I Started My Sales Journey in High School

Some might have said I had an unfair advantage.
I was very active in the Future Farmers of America, or FFA as it’s commonly called.
Although I didn’t plan on becoming a “farmer,” the combination of leadership opportunities, practical skills, and the lack of other extracurricular options made it the top choice for nearly everyone at Iredell High School.
To raise money for our club, we held an annual holiday fruit sale.
The prize for the top five sales performers was huge: dinner at Red Lobster. 🦞
No bragging here, but I was part of the winning group every year.
Some said I had an unfair advantage, and looking back, they were probably right.
Today, I’m finally going to divulge my secret to success in FFA fruit sales.
I think you’ll find the tip especially relevant today.

Today in 5 Minutes or Less:

• ✅ All Your Sales in One Fruit Basket
• ✅ The Power of Community Marketing
• ✅ Lowest Hanging Fruit in Sales

ALL YOUR SALES IN ONE FRUIT BASKET

Fundraising in a small town is challenging.
For context, I grew up in Iredell, located at the “top of the Hill Country.” It was, and still is, very rural. There were only 108 students in grades K through 12, and my class of twelve was the largest in almost a decade.
Everyone knew everyone—and everything about everyone—which made marketing opportunities pretty limited.

Within this small geography, we were all competing for the same universe of sales prospects.
But I had a leg up: the Sewing Factory. 🧵

My mom operated a factory in our hometown—the largest employer for over 40 years.
They manufactured uniforms and the proverbial “jumpsuit,” a one-piece garment with a chevron patch on the pocket and a gold-clasped elastic belt at the waist. These aren’t that popular anymore, but people loved them 50 years ago.

Growing up, I was always around the factory, running between the machines before OSHA put a stop to that kind of thing for kids.
Everyone knew me; I was part of the group.

So, when it came time to sell 40 lb. boxes of grapefruit, oranges, and apples, I could clean up.
In a single day, I could sell nearly a ton of fruit, which put me at the top of the leaderboard and taught me a valuable lesson.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY-BASED MARKETING

Today, the cost of conversions has never been higher.
Between expensive Facebook ads and the data-driven advertising rhetoric that surrounds audiences, breaking through requires a lot of attention, energy, and budget.

That’s where community-based marketing shines.
In groups of like-minded folks with a shared interest, you can find valuable sales opportunities. Think of it as a “pre-warmed” group of prospects.

Community marketplaces are growing at an unprecedented pace.
People appreciate the focused and filtered messaging that comes from being part of a group of like-minded individuals.
Plus, people today like to “belong.”

This trend could be due to the isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic or the subsequent shift to online conversations and meetings that fostered community growth.

In the past, community engagement was mostly limited to Facebook (or Discord for some of the tech-savvy folks).
Now, third-party platforms like Skool have created robust, niche-focused conversational spaces for learning and sharing.

This is especially great for sales.
Not only do you have a focused group with a genuine interest, but today’s customers often prefer to buy after receiving value.

In communities, members can spend time understanding the product-market fit of your offering. Additionally, your participation builds trust and authenticity.
This combination—a focus group of like-minded individuals, the exchange of valuable information, and the community trust that comes from participation—makes community-based marketing a goldmine for nearly any brand.

THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT IN SALES

There are a few simple rules to succeed in these markets, but it all starts with joining the conversation as a member.

Don’t jump in and start selling. Instead, show up and deliver authentic value: answer questions, share content, and share your journey.
Be considerate.

Communities are social spaces, so be nice.
Most platforms are generally supportive. Some, like Reddit, allow for a bit more scrutiny (and risk). You can add a little humor here, including being a little salty, but tread carefully and keep it fun.

Remember, community members are there by choice, and you can be removed for not playing nice or being overly salesy.

One thing is almost universal across communities: traditional pitching doesn’t work. You’re better off adding value and then mentioning your solution casually rather than being pushy.

Another opportunity in community-based marketing is the ability to form your own community around your specific niche or product.
Yes, you don’t just have to join a community; you can start one. The same rules apply: deliver value, encourage conversation, and make people want to participate.

You can even charge for entry if you deliver enough value, and this highly focused, brand-supportive group is a great opportunity for upsells.
You could charge an entry fee, sell an initial product, and then resell features as you roll them out and improve your offering.

It’s like having a never-ending fruit basket of sales.
So if you haven’t ventured into this arena, give it a try. Find a community, join, listen, and participate.

Let me know what you think.