My Parents Put Me in Sales Because I Was Too Shy
I started working in my parents’ watch store at about 15 because they thought I was too shy. Years later, I realized the way I learned to sell became the same way I think about Airbnb listings today.
Key takeaways
- Answer guests’ questions in your listing before they have to ask.
- Explain what guests are booking instead of relying on adjectives.
- Clarify bedroom privacy, parking, beach distance, stairs and neighborhood noise.
- Help the right guest feel confident enough to decide rather than trying to convince everyone to book.
When I was about 15, my parents started making me work Sundays at their watch store.
My Sunday morning usually started with a math tutor. Then, instead of having the rest of the day free, I went to the store.
At first, they put me upstairs with the cheaper watches.
My sisters were the natural salespeople in the family. With me, I think my parents mostly wanted me to become less shy and learn how to talk to people.
I Realized I Sold Differently
A year or two later, my oldest sister left Montreal to study abroad, so I started working more often.
That's when my parents realized I actually could sell.
I just sold differently.
I was never the pushy salesperson. I liked answering questions. I liked understanding what someone was looking for.
Later, when I started dealing with high-end watches, customers would ask very specific questions about movements, models and technical details.
So I learned the products well enough to give them real answers.
And something happened.
They trusted me.
The more I educated people, the less I had to "sell" them.
The Same Thing Applies to Airbnb Listings
Years later, I realized that experience shaped the way I think about Airbnb listings too.
A lot of hosts try too hard to sell.
Luxury. Stunning. Amazing. Perfect.
But guests don't need more adjectives.
They need confidence.
They need to understand what they're booking.
Is the bedroom private? Is parking easy? How far is the beach really? Are there stairs? Is the neighborhood quiet?
A good listing should answer those questions before the guest has to ask.
Help the Right Guest Decide
The goal isn't to convince everyone to book.
It's to help the right guest feel confident enough to decide.
My parents thought they were teaching a shy teenager how to talk to people.
What they really taught me was this:
You don't have to be loud to sell. You have to understand people.
And sometimes, the best way to sell is to stop trying so hard to sell.
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Airbnb optimization specialist, Superhost, and founder of one of the largest Airbnb host communities.
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