16 Lessons on Selling (and Life) from My 5-Year-Old

Happy Sunday, friends! Earlier this week, X announced a $1 million article prize. I don't typically write the kind of content that could win such a contest—listicles filled with life lessons and advice. But then, wouldn't you know it, my five-year-old son, Dev, learned how to sell one morning, and he dropped wisdom bombs that I scribbled down. We ended up with sixteen of them. Now, they're on X (go ahead, like, comment, and share—we need that $1 million; Dev has a world to build). I really liked how it turned out, so I wanted to share it with you all too. It's kind of a co-written essay with a 5-year-old, who I hope becomes a more frequent contributor. I think I'll start writing more short pieces and sharing them in the paid, not-boring world, so join us if you want the full spectrum of not boring, meaning.

This morning, my five-year-old son made his first two-dollar sale and dropped sixteen lessons on selling and life that are more practical than any of the slop you'll find on LinkedIn. I'll share them with you, but first, I need to tell you about Dev, about his Donut Hats, and about his world.

One day when Dev was three, he told me that he wanted to build worlds. Real ones. Big ones. Planets. Like, actual, physical planets. "Then you're going to have to study, buddy," I replied. "What do I need to learn?" he asked. Math, physics, engineering, business. No one had ever built a world before, so he'd have to study really hard. And so he did. He asked for math problems, then harder ones, then harder ones. The kid does 90 minutes of Russian Math every Sunday and loves it. Physics, he always liked. Gravity was one of his first words, and one of the first concepts he grokked. "Why did the cup drop, bud?" "Gravity," he'd answer.

We read a little bit of Richard Feynman's lectures together, and Dev became fascinated by the idea of understanding how the world works. He started asking questions about everything—how bridges stay up, how airplanes fly, how the sun shines. His curiosity knew no bounds.

Fast forward to last week. Dev had been selling his Donut Hats for a few months. He'd started with a simple idea: hand-decorated donut hats that he sold for $2 each. His customers were mostly neighbors and friends, but Dev had a natural talent for sales. He'd greet people with a big smile, explain the design of his hats, and make sure they felt special.

One morning, Dev made his first two-dollar sale. As he watched the customer walk away with his hat, he turned to me and said, "I need to learn more about selling, buddy. I want to sell a lot of hats." I smiled and asked him what he thought he needed to do. He thought for a moment and then started listing his lessons on selling (and life).

1. **Be friendly.** "If you're not friendly, people won't want to buy from you," Dev said. "They need to like you."

2. **Know your product.** Dev explained that he had to understand his hats—what made them special, why people would want them. "If you don't know your product, how can you sell it?"

3. **Be patient.** Dev had to wait for customers to come by, and sometimes they didn't buy anything. "You have to wait, buddy. It's okay if they don't buy today. Maybe they will tomorrow."

4. **Be persistent.** Dev didn't give up after a slow day. "I'll try again tomorrow," he said. "Maybe more people will want hats."

5. **Be honest.** Dev refused to lie about his hats. "If they're not perfect, I'll tell them. But I'll make sure they're nice."

6. **Be creative.** Dev came up with new designs for his hats—different colors, patterns, and decorations. "If you're not creative, people will get bored of your product."

7. **Be kind.** Dev always thanked his customers and wished them a good day. "Being kind makes people want to come back."

8. **Be grateful.** Dev was grateful for every sale, no matter how small. "Even if I only sell one hat, I'm happy. It means I made someone's day better."

9. **Be brave.** Dev had to face rejection—customers who didn't buy his hats. "It's okay if they don't like them. I'll try again."

10. **Be curious.** Dev wanted to know why people bought his hats. "If I understand my customers, I can make better hats."

11. **Be generous.** Dev sometimes gave away hats for free to friends or family. "Sharing makes people happy, and they'll tell others about me."

12. **Be patient with yourself.** Dev acknowledged that he'd make mistakes. "It's okay if I don't sell a lot of hats. I'll learn from it."

13. **Be proud of your work.** Dev was proud of his hats and the effort he put into making them. "If I'm proud, people will see that and want to buy them too."

14. **Be adaptable.** Dev was willing to change his designs or prices if needed. "If something's not working, I'll try something else."

15. **Be resilient.** Dev didn't let a bad day stop him from trying again. "I'll keep going, buddy. I'll sell more hats tomorrow."

16. **Be grateful for the journey.** Dev knew that selling hats was just the beginning. "I'm learning so much, buddy. One day, I'll build a whole world."

As Dev's lessons on selling and life filled up several pages, I realized that his insights were not just for business—they were for life. His approach to challenges, his curiosity, his kindness, and his resilience were all qualities that applied to every aspect of life.

Dev's story reminds us that sometimes, the simplest lessons are the most profound. A five-year-old's perspective can offer valuable insights into how we approach our work, our relationships, and our dreams.

So, next time you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, take a step back and ask yourself: What would a five-year-old do? Maybe you'll find the answer you're looking for.

Join Dev and me on X (link provided) to read the full article and share your thoughts. And who knows? You might just discover your own 16 lessons on selling (and life) along the way. Happy Sunday!