In a past life I sold Kirby vacuum cleaners. You began your lead generation process by making cold calls, starting with your family and friends before expandin

In a past life I sold Kirby vacuum cleaners. You began your lead generation process by making cold calls, starting with your family and friends before expanding outward. Securing an appointment with a potential customer allowed you to demonstrate the product directly in their home or office. A key part of the sales presentation in people’s homes involved vacuuming the customer’s mattress using a black cloth, secured with an elastic band, instead of the usual vacuum bag. As the demonstration progressed, the accumulated debris—dirt, dust, and dead skin—would inevitably overwhelm the elastic band, causing the black cloth to burst off and release a cloud of white dust into the air. This shocking and unpleasant visual often left customers both disgusted and embarrassed, making it easier to close the $800 vacuum cleaner sale. Horrible business. Product was pretty good though.