Loud Conversations About Sales - PILOT
From Retail to SaaS: A Sales Professional's Journey of Reinvention and Resilience
Hello!
My name is Jasmine. I currently live in Omaha, Nebraska, with my husband of 18 years, our 15-year-old son, and our 3-year-old Micro Mini Goldendoodle, Teddy. I’m 47 years young, and I am a sales professional.
If you’re familiar with the DISC personality assessment, I am an “I.” In the DISC model, “I” stands for Influence—people who are typically outgoing, enthusiastic, optimistic, and sociable. We thrive in groups, seek recognition, and focus on relationships and big-picture ideas. We can also be impulsive and a bit detail-averse—but we make things happen.
Key Traits of the “I” Style:
- Enthusiastic & Optimistic: Naturally positive and energetic, bringing excitement to projects
- Outgoing & Social: Thrive around people, collaboration, and influence
- Persuasive & Expressive: Skilled at inspiring others and focusing on future potential
- Relationship-Driven: Value connection, trust, and rapport
I’ve been in sales since I was 15 years old. I started in retail and stayed in that industry until I was 25. From there, I transitioned into makeup artistry, working for some of the biggest names in the business—Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, and NARS.
I stayed in that world and eventually became a Boutique Proprietor for Benefit Cosmetics until I was 40, when we moved from Chicago to Omaha for my husband’s job.
Once in Omaha, I realized I needed to pivot industries to match my new environment. I returned to retail management with Victoria’s Secret, but quickly recognized that chapter of my life had closed. I had a small child, and the long, late hours just weren’t sustainable.
Then COVID hit.
Like many of you, I found myself in a tailspin. Everything felt uncertain. Our children were learning from home, and making money was hard—really hard. So, once again, I reinvented myself and entered aesthetic sales, working with Hairclub, Ideal Image, and several physician offices around Omaha.
I loved the aesthetics industry—it aligned beautifully with my retail and makeup background—but I still wanted to grow.
That led me into Sales Executive roles with companies like Lumen, Stericycle, and Fastwyre. It was during this time that I met my mentor, Jon. He believed in me before I fully believed in myself. He saw potential I hadn’t yet recognized, and he remains a trusted confidant to this day. I am incredibly grateful for that relationship.
As the world shifted again and AI and SaaS sales became more prevalent, I knew I had the experience to succeed in those spaces. I joined Brightwheel and later hh2.
And then… the economy shifted again.
My role was eliminated while I was on vacation. I came back to no job—right in the fourth quarter. I was panicked.
I turned to LinkedIn and used it intentionally to tell my story and showcase what I’ve accomplished throughout my career. In just nine days, I signed on with the company I’m with now—local, family-owned, and operating successfully for over 60 years.
The best part?
A truly collaborative team where sales and service work together, and I get to learn yet another new industry—Business Solutions.
What has carried me through my career has always been the same core strengths:
- Pure grit
- Sheer determination
- Personal integrity
- Relationships I build and maintain
- Resilience
- Strategic thinking
- Confidence
- Strength during uncertainty
- Grace under pressure
I’m sharing my story not to brag, but to give context.
I know I’m not the only one with a résumé that includes a lot of roles and transitions—something that doesn’t always read well at first glance. But there is always more to the story. Having the confidence to tell that story is powerful.
My superpower is my ability to quickly find common ground, build genuine connections, and move relationships forward. My integrity matters deeply to me, and it shows up in my work every single day.
I’m using this newsletter to:
- Inspire others
- Share my perspectives
- Spotlight the perspectives of others (with credit, always)
- Uplift fellow sales professionals
Because sales is hard.
We grind every day.
We make the calls.
We send the emails.
We knock on doors.
And sometimes, we fight through the stigma attached to our profession.
Real sales professionals are listeners, problem solvers, and strategists. We research. We ask thoughtful questions. We uncover needs. We offer solutions rooted in trust and integrity. And after the sale—we maintain the relationship.
So let’s end 2025 with a BANG.
Clean up those pipelines.
Make the calls.
Send the emails.
Knock on those doors.
Build momentum now for a powerful start to 2026.
I hope you found this read insightful—and I can’t wait to see y’all again.
Jasmine
