What is your backstory?
I grew up in a small steel town in Canada, where everyone was a factory worker, unless they were the town Doctor or the town Lawyer. The school system completely failed me. Instead of encouraging me to succeed, teachers gave up on me. I was labeled with learning conditions such as ADD and LLD. I was belittled and bullied; not just by the kids, but also by the parents and teachers.
The lack of support continued throughout University. At the age of 19, I met with the Head of Special Resources, who concluded that I was best suited for a simple factory job and that I wouldn’t make it in a professional career. Being told I was only good enough for factory work was the exact type of derogatory comment I’d been hearing for nearly two decades. I was starting to believe that I should just give up. What drove me to push forward was a near-death experience, because I truly felt that it was a miracle I’d survived, and I took it as a sign that my life is worth fighting for.
I began to realize that it didn’t matter what my teachers or peers said about me. Even if I was true that I was a academically inept, it wouldn’t affect my future success. Sales, for example, simply requires a natural gift. It’s a form of artistry. Academic aptitude isn’t required to be an incredibly successful salesperson.
I had always gravitated towards sales because it was clear that I had a natural talent for it. My first job was as a salesman at my Uncle’s furniture shop. Later in life, I worked with real estate agents and mortgage brokers, which further developed my sales skills. When I entered adulthood, my first corporate career was working for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. There, I grew to be the #1 sales representative in the entire country.
Being their top sales rep meant that at age 31, I was earning $200,000 - $250,000 per year working just one day per week. I know it sounds fantastic, but I was miserable. I knew I wanted to be my own boss and build something on my own - something that I actually cared about.
I tried to keep my pharmaceutical job and simultaneously pursue other entrepreneurial endeavors, but having that six-figure income to fall back on resulted in a lack of self-motivation. If I was ever going to level up, I couldn’t be comfortable. I had to risk everything and go all in. So, I did what most people would never do: I quit a six-figure income, cush job to pursue a challenging entrepreneurial path.
Success was not immediate, but I learned priceless lessons along the way. When I found myself $150,000 in debt, in line at the bank to declare bankruptcy, I thought, is this it? Is it over for me? In that moment, I was lost, scared, broke, and broken. In that dark moment of my life, I almost accepted failure. I felt hopeless, ashamed, and defeated in every way.
It turned out that I needed to hit rock bottom so that I could find the motivation to change my story. I chose not to accept defeat. I left that bankruptcy lineup, went home, and started thinking outside the box. I stopped looking at what people were doing, and started looking at what people weren’t doing, so that I could find a place to add value. I stumbled upon the captivating world of high-priced closers. Within one month of entering this world of closing, I went from losing $25,000 per month to earning $25,000 - $50,000 per month.
Through mentorship, I fell back into alignment with my core strengths and I returned to the marketplace as someone who felt certain about his skills and what he had to offer. This allowed me to enter the marketplace with raw strength, clarity and unwavering conviction. This time, the market took to my approach very readily; I quickly became one of the top closers in the High-Ticket space over the phone; and soon the media would call me "The One Call Closer".
Which people in your life inspire you the most, and why?
In general, I’m inspired by greatness. I’m also inspired by the underdog who made it big, because that type of success story hits close to home. The underdog story is inspirational because these people refuse to be victims of their circumstances. When someone is belittled, doubted, threatened and beaten down - yet somehow finds the courage to fight back and still upholds their own belief in themselves - that is greatness. I live for the stories of people who fought through adversity to make it to the other side and become great. Last but certainly not least, I am inspired by myself, by the progress I’ve made and by the man I have become.
What do you think makes your work stand out?
My intuition and my artistry make my work stand out. They don’t call it the ‘art’ of closing for nothing. Selling is an art form, and I am a true artist. When I close a sale over the phone, I feel it and I see it and I craft the sell. Sales requires unique intuition, and I have a natural talent for sales combined with great instincts. I, Kayvon, am the reason why my work stands out.
