Success in sales isn’t just about numbers. It’s about relationships, leadership, and the drive to make a difference. Selling pest control can be selling peace of mind—a healthy home free of pests.
As someone who’s been used to an industry where discipline is crucial, it is easy for him to transition to sales. In sales, you must convince people to buy your product; in football, you must reach the goal.
At Abra Kadabra Environmental Services, success is built on dedication, ambition, and strong relationships. Alexander Zayzay, our Inside Sales Representative, embodies these values daily.
Alexander has been recognized numerous times for his dedication and hard work in his career. A couple of months ago, he was named Abra Kadabra’s Wizard of the Month. He’s just a year shy of joining the company, but Alex has already made a significant impact in growing the business.
As he approaches his first anniversary with the company, Alexander reflects on his journey, his passion for sales, and his aspirations for the future. Let us take a look at how Alexander lives his life in his role in the company and even in the outside world.
Entering the World of Abra Kadabra
Alexander’s path to Abra Kadabra began through a chance connection with Matthew, a company leader, on LinkedIn. “We just kicked it off,” Alexander recalls. “We related on many things, and our mindsets were aligned.
I saw the opportunity as an excellent fit for me.” Before joining Abra Kadabra, Alexander worked as an inside sales executive at Minko Products, a major Minnesota-based manufacturing company. While he valued his experience there, he saw tremendous potential for growth at Abra Kadabra. His journey into sales, however, started long before his corporate career.
The Formative Years: Pivoting From Sports to Sales
Alex was a standout athlete in high school. He was an All-State and All-Conference football player who dreamed of playing at the collegiate level. “I had Division II offers and a few Division I opportunities out of high school,” he shares.
“I wanted to explore that lane further, so I went to junior college at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona.” Unfortunately, an injury shortened his football career, leading him back home to Minnesota, where he pivoted toward academics and business.
After earning his associate degree at Minneapolis College, Alexander completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Minnesota State University.
His first significant sales role came in 2018 with Applied Knowledge Academy, a startup where he led a team of ten and helped scale the business to $3 million in just five months. “That was a great experience,” he says. “It kickstarted my sales journey.”
A Day in the Life of an Inside Sales Representative at Abra Kadabra
Entering a different world wasn’t hard for Alexander. With his disciplined attitude and extreme focus on his goals, he came to Abra Kadabra to grow as a leader and contribute much to the company.
“Sales comes easy to me because it’s about helping people solve their problems and bringing solutions,” he explains. “I take a lot of inbound calls from residential customers who feel overwhelmed by their pest issues.
My job is empathizing with them and reassuring them that we’ve handled it.”
Beyond residential accounts, Alexander also works closely with the commercial team, collaborating with Matthew, Danielle, and Phil. His day is filled with calls, emails, and outreach to new and existing clients.
“The biggest thing is that I’m helping people, helping communities, and making property managers’ lives easier. That’s what makes this job rewarding.”
Tactics From a Former Athlete Turned to Salesman
Given his athletic background, Alexander used that experience to shape his work ethic and leadership style. When he’s not in the field to touch down some goals, he’s used the mindset of waking up every morning thinking about how he’s going to take a win for the day—a sales made to make a company bigger than ever.
“Matthew (Abra Kadabra’s CEO) and I connected on sports,” he says. He was a great baseball player, and that drive I had in football I bring into my professional life. I hold myself to a standard of excellence and want to help my team succeed.”
He takes pride in being a source of motivation for his colleagues. “A big part of my role is bringing energy to the team. I hold myself accountable and try to lift the spirits of those around me.”
Outside of work, Alexander is deeply committed to personal growth and family. “I spend much time teaching my son how to be a man. I also love working out, playing basketball, and focusing on personal development. Alexander loves reading books, watching podcasts, and to learn new things.”
Part of his game plan is always to win and not take every lesson as an opportunity to grow as a better individual.
A Leadership Potential: What Lies Ahead for Alexander
Investing in Personal Development
Leadership is a core part of Alexander’s identity, as seen in his past roles and at Abra Kadabra. “I’ve had leadership experience throughout my career, from leading sales teams to working toward regional management,” he says.
However, what stands out about Abra Kadabra is its commitment to its employees. “Leadership here doesn’t just see you as a number. They genuinely invest in you, both personally and professionally. It’s inspiring and makes me want to do the same for my team.”
Alexander is holding onto the reassurance of having a better future in the company. He knows that the more he gets better as a person, the more opportunities await him in the company. All of the aspects of growth and learning come from his experience and the people he works with every day. He uses that as fuel to further his career.
Honing Personal Relationships
As someone who’s worked with teams on the football field and in the professional sales world, Alexander learned that relationships are essential for growth. It’s not a one-off thing but something you build and hone as you go further. You must know the people you talk to, their likes and dislikes, needs and wants, and every detail you can have. By having this kind of information, you get to know where to position yourself in the field.
A key lesson he’s learned is the importance of human connection in sales. “Matthew shared a quote with me that stuck:
‘Sales isn’t just B2C or B2B. It’s H2H, human to human.’ Relationship development is everything.”
Keeping a Leadership Mindset
Alexander doesn’t want to be stuck in one place. In fact, he’s thought about his five-year plan for the company and has already built a vision for where he’ll position himself in the future.
“I want to maximize my leadership potential and become the Vice President of Sales. There’s no cap on my growth. I see myself leading the residential and commercial departments, helping others achieve their goals while continuing to grow our company’s success.”
It is evident how Alexander focuses on his goals. In every sales event that Abra Kadabra has, he’s always been the familiar face you can see at the booth or when making new connections. He doesn’t complain or take every opportunity for granted. Instead, he uses every opportunity as a building block to solidify his plans and goals.
Having a Strong Faith
Behind every success is a higher power we should always thank for. The source of faith that gives us the courage to welcome each day with hope and gratitude. That’s why Alexander will always be proud of his strong relationship with God and how it’s been a considerable part of his life ever since.
“God is the most important thing in my life, and he has made everything possible for me and been leading me, and I enjoy going to church on Sunday,” Alexander proudly shares.
Wrapping It Up
An American Football team comprises offense, defense, and special teams.
Let’s put it this way: Every part and team member of a football team are Alexander’s most remarkable traits, and he puts it all together to make a winning team – himself. With each trait, being honed and trained as he encounters new challenges professionally and, of course, in life.
Alexander is an excellent example of a fine young man who knows what he wants. His goals are clear and straightforward, so he always comes into a room with a solid game plan. Challenges may come his way, but he is unstoppable with his integrity and experience.
The determination, drive, and passion for helping others make Alexander Zayzay a rising star at Abra Kadabra Environmental Services.
His journey is just beginning, and we’re excited to see what he accomplishes next.
This article is part of our employee spotlight series, where we get candid with Abra Kadabra’s personalities and uncover their stories. Stay tuned for more.
Call us at 763 – 363 – 4375 or schedule an appointment if you have any pest or wildlife-related concerns.
New to Abra Kadabra? Take advantage of a Free Initial Pest and wildlife Inspection now. Use the code ALEXANDERTHEGR8 to get started.
