Roofing Sales is Personal Development in Disguise

Roofing Sales: Personal Growth in Disguise

When I first entered sales as a home improvement contractor, particularly in roofing, I quickly realized something: it was less about selling products and more about personal development. The tools and strategies that lead to success in sales often push you into unfamiliar territory. It wasn’t always comfortable, but it was effective. The truth is, sales is about growing not only your business but also yourself.

In my early days, it took time to understand the mindset that drives success. This wasn’t just about techniques—it was about reshaping how I approached problems and relationships. Along the way, I learned to adapt, to prioritize activity, and, most importantly, to embrace rejection as part of the process.

Here are a few lessons that helped me along the way.

Activity Above All Else

In sales, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of working smarter, not harder. While that’s important, sometimes the key to success is simply putting in the work—pounding the pavement, making calls, sending emails. It comes down to this: the more you do, the more opportunities you create. When I was a contractor, I quickly saw the value of constant activity. Whether it was meeting new prospects or following up with existing ones, I found that consistent, high-volume activity led to better results.

This mindset carried over into my work as a Notion developer. I apply the same principle to building workflows and systems for my clients. More iterations, more feedback, and more refinement mean better products and solutions. Don’t just think about how to do things smarter—act, and the results will follow.

Embrace Abundance, Not Scarcity

One thing I had to learn fast in roofing sales was the importance of valuing my time. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing, and that’s okay. It’s about embracing the mindset that there are always more prospects out there. Early in my sales career, I spent too much time chasing marginal leads, thinking I could close every deal. The reality is, you need to qualify your prospects and let go of those that aren’t a fit. This isn’t about being dismissive—it’s about being efficient.

Now, as a developer, I take the same approach. There are endless possibilities to create new systems, workflows, and structures for clients, but I focus on the most viable ones. Scarcity thinking has no place in a fast-moving field like sales—or development.

Rejection Is Part of the Job

One of the toughest parts of sales is rejection. No matter how hard you work, some prospects will slip through your fingers, and that’s just part of the game. It’s crucial to accept rejection without internalizing it. I remember working on projects for days, only for a client to go with a competitor. It was frustrating, but I had to remind myself that rejection wasn’t personal—it was just part of the process.

The same applies in my current role. Every project or idea won’t land, but over time, the more attempts you make, the more successes will come. Sales, like development, is a numbers game. The law of large numbers guarantees that if you keep working, the results will eventually follow.

Be Direct and Get Down to Business

In everyday life, we’re often taught to be patient, to wait for the right moment to ask for what we want. But in sales, waiting isn’t an option. Being direct is crucial. Whether I was selling roofing services or working with clients to build out Notion systems, I learned that clear, direct communication was the key to success. Don’t beat around the bush—get straight to the point and ask for what you want.

In sales, this meant not hesitating to ask for the sale. Now, in development, it means getting to the heart of what a client needs and providing solutions as efficiently as possible.

Organize for Success

One of the biggest lessons I took from sales into my current role was the importance of organization. When you’re juggling multiple deals, customers, and appointments, staying organized is non-negotiable. Early in my sales career, I’d lose track of conversations or forget to follow up—little things that cost me sales.

SalesRabbit became an invaluable tool for keeping everything in line. It helped me track my activity and customer interactions, making sure I never missed a beat.

Today, I’ve taken that principle and applied it to the digital solutions I create in Notion. The ability to manage and track your efforts is just as important in tech as it is in sales. Without a system in place, things slip through the cracks, and opportunities are lost.

You Pick Your Level of Success

At the end of the day, success in sales—or any field—comes down to your effort and mindset. You can make good money in roofing sales, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It requires dedication, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning. The same goes for development. Every project, every client interaction is an opportunity to grow, improve, and get closer to your goals.

Whether you’re in sales or development, the path to success is the same: hard work, organization, and constant learning. You get to decide how far you want to go. It won’t be easy, but the rewards are there for those willing to put in the effort.