fear of meeting new prospects

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Gary, I guess I would more liken it to a hurdle than an obstacle. If I get a good start, I can fly right over the darned thing, but after a few yards, instead of having flat road or smooth sailing, there's another (the next time I need to start making calls). If I take it on while my momentum is still in play, I can give myself the push to clear the next one and keep going. Once I stop. BAM. Dead in the water and I am bound by the laws of science: it takes much more engergy to get a standing object into motion than a moving one.

So my answer to your question.... It is only a lurking hurdle, but if ignored it has the potential to become an OBSTACLE at any time.

An interesting self-observation about this thread: This thread has been like therapy to me. Each time I post, it causes me to look more closely at my own behavior in order to articulate it clearly. In so doing, a vague underlying detriment is now plain as day to me. Awareness is power. Thanks, guys!

I think it would be plainer than day without the metaphors and put in terms of making a living in sales. I'm serious. try it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Boye

I think it would be plainer than day without the metaphors and put in terms of making a living in sales. I'm serious. try it.

Sorry to annoy you with my analogies, Gary, but I look at everything visually, this way. It is simply how my brain is wired. While it may seem like rhetoric to you, it has actually been very helpful to me because I am once again calling and selling and that is what really matters to ME. I'll try to keep my visuals more to myself.

Regardless of HOW I look at it, the pointed questions and comments of this thread GOT ME LOOKING and that has made a difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I'll try to keep my visuals more to myself.

I liked your visuals. I thought they help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giuseppe

I liked your visuals. I thought they help.

Me, too.

Did you know that messages must be at least 10 characters long? Evidently, me, too didn't sound like a message...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giuseppe

I liked your visuals. I thought they help.

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalker

I was interesting in knowing how to overcome a fear I have of meeting new prospects. Outside of work I'm not shy by any means but sometimes when I'm meeting with a new prospect I can barely get the words out. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Ask youself, "Why am I here, and what else would I rather be doing right now."
This should get you thinking in the right direction. In sales, to be truely effective, one must have a passion for what he/she is doing every day. [SIZE=2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by metromonster

Ask youself, "Why am I here, and what else would I rather be doing right now."
This should get you thinking in the right direction. In sales, to be truely effective, one must have a passion for what he/she is doing every day.

I don't know about you but I don't think that would help me very much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalker

I don't know about you but I don't think that would help me very much.

Have you given it any thought at all? If you know why you are, then you can be.

when I sometimes find myself, after all these years in selling, falling victim to the fear of cold calling ( and it happens to many of the best performers believe me ) I I play the numbers games.

It's a little like speed dating... simply make lots of sales approaches..it doesn't matter if you get rejected or if you mess up, all you have to say to yourself is "NEXT!" and move onto the next call.

of course it's going to help you if you've thought through your presentation of your unique selling proposition and rehearsed it enough to feel confident that what you have to offer is a worth while value to your prospective customers.

Instead of trying to get peope to say YES to me i sometimes see how many straight NOs i can get. Its more difficult to get an outright rejection than you think. You'll get lots of maybes, i'll think about its, and call me in 6month times but you'll find very very few pack up and get the hell out of heres.

If rejection is your greatest fear try getting rejected. Its much harder than getting to YES.

Treat everyone as though you care about them and be sincere about it. If your product or service is a good one and you know that the customer will benefit from using it show him whats in it for him and don't take maybe for an answer. YES will do fine. NO will do fine. But never accept a Maybe.

Maybes hold you back. With a yes or a No you can move forward or move on.

when you are so busy making calls like this you really don't get time to be afraid.

I learned this leason from Brian Phillips of ESP, Nuneaton, UK (my Mr Miaggi )

I sincerely hope this advice works as well for you as it still does for me.

Warm regards

David Bowen

David, excellent post. Great Advice!

fear of meeting new prospects

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