If you have heard of Bill Porter In this article we will tell you a bit about his story and his overcoming from the point of view of psychology, and some lessons that this man's life can teach us.

Biography of Bill Porter

Bill Porter was born in San Francisco, California in 1932, with cerebral palsy. He had difficulty speaking, walking, and also complications in his motor coordination from this. As a young man, he moved to Portland (Oregon) with his mother after the death of his father.

In his childhood, he dreamed of being a salesman like his father, but because of his disability, he could not find a job.

Even though he received consecutive "no's" in his search for a job, he did not give up on his dream. Besides, he had his mother as his biggest supporter. After much searching, he got a job as a door-to-door salesman at Watkins Inc. There was some resistance from the company, after all, it was a stressful job, even more so in the face of his difficulties, but he managed.

Working at Watkins Inc.

However, when he won the job, he set out to work on the worst route in Portland. This was a route that no salesman wanted to do. For this reason, Porter suffered greatly. Since his appearance was not one of the nicest, many customers rejected him without even hearing what he had to say. Also, his way of talking and walking made people feel strange .

After that, he never stopped.

His persistence paid off, and he began to sell more. From then on, he began to captivate people and achieve his dream. In 1989 he was awarded the company's best salesman of the year, and for 40 years he walked 10 miles a day to make his sales.

In 1995, an Oregon newspaper told his story and turned him into a symbol of determination. In 2002, his story became a movie ( Door to Door We talk a bit about it below.

On December 3, 2013, at the age of 81, Bill Porter passed away in the town of Gresham in Oregon. He left a legacy and won hearts by his courage and determination.

Bill Porter's overcoming from the point of view of Psychology

Bill Porter Unfortunately, he was born with cerebral palsy and this brought many difficulties for him. This hindered his development in many areas, as we have already mentioned. We, who were mostly born without problems, face difficulties every day. However, can you imagine what a person with many limitations has to deal with on a daily basis?

It is necessary to remember that, in addition, Bill Porter He lost his father at a young age, and that this is very significant in his life. After all, he admired him so much that he wanted to have the same profession as him.

Confronting bullying

If today our typically developing children face bullying, imagine a child with the problems of Bill Porter He suffered constantly since he was a child. This was mainly because practically the entire right part of his body was atrophied. Also, the 1930s were marked by prejudice and there was nothing about inclusion. Many people regarded him as limited and incapable.

However, his mother always believed in him. She knew he was capable of learning and evolving, so she always encouraged him to pursue his dream.

Absence of victimization

Even in the face of all these limitations and negative pressures, Bill Porter He didn't want to spend his life condemned to do nothing. He wanted to be useful to the world, to excel, to evolve, and to help anyone. He loved the sales field, mainly because of his father. This passion motivated him, so that even when everyone didn't believe he could do it, he did.

Bill Porter focused not on his limitations, but on his dream. He felt driven by his mother's faith in him. Moreover, he sought not those to whom everyone wanted to sell, but the most difficult ones.

For Psychology, the transformation of difficulty into a transforming force is essential. It is to leave the position of victim to that of agent of transformation. Bill Porter has done this all his life.

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Lessons Bill Porter has to teach us

In the face of such a beautiful story, there is much that Bill Porter has to teach us with his example. N It is not something that is limited to sales, since that was his profession, but in all areas of our lives. Bill Porter It actually teaches us how to live. Here we list some of those lessons:

Don't give up, be disciplined and patient

Bill Porter He didn't give up on his dream. Even when he received a no, he insisted. So, even when he got his job and sales were low, he didn't give up. He remained committed, disciplined, and persistent. It was his insistence that got him where he dreamed of being.

Be humble

It is not fighting head-on with those who humiliate you or wish you harm that will bring results. It is when we show results that recognition comes. Bill Porter, Even in the face of humiliation, he responded to the insults with work and truth.

Show people that they are unique

Especially in the sales market, the salesperson needs to adapt to the customer's needs. Bill Porter He understood his clientele and indicated what could help. In life, when we understand that people are not the same and we connect with the individual, everything gets better.

Be resilient to adversity

Bill Porter He suffered from adversities since his birth, but it was the fact that he did not stop in the face of them that led him to his success. Success goes beyond being a great salesperson, but it is also a matter of evolving and achieving your dreams.

Love what you do

It sounds cliché to say this, but Bill Porter He only achieved his success because he loved what he did. Only when you love yourself can you overcome difficulties, have discipline, and reach success. When Bill Porter He did it because he was passionate and knew that what he did would bring about change.

Door to Door" Film

The film "Door to Door" ( Door to Door ) was released in 1955. It fully tells the story of Bill Porter, and can be watched in addition to this article.

Know that this film received 12 Emmy (American TV Oscar) nominations, which indicates how much it is exciting and well done Out of 12 nominations, it won 6 awards, including Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay, while William H. Macy, Porter, and Helen Mirren also received Golden Globe nominations.

Conclusion

Bill Porter We hope that this article has helped you to know a little more about this incredible man. May his trajectory help you in adversities, and be used by you to inspire others as well. By the way, it is possible to understand more about issues related to resilience and willpower in ourClinical Psychoanalysis - Check it out!