Assignment #1 on Professional Salesmanship 1. What are the challenges that Godtfred and Ole Kirk face in developing the Lego Company? Even before developing the company, Ole had encountered big problems in his life. He lost his job and his wife died leaving him with their four sons. He discovered his skills in making toys when he made one for his sons. With the leftover wood from his previous job, he started making more toys and opened a business. His son Godtfred helped him promote the business and it was successful. One day, a wholesaler came into their shop and planned to buy a lot of their toys for his shop. However, the wholesaler’s shop went bankrupt and was unable to pay for all of his orders from Ole. Ole was left with no choice but to sell the toys he made door to door. Although Ole is not good at sales talk, he went to every shop and tried to convince them to buy his toys. He didn’t get as much money as he thought he would because some of them buy the toys in exchange for the goods they are selling. In 1942, a strong storm hit Billund, Denmark. It caused a fire, burning their workshop. All their sketches and materials were gone. But they started all over again. They bought a plastic molding machine and produced little bears made from plastic. During summer, their sales dropped. On Godtfred’s business trip in 1954, he met the head of a big shopping center on an England Ferry. They had conversations about the toy industry. The man said something that changed the Lego company forever. It is about how industry had no system. It got Godtfred thinking and told Ole about it. They came up with an idea about a toy where kids can build their own system instead of having a finished toy. It was the Lego that we know today. It became a success, but Godtfred noticed that it needs to stick so he redesigned it. This made a huge breakthrough for the company. However, Ole did not get to witness how their company went well. Ole died in 1958 leaving Godtfred in their business. As if this was not hard enough for Godtfred, their company was once again caught on fire. Most of their wood productions were gone. But he did not give up. He knew he had to keep going forward. He got up and continued their business. He decided to stop producing the wooden toys and focused on the Lego bricks instead. This was the start of the Lego company’s success. 2. Is Godtfred and Ole Kirk has a training to become a good Salesman? How isn’t important for an owner or entrepreneur of the Company to have a Salesmanship training? Give at least 3 reasons. Both Godtfred and Ole Kirk did not have the proper training for becoming good salesman. This might be one of the reasons why they struggled so much at the beginning. I think that salesmanship training is the most important training an entrepreneur must undergo. In salesmanship training. one will gain selling skills, knowledge and traits an entrepreneur must possess to succeed. It is important for an entrepreneur to have salesmanship training because (1) it will help them deal with their customers effectively, (2) improve the image of their company, and (3) know the different tactics and methods on how to increase their sales. It Will Help Them Deal with Their Customers Effectively Salesmanship training includes informing the trainee about the principles of salesmanship. These principles are applied when dealing with other employees and customers. Selling is more than just telling your customer to buy your product, you should know how to present yourself properly, the appropriate tone of your voice, and the right words accurate to use in your profession. Improve The Image of Their Company A skillful seller will give a good impression to the customers. This will help improve the image of the company. Having a good image is essential for increasing word-of-mouth to promote the company. The more people know about your business, the more sales you will make. Know The Different Tactics and Methods on How to Increase Their Sales Being trained in salesmanship allows you to know your market and competitors better. It gives you all the important business information and how the industry works. This information will help you create strategic plans for your company. By knowing your market, you will also know what their needs and wants will give you an idea of what to produce and innovate. 3. What are your learnings in this story? The story of Lego is a story of success, teamwork, and a father’s love for his family. It is truly inspiring and motivating especially to us students who are about to achieve our dreams and goals in the future. It contains a lot of lessons that one can learn from and apply to one’s life. One of the things that I learned is to not give up no matter how hard your problems are. Ole lost his job and his wife but he did not let his sadness consume him. He did everything for their four sons. He enhanced his skills in making toys to benefit from it. His dedication inspired me to keep practicing and do what I love. I have been interested in drawing since I was young, and I am planning to open for commissions. However, I could not start it yet because I am still struggling to find my art style and know what I really want and can offer. Plus, art materials are expensive. I cannot help but sometimes wonder if I can really do it or if I am just wasting my time. Ole’s story made me realize that there is really no excuse if you really want to do something. It takes time and a lot of effort before getting the best result. Also, when their orders did not get paid, Ole found a way to still sell them. Even if he is not that good at sales talk at first, he did not give up and still do whatever it takes to earn money. He did not let himself go home without food to put on their table. It taught me that there is really a way for everything. If you did not achieve what you are going for at first, there is always another way you can take it. Aside from that, when a large fire devoured their workshop, they did not let themselves down. They built another bigger workshop and came back stronger with new products and offerings. Ole bought a plastic molding machine even if they are still unsure about its potential and how it will help their company. It also costs a lot so if it did not succeed as expected, they will lose a lot of amount of money. But Ole was not afraid to try something new even if he needed to risk something. He trusted his guts and used the machine wisely. This motivated me to go out of my comfort zone. I have always been avoiding things I do not like and usually do. I thought that it would be better that way and I will be fine with it. But I was wrong. Whether we like it or not, everything around us changes and we should too. There is no growth and progress in staying in my comfort zone. It did not benefit me; I did not learn anything from it. I also look up to Ole and his son’s relationship. With the help of Godtfred, Ole was able to do all of this. He was a big part of Lego’s success. I admire their strong relationship and how Godtfred helped his father’s business. As a daughter, I also want to be able to help my parents. They sacrificed a lot for me, and I want to give back to them. Ole and Godtfred’s relationship is inspiring, and their story taught me to value every moment that you have with your family. I did not know that that there are a lot of learnings from the story of Lego’s history. They made most children’s childhood happy, and they continue to inspire us with their wonderful story. It is a story not just for aspiring entrepreneurs but for everyone who is struggling and wants to succeed in their own careers. As a marketing student, I learned a lot and got motivated by their story. I will carry all the things that I have learned from it to be better in life.
