Three ideas that will change the way you sell
It is surprising how the word ‘sales’ is not only misunderstood, but also despised. I further believe that the culprits behind all this are the banks and other financial institutions selling credit cards, loans and all sorts of ‘plans’, who have successfully created an eternal anathema towards selling. But we need to understand the intensity of this damage because it is more psychological than anything else. People come across as ‘off beam’ the moment that they mention they are in sales.
If you are reading this, then it is most certain that you actively, or passively, sell something. So let me share my take on selling, which will surely help you to feel good about it.
- Allot some personal time to what you sell
I stress here on ‘personal’ time. We are all conditioned to believing that our professional and personal selves are different. That is quite untrue, especially for most entrepreneurs who add sensitivity and compassion to their work. That is exactly what you’ve got to do in selling. Whatever in the world you make and sell, make sure that you take it into your private life and have a little private time with it. You will be surprised how your blinkers will activate within minutes and you will have a whole new way of looking at your offering, only because now it will be backed by compassion, warmth and realism.
- You sell your child the importance of drinking milk each day
If you don’t have children, younger siblings or animal babies, that’s okay. Observe those who do! I wonder why this daily routine is never actually considered as a part of sales when, in fact, it has everything to do with selling! For many of us, it comes from a very real place – full of intention, meaning, belief and hope. You want the best for your child. You want him or her to take on life each day as a healthy and well spirited being. This is exactly what you want your product or service to do, isn’t it? So when you approach your clients or VCs, you are supposed to speak about your offering with intention, lots of meaning, and belief that it will change things for the better, and hope that it sustains and flourishes. When you talk from this place, you won’t sound like you’re selling. You’ll sound like you care.
- Please don’t help the world
I wish this take was mine, but I borrowed the thought from the famous author, Elizabeth Gilbert. If you want to make a product or service to help others, please don’t. No one needs your help; everyone’s managing anyways. Just do what you really love. Make something that interests you and gives you immense joy, and you will automatically end up helping people. Plan your offering with love first and then your target audience. Not the other way around.
The above ideas and practices have helped me to sell with a fresh and authentic approach. It is my hope that they will work for you as well. It’s all a part of building an awesome business image. Let me know your thoughts!
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)