August 26

3 comments

Confession Time…

By Michael Q. Pink

August 26, 2009


“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

I am going to confess something to you which I am not proud of. It happened 23 _ years ago, back in February of 1986. It was my first full month in sales for a Nashville copier company. I wanted to make a good impression on my new employer and coworkers and I wanted to be a good representative of my faith in Christ.

Too often, slovenly, unsuccessful, undisciplined people try to witness for Christ, but their exterior betrays them. What is on the inside usually manifests on the outside. To be completely accurate, what we firmly believe at our core is precisely what we manifest on the outside. But I digress…

In the copier business, they would have been happy with 1 or 2 sales my first month and not the least bit upset with zero sales. Once you got established by your third month, your quota was 4 units per month thereafter. I went to God and asked Him for a number of sales I could make my first month with His help that would be high enough to amaze my coworkers and give me a platform for Him, yet low enough that I could believe it possible.

Yes, I believe God could arrange for someone to order 1000 copiers for delivery in some multinational company, but I didn’t for a second believe He would. The number God and I came up with was 10 units my first full month. By 2:00 PM on the last day of the month, I had only 8 sales. Yes, it was easily 400% of the best they had hoped for, but it was 2 sales shy of what I believed for.

My wife tried to encourage me by telling me I had already set a record and suggested that I not put myself under that kind of pressure to secure two more sales in just three hours without a single prospect on the horizon. I lovingly and politely told her that I could not allow her to speak such words to me and I hung up.

Shortly after that call, a man drove by our office, pulled in and by 5:00 purchased a copier I sold him from one of my customers, who in turn had to buy a replacement, giving me a total of 10 copier sales by the end of that day. I am totally convinced that my absolute and unshakeable belief that somehow against overwhelming odds and with no prospects on the horizon, I would hit my target of 10 sales, is what triggered the events that led to the outcome and realization of that goal.

It also gave me the platform where others sought out my testimony and over the next two years, led several of my coworkers to Christ. What I am not so proud of is just how rare this kind of thing is in my life. Yes, I do have lots of stories, many of which would be thought of as miraculous, but that kind of thing is not nearly as commonplace in my life as it should be.

If I don’t need a miracle, I’m probably working in the wrong field. If I do need the miraculous to accomplish the goal, but am not seeing it, I am probably not believing it will happen; only that it can happen. There’s a big difference. I am about to embark on a big expansion in my faith and I invite you to join me on my journey. In my next posting I will explain how it’s possible to have faith and confidence in God and still not see the results you are believing for. Have a blessed day my friends.

Michael Q. Pink

About the author

Michael is America's leading authority on applying Biblical Wisdom and Natural Law to sales and business and has authored 19 books including The Bible Incorporated, Selling Among Wolves and God's Best Kept Secrets. Using that knowledge, he has helped thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs experience radical transformation in their lives and careers, including helping a start-up with 3 struggling sales reps turn the corner and become the 16th fastest growing company on the INC 500 list. 

  • Ok, so your confession is spot on and convicting, reminding me of my first medical sales job..I floundered miserably and it was like moving one rock, from one pile, to another rock pile..Horrible! I began asking God for creative ideas to open hearts and doors and instead of gaining sales of my products, I was getting interest to purchase the creative vehicle that was intended to help leverage my products. I remember being so broken as I could not see any break through. On day 364, prior to becoming vested, I was mercifully fired. Oh but God…He had planned me 6 years earlier, on a Central American mission trip, to have a God – appointed meeting, that served as a Divine intro into my next job. There the brokenness, from the prior season led to desperation for His glory where we would see 400 % growth in 4 years, 2 years after the Orlando SAW conference and hearing about these stories and concepts. “Lord, I need 40 more orders..TODAY please!!” He is so funny and faithful to move us into that sincere, wholehearted faith..but I too would that there were more and I lived here more consistently. Thank you for sharing!

  • Hi Michael;

    I love hearing how you and others get to that crisis of faith and instead of throwing in the towel, instead, throw themselves fully in the direction of God. It may be without sight, but it is not without faith and hope and love. I appreciate your comments Michael

  • Thanks for this Michael. I just got to know about you and your website when I googled Peter Daniels. I just started a sales job (as a way of raising capital for the dream business) and I am way out of my depth. Last night I told God that I was desperate for His help. I kept telling Him there must be a God way to do Sales. The sun is really unforgiving where I am :). I am Ugandan, somewhere in East Africa. So I am excited about this journey.

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