How I became a salesman, waiter & A UX course instructor ✨
This article is about my personal experience. So take it very seriously :)
4 years ago during my summer break, I got bored. All I did was play games on my PS3 and even that got boring. Since I had so much free time, I wanted to earn money for the first time.
I thought to myself if I could make money, I could eat as much chicken as I wanted.
There was an event called the Sharjah expo which consisted of many stalls which sold various items like food, jewelry, carpets, shoes, watches, etc.
Being an 18 year old with no useful skills, I decided that I want to work and get a job for 14 days.
It was Day 1 & I decided to pay the entry fee (AED 5) to get a job.
I approached the salesman in the first stall and this is how the conversation went -
Salesman: Hey there, How can I help you?
Me: I’m looking to take your place. Now, give me your uniform and go home.
I’m joking guys. This is how the real conversation went.
Salesman: Hey there, How can I help you?
Me: I’m looking for a job here.
Salesman: Sorry, you can try somewhere else.
I kept on approaching each stall and kept on getting rejected. I received the same answer every single time. A big fat NO. My highschool crush said the same thing when I asked her out.
I went back home feeling demotivated. I spent AED 5 just to get a bunch of rejections. I could have eaten a shawarma with that money.
I decided to go again on the next day and tried approaching each stall. In my mind, I was thinking what if someone got fired or they needed an extra salesman?
So on day 2, I kept approaching each stall until the founder of one stall took my number and told me he’ll get back to me. I felt good as I made little progress. I went back home feeling a bit down as I still didn’t get my job.
On Day 3, I get a call from the founder and he asked me to work for the remaining 12 days. I said yes and felt like my effort paid off.
So my main role was to sell perfumes, watches & bags.
I had to ask each person: Madam/Sir, Do you want to try our perfume?
I was an introvert due to which this was even harder. After one week, I hated going to the shop as it was tiring and I just wanted to play my playstation.
Afterall, Playing games was better than getting rejected by strangers when I offered them to spray our perfume.
At the end of 14 days, I got paid for the very first time. I felt like a millionaire. Floyd Mayweather, I’m coming for you. This taught me the value of persistence.
Now it’s time for the second part of the story.
Last year one of the things I had in my bucket list was that I wanted to be waiter just for one day.
I wanted to know what it would feel like to serve customers. Being a designer, I know what it’s like to design experiences for users but serving customers in person would be a completely different ballgame.
I told my friends that I’m going to be a waiter for a day. They replied by saying “why, are you crazy?”
Anyway, I did not let their words affect my dream to be a waiter for one day.
During this time, I was a final year student in Manipal.
I started approaching restaurants in Manipal and kept on getting rejected. This isn’t my first time getting rejected so I didn’t feel demotivated at all to be honest.
During this time, My friends were getting placed in companies like Microsoft, HP, Google, etc while I was getting rejected by local restaurants in Manipal.
I kept on trying and got my shot. I got to work as a waiter at Basil cafe for a day. I was super excited for my first day or should I say my only day :(
I reached the restaurant and decided to call my mom tell the exciting news. this is how the conversation went:
Me : Umma, I finally got a job but only for a day
Mom : Huh? What do you mean?
Me: I’m working as a waiter at this cafe in Manipal.
Mom: What is wrong with you? You’re a civil engineer,….
Me : Sorry mom, My customers need me to serve their order, I gotta go *cut*
I enjoyed working for 8 hours straight. I did not feel tired one bit. After the shift got over, The restaurant owner told me to order anything from the menu and it was on the house.
I ordered my spicy chicken breast. I think I’ve a slight obsession with chicken.
Looking back, I’m so glad I did this. If I can’t be a designer for some reason in the future, then I’m going to be a waiter for the rest of my life.
Now it’s time for the last part of the story. Before you continue to read the rest of the story, I would advise you to take a notebook and write your bucket list for this year!
Anyhoo, Let’s get to the final part of the story.
Last year in March, I was freelancing as a designer on the side. I had designed a website for an Edtech startup (Think of a smaller indian version of Udemy) and got another project from the same client.
This is how the how the conversation went -
Client : Hey Hamdan, Are you up for a new project?
Me : Hey X sure, what do I have to design?
Client : It won’t be design, I want you to create a short UX course with recorded videos.
Me : But I only have 1.5 years of experience as a designer. I’m not comfortable to speak on camera. I don’t think I’m the right person for this.
Client : I feel you can do it. Do let me know if you decide to change your mind.
Me : Yes, I will.
Later I was deciding if I should take up the project and decided to go for it.
I told myself I get to put myself in uncomfortable situations, I get to share my learnings and I get paid. It was a 3 in 1 package. That’s leverage.
These experiences have taught me the value of persistence and making the most out of any opportunity.
Before I conclude, I’m going share my personal learnings from these experiences!
Personal Learnings -
- There’s no growth without leaving your comfort zone.
- Before being a salesman, It was hard for me to talk to people let alone strangers.
After being a salesman, I enjoy talking to strangers! - Before creating the UX course, I wasn’t comfortable to speak on camera.
After creating the UX course, I feel comfortable to speak on camera.
2. Follow your intuition
- People are going to call you crazy for having weird goals. My friends called me crazy for wanting to be a waiter.
- “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” — Steve Jobs
- I ignored the external noise and followed my inner voice due to which you’re reading this article!
With that being said, you’ve reached the end of this short experience 🏁
I hope you enjoyed reading this short article and found some value out of it.
Have a great day ahead and I hope you tick things off your bucket list!!
