Article from the February/ March 2013 issue of SA Guide to Business Magazine.
“I hate selling.” This sentence is heard often, even amongst entrepreneurs, where the essential nature is selling.
Selling the business, selling the product and selling ideas. The general idea of hating sales, but being in sales, isn’t uncommon.
The first point to understand is that any business entails selling. Being in it means you love it, and selling your ideas, product, etc. Hating it requires a swift exit, as loving the sale and evolution of your treasured product (whether it be an idea or a physical product) is the main drive behind successful business owners.
A prime example is the legacy of Steve Jobs. Known for being incredibly hard to work with and, at times, arrogant, his redeeming factor was found in the release of any Apple product. Watch any video of his apple product launches, and it’s evident that he not only enjoyed selling his products, but believed in them. His explanation of every aspect of his product made it obvious that if he was excited; everyone else had a reason to be too.
If a CEO is excited to sell his product and believes in it, getting it sold is easy. When CEO’s view the selling as a chore, however, their sales tend to represent their lack of enthusiasm.
The regular excuses of those who hate selling are as follows:
It’s manipulative
The common belief is that a salesperson is going to spin the facts into the most rose-tinted version that he can to get the sale. (Not really how they want to be seen.)
It’s annoying
It’s boring
Selling usually takes “forever” and is regularly met with “can I get back to you?”
Holding any of these beliefs is a recipe for failing in sales. All three of them, though, spell disaster. Changing your views and feelings regarding the “Selling” point will do more than bottom line and it might ultimately improve your business acumen. A better way to look at it is:
It actually helps
Once a conscious decision is made never to sell something to someone that they don’t need, you’re more focused on selling products you believe in – to people who actually need them.
Deciding to learn something valuable in every sales situation not only makes it more interesting but also lets you know who believes in your product and how to make it better.
Now that we’ve established what not to do, is it actually possible to learn to love selling. In a word…yes.
Business success is directly linked to selling your idea. Learning to love it is simply a question of getting re-inspired by your product. If you believe in it, your customers will be inspired to believe.
Once you train yourself to improve and re-ignite the flame, selling won’t be about getting someone to buy your product. You’ll realise that it’s letting someone in on your vision.
In short, learn it, love it, live it.
Related Content
