Tom Doran, the 306th person I’ve met on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers, is a bloody good bloke and a very impressive one too.

Tom exudes energy, he’s quick to smile and he’s got a very positive spirit. So he made me feel comfortable from the moment I met him.

Tom is also a really good conversationalist. He took a genuine interest in my opinions, business and life. And, when he spoke about himself, he always had thoughtful things to say.

If you think Tom would be suited to a career in sales, he’s one step ahead of you.

When he was 17, Tom joined his family’s commercial real estate agency, where, for the next 16 years, he did a mix of sales and leasing work. When the business was sold, Tom moved on to another commercial real estate firm for a couple of years. In 2020, Tom joined Strata Energy Services, where he’s now the national sales manager.

Tom’s approach to sales reflects his personality. His number one activity is to build relationships with people, whether by visiting their office, meeting them for coffee or chatting to them at a conference.

But Tom’s people skills are only half the package. He’s also hard-working, methodical and persistent, because he knows that personability is much more effective when combined with professionalism.

As we were saying goodbye, Tom promised to introduce me to a friend of his, because he thought the two of us might be suited to doing business together. By the time I got home, Tom had already followed through. 

That’s the mark of someone who’s both a good bloke and an impressive one.