There are many tropes based around the salesman. If you are a Simpsons person you will remember Ol' Gil Gunderson. The sad sack salesman who can't catch a break. The unfortunate truth about stereotypes, clichés, or tropes is that they are based -at least in part- on a truth. If you spend enough time in sales you will meet many people just like Ol' Gil. People who are forever chasing the next commission but never seem to be able to catch it.
Sales is hard and it can beat you down in more ways that you can imagine. One of the most insidious ways it beats you down is that it instill doubt. Will I make the sale, will I succeed, will I be able to pay my bills and feed my family? These are reasonable concerns when your income is variable. It is natural to worry. What is most important is finding a healthy outlet for these normal stressors.
Be very careful around alcohol. It is very easy to fall into that trap. Having a beer with friends at the end of the week, or a glass of wine at a networking event is fine but many sales people use alcohol to cope with the pressures that come with being in sales. I write this without hyperbole, you can not make it in financial services if you use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Every aspect of your practice will suffer because of it.
By drinking or drinking regularly you are losing on many fronts.
1. You will be unproductive the next day, so you are losing hours.
Activity is productivity. If you are spending the first few hours in a day recovering, you are playing from behind. 2 dead hours per week is 8 hours per month is 96 hours pre year. That'2 2 and a half work weeks per year that you are throwing away.
2. You are undermining your health which undermines everything.
This is a cancelable statement. People want to work with healthy attractive people. This is even more true in the Life Insurance industry. he buyer wants confidence that the person who sold the policy will be around for decades. If you look unhealthy what business do you have speaking about healthy and morbidity and mortality.
3. It is almost useless spending, when you should be as smart with your money as possible.
You are going to be financially stressed because your commissions at first will be few and far between. Spend your money on things that are important. an $80 bar bill is not important. Racking up unnecessary charges on your credit card will only add to your stress and your desperation. This feeds into the downward spiral.
Take up a physical hobby. Jogging is free and can be meditative. Take a look at what services are on offer from your municipality. You can find a gym, or a rec league, maybe even fitness or martial arts class for very little or even free. A knock on benefit is you will be introduced to and spend much more quality time with a new group of people.
Be confident, be healthy, and be frugal. As a young insurance agent you will have enough stress in your life. Don't add anymore through useless bad habits. My career took off after I read this article and quit drinking. It's about lawyers but everything in it rings true. You will have more energy, more vitality, and more money.
