I write this as An Open Letter to Members of SalesPractice. My thoughts and my intentions are also my credentials. They are no less important than my experience as a man who impacted the selling arenas that have, in turn, impacted my life very positively. I have no profound platitudes to offer here, and no bulletted tips. We have enough of them already. What I do have is a plea.
SalesPractice is rapidly becoming the Definitive Source of Sales Education on the Web. In 1995, that statement would have had far less meaning. Back then, the Web was seen (by those who saw it at all) as having "potential'. Nobody really knew in what direction it was going. Today it has emerged as a powerful source of information. Unfortunately, that distinction encompasses misinformation, disinformation, and irresponsibility as part of the mix--and there is not much we can do about it at large.
There are few bricks and mortar schools of selling. For those of us who are truly advanced, our doctorates often take the form of winning national sales contests, high achievement awards, and inordinate earnings. For those who are just starting out and want to learn, real education will most often be attributed to being at the right place at the right time--and among the right people. Those of us who were blessed with great mentors can attest to that.
SalesPractice is becoming the RIGHT PLACE. Never has there been a time more right. And-- in the history of the SalesPractice site, never has it been more important to have the right people contributing at ALL levels, from novice to intermediate to advanced. Never has it been more important for the moderators and participants alike to discern the labels of Expert and expertise.
There are people visiting sales practice from all over the world who need help in earning a living and feeding their families. They look for COUNSEL, and are themselves restricted by not knowing who to ask, or worse--WHAT to ask. If they stay, they are subjected to advice from well-meaning members who can recite the platitudes, list the "tips", and leave out the most important part which is UNDERSTANDING, because they simply don't have it to give. On some threads they get conflicting answers from Experts, many of whom appear to be in Audition Gear. The message often perceived is that selling is not a science, and the closest thing to sales education is merely a grab bag of opposing thoughts and displaced contexts.
Discussion is great, debates sometimes are revealing, and forums can be fun, but there are mouths to feed in a profession where the state of education is deplorable. The leaders of SalesPractice are intent on doing something about it. The good news is that the development and positioning of the site has reached a point where it can be done.
My plea to the members here is to KNOW what you have to contribute, and know what you are not qualified to speak on or give advice on. Please give what you have, and don't pretend to have knowledge in areas where you lack real knowledge.
Everybody has unique gifts. Share your gifts and share what you really know.
Practice your affirmations elsewhere until such a time when they become reality.
Learn from those who can walk the talk, because the people who truly walk the talk are those who are always learning themselves. Don't preach what you don't understand. As Stephen Covey has said, "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood".
This plea has the support of the founder of this site, and I know it has the respect of some of the best sales minds in the world who happen to be contributing and interacting members here.
For those of you who believe that, among other things, selling is a science, I want to point out something that doesn't get said enough. All sciences have its scientists, and THE FIELD IS OPEN. Years ago I responded to the call and it became a rewarding passion. Some of my classmates responded to the call of other sciences, from physics to medicine to theology. Perhaps for the first time we have a place to create more practitioners of that science--to develop more sales scientists. I promise you it is hard work but rewarding.
For those of you who believe also that selling is an art, then practice it as an art and learn from the masters. Keep your black belts in a safe place until you earn the right to to wear them.
Beyond the science and the art, SELLING IS A BUSINESS. It is our source of income in good times and tough times. Let's help others by giving what we have. I know firsthand that the page is turning on SalesPractice, and the people who have something meaningful to share are taking center stage. I know that meaningless and frivolous posts are being addressed by a much more active contingent of moderators, myself included. The founder of the site, and the moderators, are a united front dedicated to making SalesPractice truly the definitive source of sales education not just on the Web, but in the world.
We want you to join that united front. In doing so you can make our profession walk the talk of GREAT.
__________________ -Ace Coldiron