Sometimes, You Just Have to Ask
How a Four-Year-Old Taught Me the Most Important Sales Lesson
I often take my family with me on business trips. There’s no point in doing what I do if I’m missing out on so much time with my husband and kids because of work. I love what I do, but I love my family more. So for me, this is how I blend everything: I bring them with me.
During one of my recent trips to Michigan, my 4-year-old daughter, Arwen, learned an important sales lesson. One evening, we had a riverboat sunset dinner cruise, which she was ecstatic about. She loved playing on the back of the boat—watching the waves, feeling the wind, and running around with her friend.
At one point, the CEO of a sales training organization approached the back of the boat. When Arwen saw him coming, she stretched her arms wide, grabbed onto the poles with a cheeky grin, and blocked his path.
“Can I pass?” he asked.
She tilted her head, popped her hip, smiled, held out her hand, and said, “Money!”
We immediately chuckled, and I asked her to let him pass. Instead, he reached into his wallet and handed her a $10 bill. “That’s not necessary at all,” I kept saying.
But his response was simple: “She’s got some sales skills. You just have to ask.” He’s the sales professional, after all.
She held onto that $10 all night long and was so proud of herself. To be honest, I was very proud of her too.
She is absorbing everything I’m doing.
Because my daughter travels with me often, she has watched me train and speak on stage dozens of times. She is frequently next to me on Zoom meetings as well, where she watches me facilitate trainings and sales calls. I might not realize it in the moment, but she is absorbing everything I’m doing.
She isn’t learning scripts; instead, she is learning the power of her voice—something many of us forget.
Asking Is One of the Foundational Sales Principles of All Time
Asking is one of the foundational sales principles of all time. Yet we often overthink things, soften our price, hesitate, and worry about being too direct or too bold.
Arwen didn’t “sell.” She played. She enjoyed the interaction. That’s why it worked. The best sales conversations don’t feel like selling—they feel like connection. When you are able to engage, bring passion, and enjoy the process, that’s when sales success happens.
Your Voice Is Your Greatest Asset
Communication, voice, public speaking, and learning how to lead a conversation are skills everyone should develop. Our ability to speak—not just talk—is what can change the trajectory of our businesses, relationships, and life outcomes.
Your voice is your greatest asset. It’s how you create opportunity, build trust, and move people to action. That night, Arwen walked away with $10. One of my proudest moments was seeing her have the courage to ask, add her four-year-old charm, and bask in her accomplishment.
Sales is life. Speaking is power. Voice is your differentiator.
