Forge Marketing

We Don’t Make Money If Our Interns Don’t: How Our Incentives Actually Work

What your summer actually looks like

Most people have had a bad experience with a door-to-door salesperson. The awkward knock. The scripted pitch. The feeling of “why did I open the door?” The truth is: most reps aren’t bad people — they’re just undertrained. We just published an article breaking down how we train interns to not be that person: Why preparation matters before you ever talk to a homeowner How early wins change confidence and performance The structured training system we use to reduce failure and burnout This isn’t about selling harder. It’s about earning the right to be confident. If you’re curious how real training changes outcomes (in sales or any career that requires communication), the article is worth a read.

Most college students never experience this much financial or personal growth in an entire decade, let alone one summer. Dallin Peterson did. His first summer selling with us at Grit, Dallin earned $455,000 in earnings ($330k in commissions, $125k in bonuses). That is not typical. It’s an extreme, top‑tier outcome. But it shows what’s possible when someone takes this path seriously. What impressed me more than the number was who he became in the process. When Dallin started, he cared a lot about what other people thought of him. Rejection stung. Tough conversations were uncomfortable. He was talented, but like most of us at that age, he hadn’t been forced to build real-world communication and resilience. Over one summer, that changed. He learned how to walk up to anyone and start a conversation. He learned to hear “no” all day and still go to bed confident. He learned to detach his identity from other people’s opinions and focus on the work. The money is a one‑season result. The skills and character are assets he’ll compound on for the rest of his career. This is what we’re trying to engineer with the Grit x Forge summer sales internship: Yes, the opportunity to have a 5‑ or even 6‑figure summer… But more importantly, to become the kind of person who can create those outcomes on demand, in any market. If you’re a college student wondering whether a door‑to‑door sales internship is “worth it,” or a parent wondering what your son will actually get from an experience like this, watch Dallin’s full 10‑minute testimonial below. It’s in his own words, hear it directly from him. If you want the full breakdown of how our Grit x Forge program works, what realistic outcomes look like, and whether it’s a fit, comment “INTERNSHIP” or DM me “SALES.”

A written testimony from Christian detailing how his time with Grit x Forge led from door-to-door sales to starting his own pest control company.

For students and parents asking how our summer internship actually works, here’s a clear written overview.

Most college “internships” teach you how to make coffee, not how to make money or how to be the best at a specific thing. Over the last few summers, we’ve had guys come in with zero sales experience, learn door-to-door, and walk away with 5‑figure summers and a story employers actually care about. For example, one of our reps, Cooper Hawk, sold with us and then landed an Account Executive position at Paycom. He used his summer on the doors as proof he could prospect, handle rejection, and close. That’s the kind of trajectory we’re optimizing for. What we focus on: Training first: scripts, roleplays, ride‑alongs, and daily coaching before you’re on your own. Real responsibility: you own a territory, a quota, and your results. Transferable skills: interviewing, sales process, time management, and resilience. If you’re a college student who wants your summers to actually move your life forward – financially and professionally – this is who we built Grit x Forge for. If you’re a parent or professional who cares about getting young people real-world experience (not just busy work), this is the kind of program I wish I had when I was in school. I put together a full breakdown of how the internship works, what training looks like, and realistic earning scenarios. If you want it, comment “INTERNSHIP” or DM me “SALES” and I’ll send it over.

One of the biggest advantages of completing our sales internship isn’t just the income you earn — it’s the doors it opens afterward. Because our reps build real sales experience (appointments, closes, objections, quotas), they graduate with something most college students don’t have: Documented, professional sales results. That’s why many of our alumni go on to land roles in some of the most competitive and high-earning industries, including: 🔹 SaaS / Tech Sales Companies love candidates who already know how to prospect, present, and close. Our interns often jump straight into SDR and AE roles. 🔹 Medical Device Sales Associate Hospitals and surgical vendors want reps who are confident under pressure and comfortable communicating with decision-makers — exactly what our internship develops. 🔹 Pharmaceutical Sales Representative This field rewards relationship-building and persistence, two core skills our reps practice daily. 🔹 Real Estate Sales / Commercial Brokerage Our alumni thrive here because they’re already used to performance-based environments with uncapped earning potential. 🔹 Financial Services Sales Whether insurance or wealth advisory, firms actively recruit candidates with real sales reps experience — not just a business degree. 🔹 Logistics & Supply Chain Sales A fast-growing sector that values people who can build trust quickly and manage complex solutions. 🔹 Cybersecurity Sales Exploding demand and high OTE. Companies are eager to hire talent with proven outbound experience. 💡 Why our internship stands out We build producers. By the time our interns graduate, they know how to: ✔ Cold Outreach with confidence ✔ Handle objections in real time ✔ Sell a real product/service ✔ Maintain a quota ✔ Win as part of a team Those skills transfer and employers know it. If you’re a student looking for a career launchpad instead of a résumé filler, this is your sign to reach out.

The Hardest Part About Sales Isn’t the Pitch People think sales is about talking. It’s not. Sales is about staying composed when everything in you wants to quit. It’s learning to hear “no” 50 times and still show up like it’s your first conversation of the day. It’s staying curious instead of defensive. Listening instead of waiting to speak. Asking better questions instead of pushing harder. Sales isn’t a talent contest — it’s a character builder. The reps who win are the ones who: - Follow a process even when they’re tired - Stay emotionally steady when prospects aren’t - Don’t take rejection personally - Keep refining their approach instead of blaming the leads - Understand that skills compound, but excuses don’t You don’t become great at sales by closing deals. You become great by becoming the kind of person who can’t be rattled. Once you learn to control your emotions, communicate clearly, and stay relentless… Deals become a byproduct of who you are—not something you chase. Sales doesn’t just change your income. It changes you.

Our partnership with Grit Marketing will empower our teams with the training, support, and resources they need to excel. We’re excited for the opportunities this collaboration creates and look forward to the impact we’ll make together. Below is a short video that highlights what we do and where you might fit within our organization. If you’re exploring summer internship opportunities, feel free to reach out — we’d be happy to connect.