It was about this time that Coca Cola introduced Diet Coke. This was to be one of the first soft drinks in the diet category that contained a new additive called, aspartame. It made the diet soft drinks more easy to drink with less after taste. Coca Cola sent out a free six pack to every customer delivered Fed-X. Then they supplied each of our trucks with 10 cases a day just for the route salesmen to give away. We were also armed with coupons for free six packs.
The owner of our franchise said to all of his plants that if we helped make Diet Coke the number one diet soft drink in one year, he would throw a party. This would be a party to remember. The party would include every employee, all office personnel, mechanics, loaders, sales and leaders.
So sure enough after one year we did it. Not only that we made it the number one diet soft drink, but Diet Coke became the number three over all soft drink.
The party was to be held in Chicago at the Rosemont Horizon. The Hyatt Regency at the airport would be taken over by our company. Food and drink and live music was supplied for all. What a party!
One year later we had another party just as big at the same location to celebrate Coca Cola's 100 anniversary.
Chapter: 9
I had built up a lot of trust with my customers, also along the way I found it was important to grow relationships not only with the buyer or manager but also with the assistant managers and while doing this I did the same with all employees working there that I had come into contact with on a regular basis. These people could be future managers and buyers. Respect all of the people that you come in contact with as you may see them later on in your sales life in other positions with this company or another.
I was on the routes for seven years, when the day came that my supervisor, Doug, was promoted to sales manager at our plant. That left an opening for district manager and Doug recommended that I apply for the position. I applied and got the job. This was my first management position outside of the Marines. I was so happy, this promotion was a direct result of my due diligence on my routes.
With the promotion to manager I was elevating my career in sales. I now felt that I wanted to prove to myself and all others that I could succeed at this new level. That I could teach, train, and develop new and older sales people alike. That I would be in position to further grow the companies business. I also believed that I would grow and be able to raise myself to new heights.
