Motivation

I just came across this story. Read it. Think about your dreams. Go get'em.

Persistence - The Necessary Quality

"Aww, forget it. I need to talk to someone new."

I've said this to my self before. In retrospect I'm forced to ask myself, how close was I to Earning the Sale? Quite possibly, I was one visit away. Impossible to tell once you've walked away, though.

Last night I made the biggest single sale of my career thus far, earning commissions north of $25,000, assuming that the deal goes through. That's a real feather in my cap. That's half of my last year's income.... How did I do that? Persistence. I stuck with the prospect even when it looked like I'd lost him.

My last visit with this fellow entailed a very difficult time wherein I was forced to explain some previous recommendations and my integrity was called into question - I was on the hot seat! Because I had strong belief in my recommendations in the first place, I was able to convey that belief and stand tall. However, it was a difficult and challenging conversation, and it would have been very easy to simply walk away afterwards, saying: "Aww, forget it."

But I didn't. Which is remarkable, by the way. This prospect is difficult to meet with, as he works very long hours, and our meetings tend to start late at night and last until midnight or so, taking me away from my family. We tend to get off track, as he tends to be a passionate conversationalist, taking charge of the conversation and leading it away from the sale and into other less relevant topics. It's easy to get frustrated as a salesperson during times like this, because one way or another we've got to earn some money. After a number of unproductive meetings that took up more late night time than most would want to give up, it would have been easy to say: "Aww, forget it."

But I didn't.

I didn't because I was already deep into the sales process on another product with this prospect. I didn't because I knew that I was connecting a prospective purchaser with the appropriate product. I didn't because I knew that you need to stick with it until you hear NO.

In order to Earn the Sale, your prospect must like and trust you. This will not happen unless you can be a patient relationship builder. You do this by taking an interest in the prospect, listening to their stories, telling them your own, being there to answer tough questions, and continuing to come back. You do this by being honest with them about the recommendations that you make, and by making appropriate recommendations in the first place.

But ultimately, you do this by being patient and persistent, not pushing the sale, having belief in your products and recommendations, and faith that by doing the right thing, you'll be justly rewarded.

Yesterday was evidence of that.

If you have a story to share about a time that you were persistent and it paid off, I'd love to hear it.

Happy Selling!

Personal Branding - How To Put Others To Work For You

I spent most of this weekend at an industry association golf tournament for construction business owners and people that sell to the industry. It was an excellent time, and I was fortunate to have been invited by my cousin, who works in that industry. I was fortunate, however, because of my cousin's thoughtfulness, which was absolutely no accident. Herein lies the point.

Because I have taken the time to inform my cousin of not only what I do, but how I generate business, as well as the fact that I really enjoy golfing, when he was faced with the circumstance of needing to fill an open position in the tournament, he thought of me. He knew that I would appreciate the opportunity to go to this event and spend some time meeting new people, networking, and prospecting. He knew this because I had planted the idea in his mind. He simply accessed it when the opportunity arose. This is what personal branding is all about.

When you have the opportunity to tell others what you do, and for whom you do it, you're creating awareness among your community of influence. Then, once awareness has been created by initially telling others, keep in contact with them on a regular basis. Be sure to take an interest in what they're doing, but be sure also to let them know what you've been up to, with regard to your business and your market. You need to remind people, because it is not nearly as important to them as it is to you.

So, take a little time to specifically identify your target market, or those with whom you'd most like to do business. Then, be sure to tell others about it, planting seeds for referrals or opportunities to network at events that they invite you to.

This event was a huge success for me. I gathered a lot of business cards, told many people about what it is that I do, gave out a lot of business cards, and had an enjoyable time golfing with people that I'd otherwise have never known. All because I told my cousin what I do, how I do it, and what kind of people I'd like to meet.

Go on now, and share the good news.

Happy Selling.

Best Referral Tip Ever: Assume The Referral

Now, we've all heard of the closing technique "assuming the sale". Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. Have you ever considered transferring the concept to your bag of referral generating tricks?

It's really quite simple. While in conversation with your prospect or client, as you're probing, questioning, and deepening the relationship, the names of people will invariably come up. When they do, note them. Then, later in the conversation, consider assuming them as a referral by saying, "You know, you had mentioned that you regularly eat brunch with John Smith. I'd really like to join you both some time, as it sounds like John and I might get along. I'd even be happy to buy brunch. When is the next time you're planning to go?"

This works, I've done it. Now, the example above was simply an example, but you get the point. A couple of qualifying questions might be useful in terms of being efficient with your own time, as well as demonstrating some interest in the 'referral'. Just be careful not focus too keenly on the third party - you don't want your prospect feeling as though you're not focusing on them. So, keep it brief and to the point.

Assuming the referral works. Practice digging for names in your next meeting.

Happy selling!

Selling Secret - Drop the Pitch.

Are you selling something, or are you helping your prospect buy? This is a key question, because it frames the type of interaction you're preparing to have with your prospect. Think about this for a minute: why do consumers "hate" salespeople?

Because they don't want to be sold.

So, what's the big clue that you're trying to sell them something?

The Pitch.

The problem begins with your routines, and lives in your complacency, your lack of differentiation, your lack of creativity, and finishes with you missing opportunities without even realizing it. Why? You feel like you were smooth, you feel like you were polished, but you came off like a salesperson.

The prospect smelled your pitch, branded you a "nasty salesperson", got spooked, and tuned you out. They didn't listen to your features and benefits, they didn't give you honest answers.

How about a different approach? Consider getting to know the prospect. Consider finding out where they hurt. Consider learning about what's important to them. Consider telling them a compelling and relevant story. Yes, you should be seeking out and remembering relevant, compelling stories. Consider relating to your prospect.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with going into a sales meeting without a script. In fact, if you have a script, toss it. Using scripts makes you clumsy, it detracts from your ability to listen and steals your focus. Don't focus on what YOU want, focus on what THEY want. Then, and only then, can you begin to earn their trust. And trust, my friends, will close you more sales than any other tool in your bag. Of course, you'd better be worthy of that trust. If you're not, you're in the wrong business, friend.

So, drop the pitch, and get to know your prospect.

Happy Selling!

Shut up and Listen!

I remember the day I realized that I'd lost a deal that represented about $6000 in commissions. I was torn up, devastated, confused. Of course, it wasn't my fault. Clearly, the prospect was at fault because they didn't understand my pitch. They didn't realize my value proposition.

Upon further reflection, however, my understanding of the event evolved. I began to blame myself. However, I blamed myself for using too much jargon, for over-explaining, for confusing the prospect with language and overloading them with information. This too was wrong thinking.

The truth is, I didn't spend enough time listening to what was important to the prospect. In my eagerness to show how smart and useful I was, I ended up selling solutions that the prospect hadn't asked for. This is where I really took a wrong turn.

See, the prospect meets with you because they want to buy. They want to give you a chance. BUT - the onus is on YOU to spend some time finding out about the prospect. Who are they? What is important to them? What do they expect of you? Spend some time trying to gain an understanding of the problem that they're trying to solve. Then, and only then, can you truly begin to speak about things they want to hear about.

Listen, the fact of the matter is that they really want to buy. All you have to do is help them. But how can you help them if you don't really know what it is they're after? How can you fix a problem when you don't have a solid understanding of what that problem is, and how it affects the prospect?

Ask questions, and then shut up. Listen to the prospect. Encourage them to talk. Try to understand why they're there with you in the first place. If all else fails, and you're unable to get to the crux of the issue, don't sweat it. Spend some time relationship building, get to know them, and try again another day. Remember, relationship is everything. And they don't really care how much you know. They only want to know how much you care. Once they trust you, everything will work out just fine.

So relax. Think up some great questions, and then sit back, listen, and get to know your prospect a little better.

Attitude

One of the primary sources of concern for sales managers is the attitude of their salespeople. Attitude is a concern for sales managers because most times, the sales person cannot or does not recognize when they have an attitude problem. Identifying weaknesses in approach or closing skills is easier for the individual to recognize, but attitudes can be the result of years or even decades of habit.

Furthermore, it can be really challenging for the sales manager to coach the individual sales person's attitude. Coaching other skills through role playing and like is fairly straightforward. However, a change in attitude must come from within.

What's important is for the sales person to recognize the exceptional value that can be discovered from improving their attitude, not only in terms of sales, but in the rest of their relationships as well.

Truthfully now, who wants to spend time with a negative person? Who wants to purchase something from a negative person? Very, very few prospective buyers will feel comfortable enough in this situation to make it through the sales process attentively. In fact, the reality is that people are attracted to positive people. Positive people exude an aura of personal power, of strength, of assurance, of "can-do-itiveness". As a result of that, people want to be around them. It gives people hope and warm feelings to be around positive people.

So, what's a person with a not so stellar attitude to do?

Well, the first step is to choose to change. You have to understand that you can make a difference in your life just be applying a little focus. Then, you need to begin training yourself to look at the world through a different lens. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of things, start attempting to find the positive. Look for the opportunity.

What I did was to surf the internet looking for inspirational quotes. I just googled inspirational quotes, and surfed the pages that the search returned. I identified specific quotes that resonated with me, and copied and pasted them to a text document on the computer for later use. I ended up with about 4 pages of them.

I believe that the quotes that resonated with me when I first read them were special and should be read and memorized. They resonated because of their inherent truth, and because they spoke to something that I needed to hear. I read them every morning, when I remember. I have noticed, since beginning this exercise, that I've begun memorizing some of the quotes, and they tend to pop up in my mind at times when I could really use them. For example, there are times when I find myself doing something not terribly productive. At those times, I might remember that: "failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving." - Dennis Waitley

At the beginning of the day, I find it very helpful to remember that "every life form seems to strive to its maximum except human beings. How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. Human beings, on the other hand, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less. Why not stretch up to the full measure of the challenge and see what all you can do?" - (Not sure who said this...)

At any rate, the point is, when you do this every morning before you start the day, you begin to feel different. You begin to feel more motivated, more energized, more positive, and more focused. The key is to have spent some time seeking out the quotes that resonate with you. That process in itself will begin you on a path that has the potential to change your life.


- Happy Selling!

Great Resource for Prospecting Ideas

I've discovered a great resource for prospecting ideas. I need to spend more time reading through this...

Belief

Hi there,

The act of selling your product can be either easy or hard. It can be as simple as making a lunch date, or as difficult as convincing your child to eat onions. But imagine how difficult it can be if you don't believe in what it is that you're doing. Simply put, you need to believe in the value of the product. You need to believe that it's the very best product available. Then, you need to get the prospect to agree with you.

Let's go over that again. The necessary components of a successful sale:

- belief in the product
- the ability to share your knowledge

That's it. Belief, and communication skills.

John H. Patterson founded the National Cash Register Company in 1884, and proceeded to revolutionize professional selling. One of the things he did was establish a publication for his sales force to use called "The Primer", which shared scripts and other selling techniques. From Harvard Business School Working Knowledge:

The Primer instructed salesmen to exert pressure in a forceful yet subtle manner. The key was to prevent a prospect from feeling manipulated. "Avoid giving the impression to the merchant that you are trying to force him to buy.... No man likes to feel he is being sold." At the same time, it was important for the salesman to exude confidence and honesty. Chief among the rules of salesmanship at N.C.R. was the ability to demonstrate "sympathy [toward] ... the business and interests of the P.P. [or "Probable Purchaser"] and sincerity in presenting [the] machines to the P.P " These were skills to be honed. After an agent named John T. Watson had given a demonstration at the 1895 sales convention, one audience member praised Watson's "sincerity" and another commented, "The best thing I noticed in the demonstration was that Mr. Watson's manner indicated that he thought he was telling the truth."

Belief. Watson was telling the truth, which is why the audience member believed it so deeply, that he refers to it as "the best thing" in his demonstration. That's pretty powerful.

Now, believing something and convincing others are two very different things. Communication skills are critical, and we'll talk about those another day. The question for right now is, do you believe in your product? Do you believe so deeply that others can't help but feel your conviction?

If not, why not? Are you selling the right product?

Hmmmmm.

Happy Selling!

A Thought Regarding Self Control

I was reading The Power of Concentration, by Theron Q. Dumont and, not too far into it, ran across the following excerpt:

I want you to watch the next person you see that has the reputation of being a strong character, a man of force. Watch and see what a perfect control he has over his body. Then I want you to watch just an ordinary person. Notice how he moves his eyes, arms, fingers; notice the useless expenditure of energy. These movements all break down the vital cells and lessen the person's power in vital and nerve directions. It is just as important for you to conserve your nervous forces as it is the vital forces. As an example we see an engine going along the track very smoothly. Some one opens all the valves and the train stops. It is the same with you. If you want to use your full amount of steam, you must close your valves and direct your power of generating mental steam toward one end. Center your mind on one purpose, one plan, one transaction.

Doesn't that hit like a ton of bricks? I don't know how self aware you are, but I know that I regularly fidget, or allow myself to be distracted by other stimuli when I should be paying attention to what the person I'm conversing with is saying. Furthermore, I had never really considered the way my unconscious fidgeting appeared to others. Truthfully though, when I think about the impression that type of behaviour makes on me, it seems as though this really is something to which I ought pay attention.

Food for thought, anyway.

Happy Selling!

Sharing some thoughts

Hello, friends.

The purpose of this blog is to shed some light on the challenges and joys of being a self employed salesperson. I intend to share my ideas, thoughts, comments, criticisms, strategies, best practices, and methods in order to demonstrate to you, the reader that you're not alone. I'm doing it too.

Perhaps reading this may validate some of your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps it will inspire you to do things differently, better, or more effectively. Let me get one thing straight here, though - I'm no sales master. I'm just going through life with open eyes and ears, learning as best as I can along the way while trying to earn some money.

I sell financial products, but this blog is intended to be generic with regard to product. I don't care what your product is, the fundamental sales techniques and relationship building ideas are all the same. In the end, your prospects need to like you and trust you before they're going to buy anything from you. But you already knew that, right?

Anyway, that's enough of an introduction. If you want to keep reading, subscribe or come back soon. I don't intend to publish according to any specific schedule, it may be more than once a day, or a week may go by between posts. Either way, I hope the content is useful to you.

Happy selling.