SHOW NOTES:
This week the “Professor” and I tackle Chapter 1 from, Letters From A Self-Made Merchant To His Son by George Horace Lorimer. The book is a classic. [Read more…]
Get in the Door Podcast with Steve Kloyda and Professsor Plum – Episode #301
July 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Stop Helping People!
July 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment
But that’s how I describe what I do! I help people. Stop it!
When you help people. It’s like you’re up here and their down there. “Here, let me save you, you need to be rescued.” As if to say, “hey moron, you’re doing it wrong.” Ever help someone that is not as committed in solving a problem as you are? That only leads to frustration for us, right? [Read more…]
I Can Save You Money!
July 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Ever have that salesperson call on you. How do they know! They don’t know anything about me. How much I’m spending, why I’m spending it there, what else I’m buying, etc.
It’s insulting to tell someone you can save them money, without knowing any information.
What turns people off the most is assumptive salespeople. These are the salespeople that assume everyone wants their product; and everyone has a problem, and everyone wants to change. It simply is not true. Don’t assume. Ask. [Read more…]
Get in the Door Podcast with Steve Kloyda and Professsor Plum – Episode #300
July 17, 2018 By 1 Comment
SHOW NOTES:
We are BACK. We took a month off to get rejuvenated. We are ready for a new show. This week the Professor and I have very casual conversation about sales. We shared many tactics and strategies and sales secrets. By the way, this is episode #300. What a major milestone. [Read more…]
You’re Not Being Tested
February 20, 2018 By 6 Comments
He walked into my office and sat down. I asked him, “How you doing since our last session?” He replied with, “I’m still struggling with confidence. I wish I saw me how others see me. I want to earn their (prospects) respect and when they come into the store, I want them to value working with me. I want to offer them value, so they’ll buy from me.”
I asked him, “What do you think would be of value for them?” He answered with, “The benefits of the machine. What it can do. To show them I know what I’m talking about.”
He obviously had been through the standard, new hire sales training program that emphasis’ features and benefits, with a summary test on product knowledge before releasing them into the wild. This traditional onboarding program gives him great frustration, because he is not making his numbers and the month is closing in 12 days. [Read more…]
What is it going to take to win your business?
October 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
If you must ask, “What is it going to take to win your business?” you have lost the battle. Pack up and go home. You need to and should know the answer to that question BEFORE you submit any proposal.
This is a sign of a desperate salesperson. A person that needs to make quota, save their job, or save the company by making quota. No matter the reason, value and/or profitability are absence from the equation. Plus, you have lost control of the sales process, winning any future negotiations, or selling on value through any referrals.
The sales process is structured in a way to determine and define value. What is most important? What are the reasons for someone to change? What are the risks if someone does not change? [Read more…]
Prospects Define Value by Your Commitment and Persistence
August 2, 2017 By 1 Comment
Lately I’m hearing a lot of salespeople say they call prospects, leave messages and they never call them back. Most times the prospect doesn’t answer the phone. In an age where every phone has Caller ID it is a split second decision is quickly ignore the interruption. When this is true most of the time, we want to ask ourselves, “Why?”
The strongest influence in personal behavior is weighing the consequences of any action. What are the consequences of answering the phone or returning a voice mail message of any unknown person? Another factor in determining what we do and don’t is fear. Combine those two and here is what the prospect is thinking; “I don’t know this person; I don’t know why they are calling; I’m busy; I’m afraid if I answer, I’ll never get that time back; and if I avoid it, it will go away.” And guess what, you do. You stop calling. The prospect was right! [Read more…]
What Are You Willing to Tolerate?
July 12, 2017 By 3 Comments
Last week I spent a day on a ride-along with a sales rep visiting existing accounts and meeting new prospects. The conversations during the miles we covered were mixed between business and personal topics. One personal story was about how the rep can’t find her hotspot at home, so she has been using the cell phone as a hotspot. I asked her how long the hotspot was missing and she said about 3 months. She was not sure if her daughter hid it or the dog ran off and buried it in the backyard.
The following week when the sales report came out, she fell short of her weekly goals. I reminded her about the story she told me about the missing hotspot. I asked her if she is willing to tolerate substandard results at home, she will also accept substandard results at work and she will never succeed if she continued to believe she doesn’t deserve anything better than what she is getting. [Read more…]
Whom Do You Admire?
June 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment
I remember growing up and wanting to be a doctor. My grandfather was a doctor and was allowed to smoke Dutch Masters President cigar’s in the house after dinner. I thought that was pretty cool. I’m sure there were other reasons I aspired to be like him, but cannot recall them today.
Recently I asked a new client who they admire and they were caught off guard. They replied with, “Well, I guess my father.” I asked, “How often do you see your father?” “About two to three times a year, I guess.” they answered. “What do you admire about your father?” I asked. Silence. He couldn’t think of anything. [Read more…]
Not Everyone is at the Cabin
May 12, 2017 By 4 Comments
How many people go to the cabin every week during the summer? I don’t know the answer and I’m guessing it would be hard to know for sure, but I’m positive not everyone does. Businesses are still open, people are still working, budgets are being determined and spent, challenges continue to exist and problems need to be solved. [Read more…]
