Week 2

The best pitch I ever gave didn’t win the deal. Showing up the fifth time did. Pharmaceutical sales taught me that persistence beats perfection—every time.

In pharma sales, I learned early that rejection wasn’t the end — it was the starting line. One “no” was rarely final, and the ability to persist was often the difference between a failed pitch and a breakthrough.

I remember walking into clinics where I felt invisible. Doctors were rushed, staff were overwhelmed, and the last thing they wanted was a sales rep talking about a new indication for an old drug.  I’d barely finish my sentence before being waved off. Early on, I took those rejections personally — I thought my pitch wasn’t polished enough or I wasn’t good enough.

But with time, I realized it wasn’t about the perfect pitch. It was about persistence. Some doors only opened on the third or fourth knock. Some relationships only warmed up after consistent, respectful follow-ups. That lesson taught me something I’ve applied in every role since: persistence often beats perfection.

Here’s the framework I lived by — and still use today.

Framework: The Rule of 5
1) Make 5 attempts.  Rarely is one try enough. Keep showing up. 
2) Use 5 approaches. If email doesn’t work, try a call. If that fails, try in-person. Don’t keep repeating the same method. 
3) Add 5 days. Don’t rush. Spacing attempts show respect and build patience. 
4) Give 5 reasons.  Explain the value in different ways. People respond to different motivators. 
5) Earn 5 minutes.  Persistence buys you time — and sometimes that’s all you need to create connection.

This approach works in sales, but it also works when you’re pushing through bureaucratic red tape in healthcare or trying to land the right DJ gig.  Persistence builds relationships and trust that polish alone can’t.

Weekly quote- “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein

One reset at a time- HayZ

👉 Forward this to a friend who needs a reminder that persistence outpaces perfection.