In 1957, my father discovered he was a born salesman... totally by accident.

He was working at Victor Comptometer, sweeping floors and captaining the company softball team. When the company pulled its sponsorship, he took it upon himself to find a new one. Spotting a familiar sign, "Nickey Chevrolet" my dad walked into the dealership and asked to speak to the owner.

The GM laughed. "If you can get a dime out of Nickey, I’ll give you a job. He’s the stingiest man alive."

Thirty minutes later, my father returned with a $600 check for the team. "Still want to hire me?" asked my dad. 

That Monday, in a new suit and briefcase he couldn't afford, he reported for duty as the manager of a new division called: the fleet department. When he asked what to do, they told him, "Wait for someone to buy a company car." Weeks passed. No one came.

Finally, fed up waiting and waiting, my dad grabbed brochures, stuffed them in his briefcase, and headed out. The GM asked, "What if someone comes in while you’re gone?" He shouted back, "I'll take my chances!"

He took control over the one thing he could, his actions. 

If my dad was going to fail it would at least be getting "no" instead of because he never really tried. That choice changed his life. Within five years, Nickey Chevrolet became one of the top fleet dealers in the country thanks to the man who didn't wait.

Take this lesson: neither should you!