Bill Porter, Portland's famed door-to-door salesman, has died at age 81

http://www.oregonlive.com ^ | December 05, 2013 | Tom Hallman Jr

[lowbridge]

A movie was made about Bill Porter: Door to Door

[AceMineral]

A great movie.

[Black Agnes]

GREAT story!

I’ll have to see if we can get that movie.

[virgil283]

Am I working hard enough in my life? Do I have that kind of integrity? Good story thank you...

[2ndDivisionVet]

And today millions of able-bodied twenty and thirty-somethings sit around and collect TANF, food stamps, WIC, UI, worker’s comp, SSDI, government cheese, Section 8 and Lord knows what else.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I remember this man from when I was a child. He would come around our neighborhood from time to time, and my mother would usually buy something from him. Sorry to hear of his passing.

[Black Agnes]

Ping for a great story.

I’ve had to fetch the tissues so you’ve been warned.

[logitech]

Thanks for the post LB

We have nothing to complain about ping.

[Axenolith]

Hear Hear!

I thank the Lord for providing me with examples of what real hardship is, it keeps me grounded when faced with what is ultimately usually just BS.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My step dad taught me the basics for sales:
Make the calls. You'll get the orders...

[Jane Long]

I loved that movie.

[Jane Long]

Great advice. Works every time. If you don’t get the order one day, a bigger order may be just around the corner, the next.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Further:
Even if you think there's no chance of ever selling anything to a particular buyer, keep your name and good humor in front of the person.

Someday, he or she will call and ask about pricing. You'll know it when it happens.

[Jane Long]

Very true. I’ve found billing accounts under stones considered long dead ;-)

[logitech]

This is a very inspiring story. It gives me a kick that I really need now. I have no reason to complain.

[PGR88]

He the first unsteady steps on a journey to Portland's streets, the battlefield where he fights alone for his independence and dignity

He has won that battle.

[South40]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I graduated with a J school degree and was a beat reporter for several years at the statehouse. One day, my step dad asked what kind of money I was making and I told him.
He said, “Hell, Eric, I had more expenses than you had income. Why don’t you quit your job and come to work for me ?”

He had taken early retirement from Amax Coal and wanted to start his own coal mine and coal brokerage. I was the second to be hired.

It didn’t take long to pick up the basics and in a short time I discovered covering a sales territory was little different from covering a news beat.

His little company was acquired by a large Wisconsin coal dock operator and I worked for them until they were acquired by a major oil company. Everything was up and to the right from that point.

[PGR88]

I was looking for a quote from Harvey Mackay - from his classic motivational/business book - “Swim With The Sharks.” It goes something like:

“I’ve met successful salesmen who are alcoholics, who are overweight, who are cheaters, who have gone broke, who are stupid, who are crippled, who are bastards, who are big talkers, and those who can’t talk at all - But I have NEVER met one who is lazy.”

[Jane Long]

Bless him. He’s with the angels in Heaven, now. Rest in peace, dear man.