopefully this brings some like, diversity, some different angle to it. And, and some power meant to the to the women out there that are all like, Well, my husband’s only one knocks and I got to stay home with kids like no, you get out there and go cry.

“there’s so many business opportunities that you can have while you are at home”

03:14
Even if they’re out there, the one grinding, like there’s so many business opportunities that you can have while you are at home. And they’re doing those things so that, you know, you don’t feel so stressed or feel so lonely. Like there’s just so many things that women can do behind the scenes or, you know, just to feel empowered, whether they’re the ones knocking or not. That’s what I was the value that I want to bring, I actually sat with several women who are spouses to someone who are humongous, and the door to door space. And they’ve started like tea pot businesses, they’ve started the cookie businesses, they’ve started all these businesses to where they can grow to all their spouses doing their thing, like we don’t have to be in the background.

Sam Taggart 03:50
I love that. And we’ll jam on that. So then you can even share this with your spouse if maybe, because here’s another thing, like I’m bringing the spouse so I have a mastermind group with a bunch of owners. And this is the first year where I’m allowing spouses to come on our international trip. And so we’re going to Guatemala, there’s like 70 of us going in October. And I’m bringing like a marriage and family therapist to come with their spouse. Yeah, it’s expert circle. We’re leaving October 23 through the 30th.

04:18
Oh my gosh, that will be after my Blitz.

Sam Taggart 04:20
It’s epic. And literally, we’re gonna do some dope meditation stuff to yoga hikes to service. We’re helping out with a square foot gardening project to having counselors and it’ll be with all spouses. Yeah. So I think there’s probably 27 spouses coming and I was like, I need a track for them to kind of have their own. How do I be a spouse too? And then some of them actually the women are the CEOs. So there’s a lot of people in our masterminds that have the women and the husband are either partners or they’re the CEO and the husband’s like, Hey, can I come? Which is crazy cow

04:57
right have to get in on this like my house. He was definitely the uplifter in the marriage and he would want that kind of stuff. That’s

Sam Taggart 05:04
awesome. No, I’m a firm believer. I’ve been through a divorce myself, and I’ve credit some of it to just the stressful lifestyle. Door Door. And I think that, you know, I helped my ex start a baby romper company. We had a it’s like a zipper in the crotch and stills awesome. Called Ella nine. Perfect. Yeah, it’s dope. It’s like, she came with this idea. And I was like, wow, let’s do it. So I went to China, I got manufactured helped her get everything going. And you guys are still friends? Yeah, we’re still cordial and stuff like that. But like, it’s, it was one of those things that you’re like, Man, she didn’t ever sign up for this. I was already a door knocker? Right. And, and this is this is the common trend, right? Like, you’re in this lifestyle. I got home from the mission. I was a typical, I’m the typical story, right?

05:52
person they’d come to for sure. Yeah,

Sam Taggart 05:55
I did. I did door to ourselves before my mission that the mission and then got home a month, month later was out selling and I met her in that month time. Like it was just ALRIGHT, we date long distance we get married right after because we didn’t want to. We didn’t want to wait till another summer went by. Yeah. And then so let’s rush the marriage. So we gotta you know, I mean, you want to come out with me? So then

06:18
got married before you went to the summer?

Sam Taggart 06:19
The second? No, no, the second summer. So in the fall, we got engaged and then married the spring. And

06:25
then I feel like that’s also typical in the Doerner space. It’s like heartland.

Sam Taggart 06:28
Yeah, so we can get housing. Oh, it is the typical story, right? And it’s like, I think a lot of times people don’t understand like that, like what they see in society. And this is a long winded question that I’m asking you, what they see in society is my brother, and my dad and my cousin, they all go nine to five, and then they come home, it’s you know, six, and then have dinner as a family. And then they marry a doctor or salesperson. And then it’s like, oh, this is not normal. Last, this is weird. So what do you say to those people?

Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

07:02
Um, and I’ll be honest, like, luckily, the spouse that I married is someone who has all the attributes that I need all the attributes that I need to need to work on as far as like support and uplifting. But the biggest thing for him was just like, if we’re gonna sit down and actually like, write out and figure out what is it that we truly want? Like, what do we want some of our goals to be like together? So as we talked about passive income, as we talked about, like our kids education, like coming from backgrounds, where parents, Like, legitimately, if I wanted to go to college, I had to get scholarships, or get student loans or do all these other things we were trying to, we came up with a plan on how we can together find a vehicle that would get us to our mutual dreams together. And once he realized and understood that it was going to be door to door, I mean, he was making great money, but he walked away two years ago, well saw like just how stressful I was knowing that we were having different people watch our kids, and he’s making great money, and I’m making great money. And it’s like, wow, what is important to us. And that’s one of us, being home with the kids and being able to do their thing there and support to be able to get to our end goals. And I think that that’s the biggest thing for someone who possibly like has has come from a nine to five or transitioning into that is like, what do you truly see your end goal being or what is your like, biggest why together that’s mutual, like how you’re going to get there might be different, but there’s going to be an end goal that you guys are going to agree on, and you’re going to do anything it takes to get there.

Sam Taggart 08:39
I love that you’ve done that. Yeah, so what’s the mission? What’s what’s the end goal or some of your next benchmarks or check? Yeah,

08:45
so one thing is I want to retire by the time I’m 40. So

Sam Taggart 08:49
it’s on my bucket list. Yeah, so I don’t know about retire but like, just basically be like, Yeah, I have a few money so don’t mess with me. Yeah. And

“I feel like four more years of this grind. Like my children will be free.”

08:57
it’s not even the sense of like a few money like I literally grew up in like West Valley by with my grandma who had nothing. We were on welfare and legitimately couldn’t even afford like lunch tickets at school. And I look at 40 like my kids where they’re going to be, I want to be able to attend every single gymnastic sport like I want to be able to just like get up and go to Puerto Rico for a month with my kids and help them like learn like I don’t want my kids to have their education here in America. I want it to be in Israel in Egypt, in Afghanistan in wherever like we are so bought into this TV and social media and watts here. Like I don’t want my kids to have that and I feel like four more years of this grind. Like my children will be free.

Sam Taggart 09:47
I love that. Yeah. No, that was always my my whole mission was like I want to go live in Costa Rica for a month. Let’s go do it.

09:55
Yes and no, like hold backs like No, no seven backsight my kids learn more in like an airport and all the other they probably been to more countries than most people have even like read in a story book. And I want that to be the great learning experience that we have while in this life is seeing and understanding other cultures, and I need money for that. So.

Sam Taggart 10:18
So let’s rewind 13 years ago, you had a little Su,

10:22
little mighty, yeah, scarcity mindset silly for sure.

Sam Taggart 10:26
How did you? Like I guess kind of talk to us about the journey? How’d you get recruited into this? What were your thoughts when somebody like come sell door to door? Because you know, you didn’t fit that mold? Right? It’s like, was it like, yeah, if them I’m gonna do this, like I’m gonna, or was it like, really me? Like, I don’t know, like, tell us about that.

Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

10:43
So anyone who knows me knows that I like fit this mold. I served an LDS mission. And I actually served here in Salt Lake. I disliked a lot of the members, as I was a missionary, in the sense of like, I didn’t believe in a lot of referrals, I guess, is what we would call it. I believed in knocking doors from the mission from day one. To try Yes, I was one of those. I was one of those missionaries that I was actually I won’t get into that. But basically, I was one of those people, if I’m going to be serving a mission, and I have a why and a reason. I’m not gonna break any rules, I’m going to do everything right to the best of my ability. And I was always given a companion or I guess maybe people car partner that was just super ready to go home that was looking for the dating life that was just there. Their mission was over. And I was just the worker, like, I didn’t care what their thoughts was of me. I didn’t I wasn’t concerned about their thoughts. Every day in my little journal, I always gave myself and I like, just forced it upon my companions that we were going to knock doors. And because of knocking doors, I actually knocked into this African refugee. And I had a dream about someone that I was going to be working with, because I didn’t understand Swahili, like living in salt. Living in Salt Lake, you would think like you’re only just talking to, you know, American people who looked like Sam. Yeah. But no, it was the most diverse mission that I’ve ever been been on. And anyways, because of that simple door being knocked, we were able to start a word of well over 125 new members there. And because of that concept, built into me, I knew that I was forever. Like that was my jam was knocking doors, and I knew nothing about door to door. But two of my leaders from the mission knew like the type of person that I was, and they were in door to door. So as soon as I got off my mission, the funny thing is, they both called me on the same day, one in an hour of each other. And I’m just this naive, like, oh my gosh, what does it I wasn’t even looking, I wasn’t even doing any of these things. One was I came on at Vivint you’re gonna make all this money, you’re gonna do yada yada yadi coming up doors, you loved it. I’m like, I was knocking doors for Jesus, and I loved it. And it was free. Like, I’m not gonna come knock doors for money. Like who does that? Like, who goes and locks the doors for money. And he kind of laughed at me. And then it wasn’t until the other leader had called me and was like, hey, like, we’re gonna be doing pest control. It’s just super simple. And I looked up to him like a ton on the mission. And I was like, well, I need I’m already doing fine and whatnot. And he was like, Look, if if this sucks, I’m gonna pay for you to get here, pay for your housing, do all these things like hey, you hung out with me for three weeks and I was like, alright, the pullback. So I went. And that 13 summers I met that lead to 13 summers later all because he saw how much I enjoyed knocking doors. That’s awesome.

Sam Taggart 13:51
So you were like a born? I read? Yeah, bread. I love it.

13:56
Anyone else? Yeah. Like when you look at it, it’s like no, but people who knew me like personally would be like, yes, I would definitely be what I would do well on the doors. That’s

Sam Taggart 14:04
awesome. So you start I mean, was your first summer successful? Or was it like, Oh, she’s already a workhorse. I’m assuming it was so yeah,

14:12
so 2008 I got home from my mission, I think in like July, and I convinced one of my companions to come and knock with me. And I was like, if we’re gonna go, I’m gonna take someone down. So anyways, I was on a team full of women, and it sucked. They just, it’s just that that mindset of a lot of girls at this time, were just ready to get married and settle down. And I was just, like, thrown into like, well, if I’m going to be here, I’m going to work. And I asked my team leader at the time, like what was the what was the biggest number that the girl here before me like had sold? And he told me that it was his cousin. And she had sold 308 And I was like, why not leaving until I beat it if I decide that I’m gonna stay and so Day three, after training, I had sold 11 accounts

Sam Taggart 15:03
on our third day.

15:07
On day three, end of the week on the company newsletter, by the end of summer I was at like, 300. And I was like, Well, I’m gonna stay an extra two weeks to just I can say that I was the number one girl. And I stayed two weeks into 311. My first summer.

Sam Taggart 15:22
That’s awesome. Yeah, the competitiveness? Yes. And

15:25
so in some of like, my future things that I talked about, like, I was bought into the mindset of, you know, competing with other women, and I’m looking back now, I wish that I didn’t have that mindset. But that was my only goal was to be the number one win, like female rep,

Sam Taggart 15:43
does it ever shift to say I just want to be the number one rep, when did that have to shift, it’s like, I can’t compete with other females, because I’m already better than three years ago, you’re like, let’s shift to be like, I’m gonna be top rep doesn’t matter boy or girl,

15:55
and not even top rep. Like I just, I just want to be and then just also influence others to come and be a gold top too. And so I just, I’m a big believer, now. I’m just like, I’ve come from a space where it was just like, you have to step on people to be able to get on top like, you’re recruiting people. And your pay is based on them sucking, at least from where I was coming from, if you’re on a marketing deal, or or anything like that. But I’ve gotten into the mindset after, you know, almost losing my life three years ago with having my youngest son that it’s just like, this space is meant for all of us to win, like, yeah, wish that someone was there to coach me that 13 years ago, I truly believe that I would have done more than 311 accounts. My first summer if I had someone to coach me in the abundant mindset, like for sure. So that’s what I’m trying to shift right now.

Sam Taggart 16:47
It’s been my mission for the last four years.

16:51
And I love it. And I want to be I want to be right.

“unfortunately, I come from a culture where it was that it was I win, you lose, or I win, they lose”

Sam Taggart 16:54
Yeah, no, and I need more people advocating. And unfortunately, I come from a culture where it was that it was I win, you lose, or I win, they lose. And if you’re not with me, then you’re not winning. And I was like, Guys, there’s such an abundance in this industry. And there’s so much to go around. And I think having that like, feeling of win win just is so satisfying. And it’s like, watching reps at other companies crushed. You shouldn’t be like, Screw them. They suck and they must be shady and unlike Yeah, or they’re just good. Yeah. Or they can be good too. Yeah, just have a different color shirt on. That might be the case. They don’t suck. They

17:34
laugh because I’m just thinking about, like, how many people like look at my picture. I was like, oh, there must have been some like crappy deals, or oh, it’s because she’s a girl. Like people are just listening to her.

Sam Taggart 17:43
Or she just worked hard. And she’s good. Yeah, yeah. Oh, well, if I was a girl and good looking than I would sell, or do, you can just sell and everyone can sell like I’ve seen fat, skinny, tall, short, black, why all of them be good in your

17:58
life. And the funny thing is, like one of my summers that I had knocked, I was actually almost 300 pounds. And I was pregnant with my first daughter during that time. And when you look at me on the doors, you wouldn’t even think that this like overweight person is gonna do well on the doors and my physical aspect had nothing to do with like my mindset and work ethic. And even in eight weeks, I serviced more accounts and like my team leaders while pregnant and almost 300 pounds, like you don’t get doesn’t matter what you look like. It’s it’s all about up here. And there’s no color up here. Like I love them.

Sam Taggart 18:35
I love them. Okay, so let’s let’s speak to this kid, because a few things came up. And I think a lot of female knockers actually get into this, almost this trap of, well, I’ll compete with the other females or I can’t sell as many because I’m female, or, and I’m like, guys, like, well, let’s break the walls down and people got mad at me. I posted on the tribe page and I was like, hey, I want like a female panel and some women empowerment stuff. And I’m like, It’s not to be sexist at all. Like I’m like, it’s just to simply help that mindset

Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

19:07
Yeah, and no, and alongside with that, like what I’m looking at in this industry, like how many people and recruiters do you know, that are setting up booths in like Vegas or Arizona or Florida or all these other places? And we’re forgetting 40% of like the population of women in our backyards This isn’t like I want to do a men versus women I just want to be able to like population yes for women to be like holy cow. I can find success like these guys are doing it like Why not meet like that’s the that’s all that I’m trying to bring to the space is those quiet women that I found on my team those loud obnoxious like voluptuous women like me, on the team like if we are given the tools and if we are given like a you know, the everything that we’re needed to find success and just more importantly, seeing other women when we don’t have Have to go to different states to recruit like just polish the women behind your back door. Like, that’s what I’m trying to open up. It’s just like, there’s not enough of us women who feel like we can win because myself and companies, we’re not just creating that space for them to see that they can.

Sam Taggart 20:15
Yeah, it’s just because it’s like they’re the minority like to it’s a massive minority. Yes. And so you’re like, Is this possible? And and to me, I’m like, No, guys, the mission of DDD was to unify up level bring honor and integrity to the daughter space. And it’s like, we need to uplevel that in the sense of, of course, there’s space for women to crush in this space. And in my opinion, like my little sister came out, she was 18. She graduated high school. This was back in like 2011 Maybe no, 13 2013 My little sister Emily, and she forgot she. She sold me before her mission. Yeah. And yeah, so she came in sold with you guys. And so she slays comes out for a month and kicked all the doodads. And I was like, What’s this at? graduates high school? I was like, Taggart things, baby. I was like, Emily is good. And then she hits me up after a mission. She’s like, where should I go, Sam, because I’m like, I don’t have a home for you. Like, I’m doing this. Everywhere. And I was like, I’m everywhere but nowhere but good. aptiv and, you know, hook them up with you guys. And then also Slade. You know, like, for me, I’m my girlfriend slaves. Like, you know what I mean? It’s just like, I’m all about like, yes, it doesn’t matter. I just think here’s, here’s, here’s the stereotype. Okay, so here’s my, and I’m throwing mud at me, hit me with a thumbs down if I say this. Okay. So my first three years managing, I was like, I’m not going to recruit any girls. There’s no way for me. And you said the same thing. Okay, so there’s, there’s some commonality here and she’s female. So don’t get mad at me when I say this. So I was like, why one because drama. Yeah, well, my girlfriend went and made out with some dude, my senator. So yeah, if you’re watching this, sorry, I’m giving you so send her out to a blitz team. Okay, go with these guys. Ends up hooking up with it. I was like, you’re creating the drama, everything that I was like, good job. I was like, good job. Keep it up. And I was like, free. And I’m like that right? There is why I didn’t recruit girl for three years. You know what I mean? I was like, they just there’s this element of the dudes are like, wow, I’m lonely. Hachi. And there’s like, it’s like, there can just be a business relationship. Yeah. So I was one thing that I was scared of. But then the fourth year, I finally had some chicks come in, like begged to be on my team. I was like, Okay, we’re doing this. And one of them hooked up with three different dudes during the summer. And I was like, wait a minute, now she’s sitting next to this one. I was like, is that not awkward? For that dude, like four chairs down?

22:46
You know, exactly like all the backgrounds on the difference. literally sit and watch it like my first like eight girls to like, you know, when he dudes and I just see different ones. I’m like, like, it’s a TV show.

Sam Taggart 22:58
I literally like I’m like Bachelor in Paradise. Just bachelorette like, straight up. And I was just like, it happened. But they all slept. So I was like, I’m making money. You’re making money. But stereotype number one. So first, if you’re a female, keep business like in my opinion, just be like, I’m here to work. Stay out of my butt. Like, yeah, like, that’s my two cents. Do you have any advice for

23:22
girls that I have found? For sure? Yes, I mean, sadly enough, like every single summer, like you’re gonna have the ones where they end up dating and marrying each other. I mean, I have that because last summer, yeah. Like, but yes, I feel like if we’re actually just setting the expectations with them while we’re sitting down, it just makes it a lot easier. Because the ones that I’ve had that were like dating other people on the team, they’re just like, look, during the week, I don’t know you. But on the off hours or like whatnot, if we go and do all these kinds of things. It just made it to where it was just like this mutual understanding. That’s like, if I’m going to date it’s going to be outside of like work hours like type of thing. And it was great, like girls just like slated, and they ended up dating people during the summer, but it didn’t affect them

Sam Taggart 24:04
cool on the team. That’s good advice. If I, if I’m going to date you, I don’t know you during the week. That’s the line. Yes. Okay, number two. They’re just soft. They’re too emotional. They’re too, you know, they get too thin of skin. Speak to them.

“I had to learn how is it that I can help women up level and still have those emotions.”

24:19
Yeah. And we are. So I’ll be honest, I and I think this is why the industry was really good for me. I just, I grew up having to just kind of like shove and hide my emotions, like my whole life. And so I’ve done it for like the last forever. It wasn’t even until three years ago that I actually started having the same emotions that women does. And so I was a type like, just like you I felt like I was a woman stuck in a man’s body because my mindset was like, suck it up. Like guys would like tell me like oh my gosh, like, I just like lost my dog or whatever. And I’m like, but is your dog gonna pay your bills? Or, like, I mean, like so I was just never really empathy. medic, I came from the background of just kind of like what male team leaders think it wasn’t until three years ago, I actually had my uterus removed. And with doing that, you a lot of things happen either you have become the opposite of where you were before, or you’re exactly the same. And I am so opposite emotionally of where I’m at that I am now like, feeling and understanding a lot of like, the women’s side of me in being like, more emotional, being more in tuned with, like my feelings. But I had to learn how is it that I can help women up level and still have those emotions. And so for me, that’s the journey that I’ve been on these last three years is now I’m the exact same way as all the women that I’m wanting to bring as far as like emotionally but I’m learning to up level and kind of home those emotions what a

Sam Taggart 25:57
blessing because you also had the seven eight years of just yet not yet because you can now empathize with that side because you’re like now the man’s brain the masculine and it doesn’t show me man or female, it’s just that masculine energy is tends to be just like, go to war, shoot the bad people, and don’t cry when you get drawn cut off. Yeah, keep fighting.

26:17
Like I definitely took emotion like out of out of knocking. But I just in these last like several years, like I feel like had I been more of the way that I am now I probably would have found like a lot more success in recruiting a lot more success on the doors just a lot more success overall, I feel like

Sam Taggart 26:34
so it’s it’s it’s awareness. But this guy always says it’s whether you’re a man or female, it’s the awareness when you need to bring in the masculine side, and awareness when you need to bring the feminine side. And this is where a lot of men make terrible managers is when they have a rep coming to them. And they’re like, I’ve just depressed and I can’t seem to sell and then they’re just like, suck it up, dude. And yeah, it’s like, they’re not asking you to say suck it up and like, get to work. They’re asking you to empathize with them and feel them, then level them up to where you are, right? Yes.

27:05
And even I made those mistakes too. As a female team leader, I would do those same things like suck it up. And how many of those reps chose not to come back or go unheard. Whereas like, since I’ve been on this journey, like I even have, like people who aren’t even like knockin period, and just like holy cow, like just, I want to just thank you for how much you like carrot, like you’ve changed my life in other ways. It has nothing to do with door to door. And those are the things that excites me a lot more on the value that they’re getting from you that they’re taking, even if they choose not to come back.

Sam Taggart 27:35
Love that. Yeah, cuz that’s the big thing is it’s, it’s there’s an energy that everybody needs. There’s a there’s the nurturer. And then there’s the warrior, right. And it’s kind of this element of as a leader, you’re a supporter? You’re a manager, you’re you’re a nurturer, your therapist. Yeah, I had a similar switch, actually, a few years back, when it was I started going to a lot more counseling, and then I’m sitting there in marriage counseling, like, oh, okay, yes, counselor, what wise man? I am, I am an idiot. You know, you’re just, you’re just like, oh, I needed that. And I learned a ton of psychology and the difference between the masculine, the feminine, I’ve studied that a lot. And, you know, sadly, or actually, I’m not gonna say sadly, like, it was my choice. And it was a blessing that I was like, Hey, this isn’t right. And it hasn’t been for a long time. Let’s just cut ties. But it, it really brought more empathy to when I’m coaching or helping or training. And I’m just like, oh, I need to not just be a robot lawyer that, you know, and I think there’s a level of it’s, it’s a level of leadership, it’s a level of leveling up, to bring awareness to that dynamic.

28:43
And people can feel it too. As I’m listening to like some of your content and stuff, you can actually see like a shift if you if people have been like following you for a while, just some of the topics that you talk about in a dress now and comparison from the beginning, like you can see, yeah,

Sam Taggart 28:56
no, I’m on the same journey. So I’m with you. And it’s funny, like somebody asked me, this is funny. This is a great question. I was in a sales bootcamp the last two days in Arizona, and a guy goes Sam today versus Sam and his prime, like 400 accounts, Sam, which one sells more now? Yeah. And I said, you know, and I think actually the old Sam, and which was weird, which so and so I said, why I said, my intentions and my interests have shifted quite a bit. And I said, I actually prior to empathize too much with customers, and I probably wouldn’t be a savage. I’d be like, you’re right. Don’t do this. Yeah, I’m way more. I have way more feminine energy in me right now. And I’m like, crap, my savageness of just like, we’re doing this. We’re doing this now. And, like, there is no no and you’re doing this no matter what, like I was. So there is an element of understanding and awareness to that balance between the warrior that nurturer, the King, the, the the gatherer that Hunter, you know what I mean? There’s just natural, like, it’s in our DNA. God put us this way for a reason, guys, and it’s bringing awareness, we have all the dynamics, it’s just, we’ve suppressed one, like your whole life, you were raised to kind of suppress one, I’m assuming that a lot of brothers.

30:14
And so I’m the oldest of six. But I was also like, not raised with my family.

Sam Taggart 30:19
As you say, like a lot of people, like if they’re the fifth child, and they have all these other brothers that beat him up, they could not show emotion, or else, they get smashed, right? So that kid is like, he had to learn how to just hide all of his crying, or like, you know, the oldest might have this empowerment feeling because I’m already the oldest and I need to have I need to be in charge of all this. And they feel, you know, just even from young childhood phase, it’s, it’s been ingrained to say, what did we suppress? And what do we highlight? How did our parents teach us to like, deal with emotions? Or how did it stuff that we didn’t even consciously do growing up? And now we have to unpack that and be like, Oh, I have all these emotions. Yeah,

Suli Zink: Opportunities For Women In D2D Sales

30:58
where have they been? Yeah. And it’s not until like, I’ve been same thing therapy. And a lot of people that I talked to them, like, they think that therapy is like taboo and whatnot. And I look at like, our mental spaces, just like exercising, or like when we’re doing some five heart or eating better, like, if we’re not exercising these things, like we’re never going to get better at it. And I wish that I had started sooner on figuring out like, my emotions, and my feelings and exactly like how that it’s gonna help me in this industry. Like in this space, like, I feel like that I’ve finally been in the mindset and I’m still trying to learn boundaries, because I feel like I’m where you’re at right now, in the sense of like, I feel like I’m too empathetic, where I’m like, reps that people won’t even, like, give 678 chances to, like, come on, like, Oh, help you out, like go and like knock with them or whatnot. Or even like customers, I tell my reps all the time. If I feel like I’m gonna screw them over, if I feel like it’s not a good fit for them, I’m letting you know, I’m not gonna sign up like that. They’re not they’re not getting it, if I don’t feel right. And the old silly like my just been like bulldozing and everything, like all you know, you suck, like, get out of here. And then yes, I’m going to sign up everyone in their moms and dogs, and I don’t care what happens, you know, kind of things. So I truly feel like the whole concept of being able to understand and be able to like, empathize is going to be like for our benefit, like in this industry. And I feel like that’s all it’s needed for women to be able to be a part of this space. Like, I’m just, I’m looking at some of the women in all these different industries and like just the value that they’re bringing to the table, like how companies are just growing or having like better stats, because they were given the opportunity to be able to be there. And I just want to keep bringing that to awareness.

Sam Taggart 32:42
I’m speaking at an all women’s conference where October in Dallas in October, and it’s 400 women, and they say they’re like saying we want you to speak not because you’re cute, but just because they’re like, we only have two dudes speaking and all the rest are there. It’s me and another dude. And everybody else in the conference is women. And I’m like, wow, and I’m excited. I’m like, okay, cool. Like,

33:11
I’m definitely gonna get a ticket tonight. Yeah,

Sam Taggart 33:13
it’s in your backyard. So yeah. So the but but it’s crazy. Like, people don’t recognize that. There is a there. There’s been this. I want to say global shift. So you think okay, this is a question ready? And just kind of a new topic. 60s, the 50s? I was the women portrayed? Do you stay at home? Or is there pretty? Yeah, a nice dress, I’ll

33:40
make sure that they don’t, you know, look too overweight or anything.

Sam Taggart 33:43
And so you’re the global business shift over the last maybe 10 years. I don’t think it’s been massive a long time. Now you’re seeing a much more, you know, the Sunrun CEO was female. You had a lot of big names in this female space saying, wow, there’s power and women leadership, what do you find some of the natural qualities women tend to have moving into leadership and business owners that men tend to not have.

34:11
One thing that I that’s super big to me is I feel like women like they pay attention to the little details. Like it’s the little things that that matter. I like looking at some of these like women, team leaders and other like offices or even mine as well. And just like how they’re able to, you know, show up before morning meetings and just make sure that the offices clean, you know, candles so that people can come and have like, this good like, or like just they’re making them just feel like a lot better. But one I feel like detail to definitely they’re gonna empathize a lot more. For sure than men. And three, we just get shut down. I feel like if there’s going to be a task given to us, you better believe that it’s going to be done and we’re going to come to you and be like, what’s next? Oh,

Sam Taggart 34:55
I was hiring for like a kind of a chief of staff role and had like, had this biases and I’m like picture dude, I can’t count. I was like, I was like, I can’t count on you to like, I’m like, I guarantee you, uh, but I opened the drawer and just gonna be shameful. It’s like, I opened her door, and it’s gonna be like, color coordinated. And like, yeah. And I’m like, I give you a to do list and it’s gonna just be like, boom. And I’m like, I need that. And running a business. If you’re working for a business, which would you rather work for?

35:26
Definitely. All day.

Sam Taggart 35:28
Yeah, you’re just like, I told her, I was like, God, I’m gonna hire more females to do this. And just, it’s a natural skill that it’s like, kind of lost in some businesses. And even here, like, you come in, and we’re trying to like, Okay, where’s the thing? I know, we’re like, how was this setup before? Like, it’s like, into is over. You’re like, I would have done it like the Uber boom. I just get it. So I guess the the next question would be where’s the mission going, like female knockers unite. You know, I think we’re gonna do some cool a door to door con. Which fun? Yes. So my, where’s it gone?

36:08
So for me, it’s like, I was telling some this before, like, off camera like, I truly have, like, always. So when I started this, I actually went to the CEO of my company, before I hit up, before I became the number one rep in the company that I left. I was like, hey, like, we should create, like a program we should do something for, for women, whether it’s like, Hey, we’re gonna do like weekly book clubs, or just like anything to help them feel like welcomed into the space. And not that they were unwilling, but it was just like, now is not the time like we we need to make more money, not spend money like type of thing. And, you know, it just kind of left it into the backburner. And then during that entire year with like, COVID, and things like that, and I just went out there and knocked and ended up being like the number one rep for the entire company, period. And so as I transitioned in this postseason, I’m like, and different women are reaching out to me, I’m like, You know what, I’m just gonna start it like I don’t, I, you know, may not be as cool as like, you know, Sam, or Danny or these people who are like having coaching programs and doing like, all these things, but I’m gonna start somewhere. And it’s gonna be a little bit like crappy because it’s just like, you know, just all my own efforts. And so God found a couple guys who know and didn’t really know to be able to, like, do the camera work and talk to some people. And I was getting coached myself on like, How can I be a coach and you know, went and paid and done all these things, so I can give back to people for free. So come my last summer knocking pest control. I just started like sales with Zhu Li, I just started like a one on one coaching program, where I basically just like sent out this little like flyer that I’m sure, like laughed about, sent it to like different like mill leaders and was just like, hey, I’m going to do twice a month where I’m going to be like coaching, prepping them for the summer. And then during the summer, I’m going to help them overcome the emotional and mental aspect of being a woman in this space. And how we’re going to like, just put that aside and level up. And then for the very last portion is how we’re going to finish strong and then transition into moving out and being able to bring other women into the space. And so this, this was this program that I started, and anyways, and so I sent it out to some of the regionals and things like that. And they ended up like paying me to actually coach some of their girls. And I’m like, wow, I want to do this for like, not just them. That’s not I wasn’t getting rich. I was probably only charging like 125 a session twice a month, 45 minutes long. But the impact and the letters and the emails I was getting back from these women was worth more to me. They were implementing it. Yes, I was like,

“I actually started off with just 15 women”

38:51
someone wants to listen to me like Okay, and so I actually started off with just 15 women I had a couple in internet, had a couple in alarms had a couple in solar had a couple in the majority from pest control, because that’s what I knew. And so as I started I started with 15 Girls and then I didn’t realize that there was going to be a waiting list and I’m like, so overwhelmed that I felt like a hypocrite. I am like how someone that only knows one industry coming in thinking that she is like the shit and can can train anyone wherever. But the concepts that are retraining had nothing to do with pest control, alarms, solar, all that it was just there’s a lot more things that us as women need to be taught and need to understand emotionally like mentally to truly prep us for the summer. Those were the things that I was focusing on. So as I was like coaching women from different industries, and I’m like Okay, so the way you can’t be a hypocrite you need to go and kind of try out these other. Try out these other companies as you’re figuring out how you can coach them better. So I went to did alarms for like a week. I was definitely humbled. I fell flat on my face like those of you You women and men out there doing alarm, like I look up to you guys a ton, like that was awesome and humbling. And then the following week, I was like, why gotta go do a blitz for dish since I’m coaching a girl from dish, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this is awesome. But you guys aren’t getting paid enough like, this is like easy. And I was able to help her shift just with like the mindset of how you’re going to be going to actually like help them mentally with like the different things that a customer is going to be needing on the doors. And then last, I hadn’t done solar. And so I had a girl who was like, I’m the only female rep on this team. Like, I love my team leader, like I respect him, like I would never leave. I’m like, I like it here. But I don’t think that they understand me. And I’m like, so do you feel like because your team leaders is a guy, and they don’t understand you that that’s affecting you on the doors. Like I wanted to shift her mindset to where the blame wasn’t going to be on her team leader. The blame was just gonna be like, not even a blame, like just removing the shame. It’s just like, you have to shift your mindset. And she was like, Well, I’ve done it, I had been working with her for like a month. And I was like, Well, I’m gonna come out there and talk with you. I’m gonna figure out I’ve never done solar, but we’re going to do it together. And another humbling experience. So I get out there and I’m, you know, teaching these women like how important mindset is, and I fall flat on my face, like the first three days as I’m here coaching, women are paying me the regionals are paying me I’m like, I have to make this work. And so three days, I had no sets, like no deals like and I’m self Jenny at the first company that I was with. And then the last three days, I get up, and I’m like, I do not care who’s gonna help me who’s not, I’m going to go and show this girl that I’m going to get deals, I ended up selling three deals, and in those three days, you know, left with 27 grand, and I was like, that was definitely a fluke, I have to come and try it again. And so I come back the following week, or following month with that mindset of just like, even though there was no training, like this company gives you one t shirt, because they expected people not to come back. And this was the environment that she was in. And so she felt like she was already set up for failure. So I go in, like the following week, I’m like, Well, I’m going to create training. I’ve never done solar, but we’re gonna make stuff up, and we’re gonna make it work. And in those six days, just with that mindset, you know, ended up walking away with the deal a day, like that was just like my goal in solar, if I’m going to go and sell John, I’m gonna get a deal every single day. And I left with seven, you know, little over a lot of money. And after that, her mindset shift that she’s that she’s not working, she’s still with that same company, she’s doing great. She’s now like, turning it in internally, that it doesn’t matter whether her team leader, you know, is male or or female, she started to understand that she is going to be she just has to be more in control of her mindset, more in control of like her environment, like what can she bring to the table. And that’s the awareness that I’m wanting to bring in, like every single industry is one not only how we can bring awareness to ourselves, personally, mentally and emotionally just as women, whether we are only one or whether there’s 10 of us on the team, we don’t all need to share the same T shirt. But I feel like that there’s just like power and significance of social media, being able to like reach out to someone say, Holy cow, you are doing awesome, like holy cow, like you are, you’ve got like 12 deals today. And I don’t even know you like that is my ultimate goal is even as I’m still meeting other women, there’s still the scarcity mindset. And I want to eliminate all the mindset that I came into the industry with, because I just, I want women to be able to see more abundance, I want all of us to not just blame our circumstances, not to blame our team leader for not being empathetic. But how is it that we can actually bring value as women and show them that we’re needed, you know, in this type of thing? So

Sam Taggart 43:53
I love that. Yeah, they know that that’s, I mean, that’s the passion. I mean, I have my same motive, right? And it’s very aligned, you know, and that’s why I was excited to get you on the podcast and start doing some stuff together. But no, it was just I was so sick of even just any rep male or female coming into this industry and just not getting the tools not getting the support not getting the culture you know, you worked for five min little teeny roofing company or solar company. And it’s like, you didn’t your expectation of this whole door to door world could look like this. And you’re like, well, door to door is not for me. I’m like, wait a minute. Yeah, you’re a taste of it was the other four people said? Yes. And so I was just like, like, is there a platform we can make to where, you know, we have survivor going on right now. It’s an industry wide competition. We have the national knocking league that finished it was like dope and it’s like, we built these dope industry competitions and door to door con, where it’s an industry celebration where we

44:45
have I feel like you’re like making tools to where like even in their small little world. It’s like

Sam Taggart 44:49
they have help, they feel like they feel like they’re part of a bigger tribe. You know, it’s funny, like we had a client of ours that five people compete against the big Just roofing company in the industry. And they’re five people and they went head to head and they almost want like, five. Yeah, like went to them that even know like numbers that these guys were throwing out like they were doing an average like five every every two weeks. And by the time they’re done with the competition, they’re doing 50 every two weeks. Like it was like a 10x Come to my squat. Yeah, like, and we’re just like, only because it brought new light to a small world, right? And so it’s just a matter of saying, Okay, is there a world where this industry has its own standard, no matter where you’re at what shirt what color, you know, what industry you’re playing in? And it’s just, hey, here’s the standards, and we’re gonna continue to uplevel that, yeah. And that was the mission. And it’s been cool to watch. Like, we’ve founded the door Association. And, you know, now we’re starting a DD recovery thing we’re doing. Just like really cool stuff to bring little communities together. As far as like, there’s a female community in this world. That’s that girl that was like, I’m the only girl in this whole company. Like, wait, there’s other door knockers that are girls too. Like, she had no idea. And I’m like, No, there’s tribes out there that you could be part of that help sustain your success. Yeah.

46:18
And she loves her team. Like, she loves her. She loves being where she’s at. She just now enjoys the fact of like, feeling like just a sense of community. And that’s all I want for like women that’s like, My vision is that we’re just not having like this. Okay, well, we can’t, we just got to step on her. We can’t cheer for her. We can’t do any of these things for her. Because once she’s not wearing my T shirt, when she won’t let me recruiter.

Sam Taggart 46:41
It’s like, You’re dead to me. Because you didn’t work for me. It’s like, yes, we need to stop saying that, please. Yes, please.

46:48
Yeah. And so I think for me, like what this whole when I started the page, one, I’m not even a social media guru, like my brother has a social media that he runs my page. And it’s literally where a lot of this stuff is like coming from, I didn’t know that you need to be good in social media to be relevant. But like, just a little bit of that, like, people were reaching out. And I was just like, holy cow. There really is. There really is. What’s the word with like, the the social media, there really is good to it, if you’re looking for it. And so some people who just only saw me on social media and reached out and was like, hey, like, I’m having this issue with like this company, like, what could I do better with like, XYZ. Whereas if I never put myself out there, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to, like reach that person. And she doesn’t need to wear the same shirt at work for the same company. And that’s just what I think companies need to.

Sam Taggart 47:40
Yeah, so you got you guys heard it firsthand, we got to kind of wrap up, but this is silly. Go follow her females knock female knockers unite, and on Instagram, and share this and maybe tag any girl knockers, you know, or share this with the teams that you know, that could really benefit from this because it was like, it doesn’t matter, male or female, like, Guys, I’m telling you, we put our own excuses to not successful like not succeeding this and we’re like, it’s because I’m x. And I’m like, no, no, no, it’s because you’re thinking you suck. And if you start telling yourself how good you will be, and you start doing the work and you start practicing, you’re going to get better like in and I could give you 1000 use cases of that. And I really appreciate you being on the show and making this happen. So

48:28
thank you. Okay, I definitely look up to you and basically in this industry, and I hope that I can help you make a difference. Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Sam Taggart 48:36
Let’s love Have a good one, guys.

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