The Tales of an 1800s Traveling Salesman – “Uncle Charlie”

I got “lit up” by a social media troll…and it turns out, the troll was right! I was complaining about my seat on a plane; a metal tube traveling 500 mph 35,000 feet above the earth. Me, sitting comfortably in a cushiony chair sipping a Diet Coke and enjoying a Stroopwafel.

Uncle Charlie Terry shared his travel stories from the 1800s…and (a) it made me realize what a wimp I was by complaining, but (b) opened my eyes to what traveling salespeople sacrificed and dealt with to make a living in the 1860s-1920s.

Enjoy this take on sales and sales travel from the 1800s.

@saleshistorian on Instagram – daily quotes, pics & comics from the past
The Transparent Sales Leader – The book on revenue leadership includes several quotes and lessons from past sales.
The Transparency Sale – the first book, (ironically) named one of the top 100 sales books of all time.

COMING IN JANUARY OF 2026 – Four Levers Negotiating – chock full of history quotes, too…pre-order now.