I find solace sitting on the porch, watching the sun peek through the leaves while sipping coffee. It’s my quiet moment to think. That calm was interrupted when my cousin asked me to fix her daughter’s car seat, it was way too tight and uncomfortable for her.

While I was adjusting the seat, a young man walked up selling a home security system meant to rival Ring. Honestly, I admired his approach. He asked, “Can I speak to the King of the Castle?” I chuckled and called my uncle, even though I already knew what was going to happen. My uncle doesn’t buy from solicitors, he had shut someone else down just a few days earlier. Sure enough, this young brother got a “no” in about 3.2 seconds flat.

But here’s where it gets good.

I’ve been reading a book on communication lately, and it has me constantly thinking about how to connect with people more effectively. I’m naturally talkative, but this time I felt led to put some of what I’ve been learning into practice.

I asked him a few questions and discovered he’s an entrepreneur. He does this sales gig to sustain himself, but his real passion is connecting with people. That alone impressed me. After about 10 minutes of conversation, he asked what I do. I told him I help entrepreneurs build their e-commerce brands from the ground up, offering tools, insight, and mentorship to take their ideas from concept to sustainability.

That got his attention. Turns out, he’s in e-commerce too. He started asking questions, and I gladly answered. He even asked me how he could get better at his job. I gave him a few pointers:

• Adapt your approach: Your company may give you a script, but they’re not out here with you. People are different, you have to adjust your approach accordingly.

• Know your audience: Just like in e-commerce, you need to understand who you’re talking to.

• Dress and posture matter: Wearing your hat backwards might be cool in a Black middle-class neighborhood, but if you’re in a different area, it could come off the wrong way.

• Develop multiple scripts: Have at least four different approaches. See which one performs best and refine from there.

• Be observant and genuine: Find something you genuinely admire when approaching a house—like the car in the driveway, if you’re into cars, and comment on it sincerely.

We had an amazing back-and-forth, and he ended up following me on Instagram. I’m excited to see where that connection goes.

And here’s what struck me: this is the second young man I’ve had a meaningful encounter with this week. Both of them were just 21 years old. I’ll tell you, I love this coaching thing.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️