Marilyn Herigon's first experience using the defrosting feature on a microwave was with a frozen rattlesnake that a local brought in for his rattlesnake fry.
In 1973, Herigon and her husband became part owners of Coleman Appliance, and microwaves were the newest, hot-selling item.
"He needed it defrosted, and he didn't have a microwave. Most people didn't at the time. As it defrosted, it started to uncurl," she said with a chuckle. "I had to learn how to do a lot of things on a microwave, there were eggs blown up and all kinds of things."
Now, a microwave is an essential part of her daily life, and she has four of them in her home - two upstairs and two downstairs.
"I hardly ever use my stovetop or my oven," Herigon said. "I have the advantage of having most microwaves that other people don't. It's amazing what they can do."
Herigon was a salesperson for the original owners before she and her husband purchased part of the company. While she had no experience running a business, she said it intrigued her and her role didn't change.
Focusing on sales, Herigon lugged around 40- to 70-pound microwaves and convection ovens to teach cooking classes to Mid-Missouri women. When microwaves first came on the market, few had them or knew how to use them, she said.
Herigon's sales tactics stem from advice she received from the prior owners: always be friendly, find out what the customer needs, have a little flair and offer a good price.
She and her husband sold their share of the business in 1987 after his health started to fail, but Herigon is still a full-time saleswoman and has been for 44 years.
Her husband of 49 years died in 2013 due to health complications. The two have five children - all of whom have worked with her at Coleman Appliance at some point - and six grandchildren.
She can be found most days at her desk filing orders the old fashioned way with a pen and paper or helping customers with a warm smile on her face.
Even at age 71, she said she has no plans to retire because she loves what she does and enjoys being around people.
Q. Who has invested in you and your career?
"I would say the Colemans (the original owners) because they did a lot for us. I would say they did more for me than anyone. I give all my credit to them for doing what they did."
Q. What choices have you made to invest in yourself and your own success?
"Going to promotions that they have on sales and training. Sales trainings help a lot, and they did a lot for me. (Sales representatives) would go through all the products and then teach you what new was coming out and how to sell it. Our sales representative comes out now and shows us everything. Going to the sales meetings was a big plus for me. They would go through all the products and each time you went to one you'd pick up something different."
Q. What do you think are the biggest issues still facing women in the workplace?
"I don't know how to answer that. There are a lot of women out there working these days, and you have to enjoy what you're doing otherwise you might as well get out of it. I don't know what to tell you there because there are so many women who are working and are enjoying what they're doing."
Q. What drives you most in life and in your career?
"I enjoy sales, and I enjoy people. I enjoy being around people, so that's a big plus. That's why I haven't retired because if I was retired, what would I do? I guess I would volunteer here or there. I would volunteer because I enjoy people, and I would want to be around people."
Q. What advice would you give to a woman entering the workforce?
"Well, there are so many now entering into the workforce with college educations and, of course, without a college education as well. Just be yourself and know a little about what you're doing and what field they're going into. Sales is just being knowledgeable about what you're selling. I did it and I didn't have a problem doing it, and what else would I do? It's what I know."
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