What do you do if you’re in sales and your customers are playing hard to get?

That’s the challenge that’s recently fallen into the lap of Vien Luong, the 42nd person I’ve met on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers.

After a successful career in operations and pre-sales, Vien was appointed sales director of his financial services firm in July.

So sales is a new challenge for Vien. But he’s responded with an incredibly positive attitude, which is why he’s been making great progress.

Vien knows he’s got a great product. And he knows who to speak to. His problem – which all salespeople face – is trying to access and build relationships with the decision-makers.

His solution is to work hard, try new ideas and learn, learn, learn.

I was able to relate to Vien’s situation, because I’ve got a newish business and sales is also new to me. Funnily enough, I’ve adopted a similar approach.

One thing I really liked about Vien was how warm and open he is: what you see is what you get.

I was also impressed by his energy, given that he’s got a six-week-old daughter and a two-year-old daughter and he’s forgotten what it’s like to sleep.