Selling: What is selling to you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Boye

Mitch, I got an email this morning from somebody who disagrees with my definition and analogy (CEOS of their business stuff) and really got me to examine some of the things I've taken for granted. I visited his site and found some of the most fantastic insights on selling I've ever encountered. Like wow!

It's not my place or proper protocol for me to post his words here, but for sake of our discussion, If you'd like me to forward, PM me and I'll do so.

I'm going to send him a referral and I'm hoping he'll post here. What a mind he has.

PM me, Gary. How can I grow and study if I don't challenge my thinking from the outside - the inside too easily becomes self contained.

I gotta run from the inside to the outside [world] for a while - the inside here too becomes too easily self contained and not productive in the prospecting/acquiring customer stand-point.

Later and I'll be looking for the PM in the PM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Boye

JR, I think back in Sales 101, I must have been sleeping when they covered that. I wish I wasn't because I think it would have saved me some pain. When, many years later, I finally saw those words, they jumped out at me--like Eureka!

Gary, I shouldn't say "...it's in most Sales 101" classes since I have not attended a Sales 101 class. That was a gross assumption and my mistake.

When I first heard that statement, or something similar, 20 years ago I heard it a lot and read it a lot. So much so that I took it for granted that everyone else had too and today assumed it to be so basic that it was covered in Sales 101 classes. My apologies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

Gary, I shouldn't say "...it's in most Sales 101" classes since I have not attended a Sales 101 class. That was a gross assumption and my mistake.

When I first heard that statement, or something similar, 20 years ago I heard it a lot and read it a lot. So much so that I took it for granted that everyone else had too and today assumed it to be so basic that it was covered in Sales 101 classes. My apologies.

Oh gosh--no. I didn't take that the wrong way. I think the reason that I was unaware of the idea for so long was that I was too busy thinking in the wrong direction. Sometimes we lose track of our priorities. As you may have guessed, I'm no spring chicken, and if there was a mistake out there to make, I made it. It wasn't about making sales. I always made sales. But, if we're not careful, we can win a thousand battles and lose the war.

I think Sun Tzu said that too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Boye

Oh gosh--no. I didn't take that the wrong way.

Thanks for being gracious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

My pappy used to say that a salesperson need only concentrate on 2 things; finding someone to tell your story to and telling someone your story.

Classic! Maybe I will use that as my signature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

I'm quite confident that "selling" means different things to different people. So... in your opinion, what is selling?

As Jolly Roger stated, everyone will have a different definition of selling.

I have a simple definition of selling that has served me well over the years and it is:

"Helping the prospect make an informed buying decision."

I've used that simple philosophy for over 30 years now and it has served me well. You'll almost never annoy a prospect when you're trying to help them. Do you get every sale? Of course not, but every sale you do make is a win-win one.

How one executes this simple philosophy is the art and skill of selling.

Selling: What is selling to you?

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