Each year, there are popular arrivals in the month of March… longer days, spring flowers, the NCAA tournament, and yes, girl scout cookies.

As many Moms and Dads know (myself included), the final handout of girl scout cookies is a moment of closure and relief.

Since December, we’ve hit the streets, solicited co-workers, and pleaded with total strangers in front of the grocery store.

We’ve become Thin Mint Evangelists.

Are there lessons learned that be can applied from the experience?

I think so! (as a finish off a box of Somoas

Whether you are a fellow entrepreneur, job seeker, or full time professional, here are 8 lessons from my adventures in girl scout cookies:

1. Start with Family and Friends

The best way to get things going is to start with who you know.  They are already your #1 supporters.

Aunt Ellen is always good for a few boxes of Do-Si-Dos.

For further reference, author Bob Beaudine wrote an entire book on the subject titled You Got Who: You Already Know Everyone You Need to Know.

2. Funny Thing Happens When You Stop Marketing… Nothing!

My office downtown was nothing short of a girl scout cookie battlefield.  The ubiquitous order sheets hanging from every cubicle wall.

Just like cookies, you are facing stiff competition for the services or products you provide.  If you don’t get creative, you will go unnoticed.

3. Go Where People Are Hungry

You can email, tweet, and facebook message people all day long, but the people who thrive on the ones who are meeting their customers face to face.

We hit the crowds at local sporting events and at the entrance to the mega Bass Pro Shop (fishermen need cookies on those long excursions!)

4. Ask for Help

At a local riding competition, we asked if an announcement could be make over the speakers.  What did we have to lose?  It worked and cookies sold.

If you are afraid to take risks, here is a recent post on overcoming your fear.

5. Keep Good Records

When you sell multiple varieties of cookies at different locations, record keeping is key.  Every dollar collected counts.

If you are seeking a new job or client, keep a record of every conversation.  A spreadsheet works volumes compared to a stack of business cards.

6. Handle Rejection Gracefully

Girl scouts are advised to handle cookie rejections with the simple message “Thank you for supporting girl scouts.”

If a job prospect doesn’t work out for you, handle it with grace. You never know what door may open in the future.

7. Avoid Excess Inventory

Let’s just say our dining room became a warehouse for girl scout cookies.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I started Interview Angel was to stockpile padfolios.

I kept thinking… I have to keep up with demand to stay in business.

Well, if you don’t keep up with cash flow, you’ll be out of business.

I eventually sold my overstock, and now I fulfill orders on a just in time basis.

8. Evaluate What Sells

Let’s be honest… Thank U Berry Munch and Dulce de Leche girl school cookies are dreadful.

Nobody wanted them!

Evaluate what works and doesn’t work in your career, and adjust accordingly.

9. Follow Through on Delivery

Ultimately, your success comes down to your reputation to follow through.

If you forget to send someone information you mentioned in an interview, you were better off never setting the expectation.

When the girl scout cookies came in for delivery in Virginia, I was off in Minnesota on a business trip.

My wife stocked up the minivan and went into delivery mode.

10. Remember Your Mission

Finally, remember your mission for your business or  career. You’ll never stay motivated if it is just about the money.

Yes, we were selling cookies but it was ultimately about raising money to support summer camp.

When you look at your career or business, set a goal to be able to say…Mission Accomplished!

What are your thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks for sharing.

About the Author

Brent Peterson, PMP, MS, MBA, is the founder of Interview Angel Inc, a company that offers a comprehensive guide and toolkit for job seekers to use in interviews.

The purpose of Interview Angel is to take the fear out of job interviews.  Customer testimonials for the Interview Angel product are posted online for additional reference.

Brent’s first customer was a father who purchased Interview Angel as a graduation gift for his daughter.  Since then, clients have included government workforce centers, business school programs, a corporation going through a merger, and Goodwill Industries.

 

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