Tag Archives: economy

Learn to Sell or Go Out of Business!

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I don’t know what it is about the word “selling” that causes people to freeze up like a deer caught in the headlights. It seems that people will go to almost any length to avoid talking about the importance of selling. Yet the bottom line is that selling is a way of life!

We sell ourselves to get accepted into college. We sell our kids on doing chores around the house. We sell our bosses on why “we” deserve the promotion versus someone else. We sell our significant other on that piece of jewelry we are dying to own. We sell our friends on what movie to go see. We sell our colleagues on supporting our projects. We sell others on our charity causes. In short - we sell every minute of every single day of our lives.

Soooo…what is the problem with selling the products or services that we have to offer? Maybe something in the collective psyche that says “selling is bad”? All I know is that if you want people to buy your products or your services then you must master the art of selling what you have to offer. Granted, some of us - yes, that’s me! - enjoy it more than others. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn to love it also.

What it comes down to is this…if you believe that what you offer has value to someone one else or to a particular company then it should be pretty easy to sell. If you love what you do and remember that sales is simply about helping to solve problems for others then it’s pretty easy. Except…most people end up focused on what “they want” not what is good for their potential customer. I’ll talk more about that later.

Here’s the deal. Right now, people are constantly focusing on what they perceive to be the negatives  out there. That’s not helpful. Yes, I realize that the financial problems being played out on the national stage are a problem. Yes, I realize that people are out of work. But that doesn’t have to be your world. Focusing on the negative or using the economy as an excuse is NOT the way to attract new clients and close business each day.

In subsequent posts, I’m going to talk about the Top 10 Sales Blunders People Make and HOW YOU can avoid them. I love to help people sell more, more often so read on!

It’s Not the Economy. It’s Your Attitude!

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Some would say that we are in a “down economy” and while that may certainly be true for some industries, I believe the real truth is that it is NOT the economy. It’s our attitude!
 
A couple of years ago, I wrote an article called “We Are What We Think About”. I believed it then and I believe it now. And, I would add that our success is directly proportional to the positive OR negative thoughts swirling around in our heads. Even when times seem tough, it is our attitude, our point of view that makes all the difference between succeeding and failing. I refuse to buy into the myth that “no one is buying”. That seems an easy excuse for some not willing to dig in and do the hard work, or those succumbing to their inner fears of scarcity.
 
Here’s Barb’s #1 Tip: Shift your thinking when times are tough, believe in yourself and what you have to offer, and close your ears to the noise of the pessimistic attitudes that could threaten what you want to achieve. A shift in thinking also means that you must be willing to be creative, look for new approaches to selling your products or services, perhaps work harder and stay focused like never before.

 

In the June edition of Selling Power Magazine, Scott Lindsey of Besam Entrance Solutions had this to say: “We have a sales force that, for 10 years, has not had to work hard, just go after the low hanging fruit.” Now, with economic changes affecting their business, Lindsey tells his people that “they’ve got to roll up their sleeves; now it’s going to be hard work.” He adds: ” Lots of younger salespeople do not understand that. Anybody can sell when things are really good.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. The true measure of your abilities shines through when you rise above the tough times to accomplish what you decide you want!
 
Look, don’t get me wrong. I know gas prices are ridiculous, I know that we’ve had serious problems in the mortgage industry, which in turn is affecting other businesses AND at the same time I’ve heard from a number of people in those industries that they are still succeeding. Throughout history there have been down times and there have always been people who’ve succeed in spite of “the down economy”. I choose to be one of those people! What about you?
 
The author of the best selling book Harmonic Wealth, James Arthur Ray, says, “Live from the outcome!” So what outcome will you live from? Will you be wildly successful by refusing to believe in the fears propagated by others, or be too scared to even give it a try?
 
Here’s to your sales success!