So I've always been told that if I ever failed at a job, or just decided that my current occupation wasn't for me, that I could just go into sales. I was told from even an early age that I'd be a great salesperson, and that I could even sell water to a drowning man. I've heard all of the salesman jokes you can think of. To be perfectly honest, sales was my occupation before I cam to Waters Edge Church, but that's an entirely different conversation for another day. So do you think that's true? The mere idea that I possess some sort of skill or personality trait that gives me a hand up over people, and that in many scenarios gives me an unfair advantage when it comes to persuading someone to my way of thinking? Naaaaaaaaaaah I don't think so... But here's what I do think.
People are right. I am a fantastic sales person. But, it actually has very little to do with me knowing any sales technique, or grabbing hold of the latest tips and tricks for closing the sale. The dictionary would define a sale as the act of trading goods or services for money. Let me take it a step further. I would personally define a sale (at least when it comes to someone selling something to someone else, or a group of people) as nothing more than a successful persuasion. One person who is exited about a product, service, or idea showing someone else how it will benefit them or the overall picture.
Ironically, I am still in sales even though I work at a church. You're in sales too. Everyday you go to work, you sell your employer on whether or not to keep you working there. You sell them on the idea that what you do merits the salary that they give. You sell yourself to everyone you come in contact with. You sell them on the fact that you take care of yourself, or what your values are. You sell them on the fact that you're the right man or woman to do the job, or that you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, when you're supposed to be doing. Ultimately, it could be what you don't do that could sell somebody into the idea of going elsewhere to look for ideas or help, or perhaps that you aren't the right person for the job. When you go to a job interview, a sell is taking place. When you're in your board meetings, or sitting down with the president of the company, there is a sell taking place. Every time you talk to another human being, a sale is taking place. One way or the other, you are selling them something based on what you're doing or not doing. I don't believe that I've ever sold a thing because I know how to sell, I just have some ideas on how to communicate. Let me share with you a few things that I think could make anyone sell anything:
1.) Have passion- Speak and live with passion. When you're excited about something, let the whole world know. Show how much you care. People never care how much you know until they know how much you care. People know how much you care by the level of passion that you exude in your demeanor.
2.) Be enthusiastic- All the passion in the world won't take you very far with no enthusiasm. You have to be excited about whatever it is you sell. Whether it's an idea, a product, service, or anything, you have to have some sort of natural enthusiasm.
3.) Shut up- Sometimes being able to share your ideas has to wait until the other person finishes. Many people never get to share their full ideas because every response they have for the other person begins with "yeah, but" which tells anyone that you're not really listening. People want to be heard.
4.) Don't try to "sell" your ideas. Flesh them out, talk about them, let them be heard. Come off like Mr/ salesperson, and it will fail every time.
5.) Know your stuff- You can't sell it if you don't know it. I'm convinced many good ideas go straight down the drain because someone doesn't take the time necessary to think about whether or not what you're trying to sell is actually going to be beneficial to the end user at large.
What do you sell everyday?
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