I have been a little slow to get my blogging back online because I have been working on my book. But I have to share this story of some amazing sales professionals I encountered yesterday! Are you ready? I was in the supermarket and as I was leaving, I was treated to one of the best sales pitches I have ever seen. It was by a group of adorable 7-year-old girls selling Girl Scout cookies!
In some ways, this is my favorite newsletter to write. It’s the one where I put my Sales Culture work aside and express a few simple thoughts to you. 2009 has been a challenging year. It can be tough to keep a perspective on things and remain upbeat and positive. It’s at times like this I keep reminding myself what I am deeply grateful for. So with your permission, here is my list.
I am exhausted! I have heard enough excuses this past week why people are not closing deals! I think that the time of year makes sales reps and some sales professionals a bit crazy, and this year is not an exception! We are all in the mode to work to do everything we can to get the deals closed and invoiced. So, here is the deal: Do you want to close more deals? Do you want to raise your close ratio and your profit ratio? Then get it right the first time!
Dave and Janice are both successful sales professionals selling complex IT products and services. Both have had good long runs of meeting and exceeding quotas and expectations. Both have made very good money and enjoyed all of the kudos and benefits of their success.
Shhhh, don’t let anyone hear me tell you this, but you are IN sales! It’s OK, don’t panic. Take a few deep breaths. It’s true. It does not matter what you do, whether you are employed or in a career transition.
Do you remember the person who hired you for your first job? I do, and today I had the very great pleasure of having lunch and a wonderful time with my first manager, Joel Mickelberg. I have not seen Joel in 15 years, and it was amazing to reconnect with him and talk about my days at Xerox and—most importantly—be able to say “thank you.”
Lately, much of my speaking and training has been focused on the (vast) differences between sales reps and sales professionals. They have two different modes of operation and styles of work. Sales reps are focused on the present, the here and now of a specific sale. They are fully engaged in providing product information and getting a contract signed. There is usually not too much complexity in this task or role, except when they need their organization behind them – which is all of the time.
