Hindu Bible Salesman's Loyalty

A story about how a Hindu immigrant from India became successful at door-to-door Bible sales in America through persistence and relationship building.

"I was just here from India and could barely speak English, but I had to do door-to-door sales. They gave us 7 books like 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' and Tony Robbins, then sent us to a training seminar. In an auditorium, they had a door frame on stage where we'd practice with actors playing different customer scenarios - from door slams to interested buyers.

Every day in the summer, my roommate would drop me off in a different neighborhood at 9 AM and pick me up at 9 PM. I was a Hindu selling Bibles to Americans. That experience changed me. I worked hard, walking around carrying loads of books, getting mostly rejected. But when I got even an inch of interest, I'd schedule same-day follow-ups. By the second time they met me, I wasn't a stranger anymore.

It got to the point where one woman gave me the keys to her van to make it easier to carry books around the neighborhood. I still keep in touch with her 40 years later - she just sent me a cake. We're still good friends, and it all started because I sold her a Bible back in the day.

I learned to work hard, how to sell, and how to build rapport. I wasn't doing it to manipulate anybody - life was just more fun if I got to know the person rather than having a standoff relationship."