Lessons Beyond the Paycheck
There are pivotal moments in every career when it becomes time for a change. For me, that moment arrived when a recruiter convinced me, I was absolutely perfect for the role of Regional Sales Professional at Cavendish Farms. This company specialized in frozen french fries. Unlike the glamorous sales gig at Revlon, allow me to share what the job truly entailed and the lessons I learned far beyond the fries.
First, some background. Cavendish Farms from Prince Edward Island (PEI) belonged to a vertically integrated, privately held Canadian company owned by one of the wealthiest families in the nation. The company was expanding its field force to solidify market share in New England. I was thrilled to be part of their growth plan. The offer almost doubled my salary from Revlon while maintaining great benefits including a company car and healthcare. Sounds like a dream.
Lesson #1: Money should never be the primary reason for a job change
Nearly doubling my salary was enticing. Reality hit quickly. The “company car” was a navy-blue Crown Victoria with a “police” package. Imagine a car built for tall cops, not a 5’1″ woman. Driving that enormous car home for the first time, my now-husband jumped into the back seat and said, “to the airport, please.” He burst out laughing because I could hardly see over the dashboard and this was my new set of wheels for the foreseeable future! This was the first red flag.
Things got stranger. When the broker for our NYC line quit, the company housed three new sales reps: me, Brian, and Tom, in a rental townhome in Poughkeepsie, NY, Monday through Thursday. We returned to the office in Massachusetts every Friday. Picture three close-to-single adults sharing a house. Tom was married. Brian was engaged. I was nearly engaged. Despite everything, we were stuck in what felt like a reality show. Our significant others wondered if this was normal. We needed the job, money, and opportunity so badly that we ignored the oddness.
Reflecting now, these red flags; giant car, strange living arrangements were hints. Money may open doors, but it should not be the only reason to accept a job. There must be more.
Lesson #2: “Suck it up, buttercup”
Selling frozen fries was not simple. I needed to become an expert, a true fries guru. I learned everything from PEI potatoes versus Idaho and Maine (and others), the meaning of “solid” potato content (which is the dry matter content of the potato, essentially all the material that is not water. This metric is a crucial quality indicator for the food industry, influencing the final texture, color, and oil absorption of the fries- the higher the solid-the better), the quality of fry grease, and how cooking times affected taste and texture.
Most job time was cold-calling restaurants and pizza shops convincing chefs and owners to participate in a fry-off, a competition to prove my fries were superior. I loved this part and showing the product’s performance versus what they were using, what I didn’t love was that I gained at least 10 pounds from tasting and testing.
One buyer told me he would place a truckload order if I beat him in a 5K race. Competitive and thankfully fit, I signed up. I did not win the race. My confidence and friendly trash talk impressed him enough to buy two truckloads. More importantly, I earned his respect and friendship. That moment of hustle and vulnerability was worth every calorie.
Then there was the poultry provisioning company. Women were unwelcome. The environment greeted me with slammed doors, rude faces, and hostility. Twice weekly for nearly a month, I showed up only to get shut out while orders were taken over the phone by male supervisors. After five weeks of persistence, knocking and waiting, they finally let me in. They were not friendly. They were rude. Over time, we found common ground. They realized I offered value, not frustration. Lesson learned: Sometimes you must grit your teeth, show up consistently, and prove your worth even when environment is difficult and bluntly, “suck it up!”
Lesson #3: Be the best, even when you do not love the job
I did not love selling fries. I loved eating them. I committed to being exceptional. I kept updated on agricultural trends, supply chain details, and seasonal potato variables. I became the go-to expert. Customers trusted me for answers, not just a fry’s salesperson.
This determination earned respect from colleagues, customers, and bosses. I worked hard to ensure product knowledge and service were top-notch. No matter passion, striving for excellence builds trust and opens doors.
Final thoughts
Would I take the job again? Probably not. I admit I got a few speeding tickets in that job, too. Driving the Crown Vic in the fast lane, other cars pulled over assuming I was the MA State Police. Yes, I enjoyed that power trip especially when the driver was barely visible in the rear-view mirror.
I am grateful for the experience and honestly for meeting some amazing people, namely Tom, Brian, Leo, Blair and others and it taught me invaluable lessons: money is important, but it should not be the driving variable informing career decisions, perform beyond your job’s expectations and finally bringing your 100% even when your passion wanes.
Everyone’s career journey has red flag moments. What is yours?