[sixQuarks]

I sold books door-to-door in 1996 for Southwestern company. I don't know if they're a different kind of company today, but I must say it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.

Yes, it's true that you have to work 80 hours per week, in a town where you don't know anybody, and where you don't have a place to live (you actually have to knock on doors and find a place to live). I mean, it sounds crazy on paper, and over 50% of people quit, but if you can make it through the summer, you really learn a lot about yourself and what you're capable of.

[yitchelle]

Its all about getting outside of your comfort zone and doing something totally different. It forces you to made decisions that you would have to never make, and also to see the ramifications of those decisions. Kudos to you for experiencing it!

[sixQuarks]

Another interesting thing I learned first-hand is that you never know what someone else is capable of (don't judge a book by its cover).

One of the top performers the summer I worked was a raver-type guy that looked like he was strung out on meth and mumbled when he talked. The guy was incredible at selling door-to-door, blew the doors off everybody else - not necessarily because he was a natural salesperson, but because he worked his ass off. I shadowed him one day to see how he did it, I learned so much about life that day. Another top performer was a quiet girl that seemed very shy.