Selling is Part of Life
Trying to live my life in balance, I encourage myself not to categorize my experiences. This is a difficult choice, especially since my career has been sales for over a decade. I have to keep in check the desire to press what I want others to buy from me and the impression that I can judge in advance what others want from me with being open and simply listening to them tell me what they want.
This is not to say I am an order taker. A good salesperson is an educator and a provider. I share my knowledge and personal enthusiasm with others and if they would like to use the tools I can provide them to enhance their day to day lives, I connect them.
For me, most sales do not end at the completion of a transaction. On a business level, this is described very briefly as “continued customer support”. I offer free training on how to use the phones (many people buy smart phones which are really personal organizers, information portals, and complete communication solutions, which can be daunting to fully understand at first). I make myself available for them to visit with me as needed to help them with their frustrations that come from learning or to find additional products to complement their lives.
Of course, I would think these are the traits of many successful salespeople. My philosophical views have a more subtle presence, but a very noticeable effect. I do not try and lead them to my direction (of course those who ask my opinions and preference will hear them). I am like a passenger with them on a raft, watching where they are going and offering them what I have to help them along the way.
I think sales is just a business term for a very basic aspect of life. Everyone is in sales. Sales is sharing: products and services, certainly, but also ideas, perceptions, emotions, beliefs. Sometimes sales involves money transactions, sometimes not. When we introduce ourselves to another, it’s sales on a very basic level.
My girlfriend plays a computer game called Sims 2. When the little electronic people in game meet each other, each “transaction” ends with little “pluses” or “minuses” over their heads. This translates into a numeric value representing how the two feel about each other. I think this does closely mimic real life. We remember our interactions with others and that carries over to the next time we meet. Positive interactions increase the likelihood of future positives, and negatives often breed additional negatives. In effect, every time we communicate with others, we are selling: sometimes things, sometimes ideas, sometimes just ourselves as friends. It doesn’t have to be overt, it doesn’t even have to be with intent. It just is, without effort, without motive.
I carry this belief along with me in all aspects of my life. In work I feel relaxed and enjoy it because I am doing the same thing as when I am not working. I am giving, teaching, learning and receiving. It’s the same things I do when not at work.
Just like in the Sims game, there will be little plus signs and little minus signs. Therein lies the challenge with all interpersonal interactions. In business the goal is to have more of the positives and less of the negatives. This will result in success. In life, your goals may vary, but it would be safe to say that life is often easier for most of us when we feel good towards others and others feel good towards us. It’s not difficult to realize: surround yourself with positive thoughts and feelings and you will attract the same in others. Angry, negative people often spiral down into more negativity and can even bring others with them.
What do you choose?
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