Ryan Vette was 23 years old, coming from Kellogg’s retail sales (yes—cereal), and still landed multiple offers in medical device sales ultimately breaking in well over $100,000 (well over $115,000).

And the wild part? He didn’t start with “perfect” experience. He started with work ethic, a clear “why,” and the willingness to show up as himself.

From “Med… what?” to “Sign me up.”

Ryan first heard about medical device sales from a friend in New Jersey who worked at a large medical device company. The friend explained the environment working with surgeons, competitive landscape, and long-term earning potential but what sold Ryan was the purpose: a doctor looking over and saying, “I actually needed your help today,” and that help lead to a successful patient outcome.

Ryan went after it, got flown out to Portland… and didn’t get the job. He said he was crushed.

So he took a job at Kellogg’s to get off his parents’ payroll. Eight months in, the itch came back and with a lot of windshield time, he found the New to Medical Device Sales podcast and listened hard.

The feedback that changed everything: “Too robotic.”

Ryan said the feedback from that first medical device attempt was that he came off “a bit too robotic.” Looking back, he tied it to nerves trying not to slip up.

What fixed it later? He learned that likability and enthusiasm can be practiced, and he started showing up more human, dropping the guard, being vulnerable, and being unapologetically who he is. That shift turned cold outreach into real conversations.

What helped him win at 23

• Follow-up like a pro. Ryan talked about rescheduling calls multiple times, then still showing up. Reps noticed: “The fact that we’re actually on the phone… that’s why we’re having this conversation.”
  
  
• Know why. He said having something bigger than you helps on the days you don’t want to work because adversity is coming.
  
  
• Protect your personal brand. He treated daily actions like a brand—show up fully, everywhere.
  
  

The mindset that made the offers real

Ryan said it “still doesn’t feel real,” but it can happen if you’re willing to put in the work. He also kept perspective: you can always pivot, and the skills you build can’t be taken away.

Final Thoughts

If you’re 23 (or any age) and you’re thinking, “I don’t have the perfect background,” Ryan Vette is proof that you can still break in but you can’t do it halfway. Show up as yourself, follow up like your word matters, and build a “why” that carries you through the days you don’t feel like doing the work. The offer doesn’t come first, the person you become comes first.

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All the best,

Jacob McLaughlin