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Joe Girard

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Joe Girard (born November 1, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American salesman. He is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful salesman, selling 13,001 cars at a Chevrolet dealership in Detroit between 1963 & 1978.

His book How to Sell Anything to Anybody (1977) explains how he overcame a troubled youth, including confrontations with his father and the law. In the book he explains how his life changed when he realised that he didn't have enough money to buy groceries for his young family. Out of that immediate need grew an intense passion to sell - in his new job as a car salesman. He had no choice but to make the sale. Within just a couple of months he had the best sales figures in his dealership, and as a result he was fired due to complaints from other salesmen who accused him of stealing their business.

At his next job, held until his retirement, he set consecutives sales records over a fifteen year period.

In 2001, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.