YOU MUST SELL!!!

“Sales? Oh no, I am not cut out for that…” You may say.

Ultimately, everyone is a salesperson. Teachers, parents, preachers, businessmen, leaders of every phase of life and even babies sell. The popular view about sales is a clandestine, manipulative and pushy process where people finally get home with a bunch of products they never intended to have because some super sales person pulled a powerful sales trick over their inattentive eyes. It is amazing the number of people who fear and avoid the sales process at all cost.

Simply put, sales can be considered to be an exchange of value and that can be in the form of products, services, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Adjusting our focus to the exchange of value broadens the scope of those involved in the selling process. With this new thought, sales takes on a new face and identity.

An employee attending a job interview, a mother calming a persistently crying child, an executive presenting a new business strategy to his coworkers, a religious leader teaching members of his religious persuasion the deep truths of their foundational beliefs or a young man trying to maintain the attention of the girl he is on a date with are all selling. Selling is in everything we do, and it often occurs beyond our level of awareness. Every profession, interest, title, role and duty requires sales.

A good writer sells to his readership his ideas. A doctor sells to his patients the principles of healthful living. Educators sell the topics they teach, as well as the value of education to students. The media sells us their spin on current news events, spiced by their own agenda. A job interview is a sales pitch that requires the applicant to demonstrate his or her ability to meet the requirements of the position. A date is also a sales call that requires us to sell our ability to meet our date’s needs and capture their affection. When done right, sales is honorable and a very wonderful process. Let’s look at a few characteristics of great sales people.

1.      Good sales people identify with their customers

Customers will love to always know that they are “buying” from people who identify with them. Speakers who do not  identify with their audience cannot speak into their situations and do not scratch where the audience itch. Teachers who do not identify with their students hardly influence them through the right educative process. Doctors who do not identify with their patients hardly give them the necessary care they need.

Identifying with whoever you are selling whichever commodity to, creates trust and establishes rapport with customers.This also allows the salesperson to read his/her customers, show concern, and clearly demonstrates his or her interest in providing a proper solution.

2.      A deep knowledge of what they intend to sell.

Customers require and demand that what you are selling to them is understood properly by you. Spend time to understand what you want others to imbibe. Preacher, know your Bible; teacher know your stuff, doctor, know and understand the art and science of healing; mother, know and appreciate good home making skills. 

3.      Resilience

Rejection is a very real part of selling a product or an idea, especially when it is new. A great salesperson isn't easily discouraged, and doesn't take the rejection on a personal level. Your ideas will be scoffed at, looked down upon, trampled on and thrown to the back-burner. Get up! Dust yourself off!! Sell again!!!

Still wondering whether or not you are into sales?

Are you a doctor? Sell!

Are you a teacher? Sell!

Are you a mother? Sell!

Are you a sales person? Sell!

Do you have life in you? Just get up and sell!

“Selling and selling properly is not just a part of business. It is part of life.” Dave Ramsey

“Everyone lives by selling something.” Robert Louis Stevenson

Therefore sell and never sell yourself cheap!

Nana Yaw Amo Broni