Stop Helping People!

This title causes most people to flinch and reread it.  They react with, “but that’s how I describe what I do.  I help people.  I help companies.”  I response with, “Stop it!“

What makes you think they want your help?  What makes you think they need your help?  Why not someone else?  Why now?

Helping people that don’t see a problem is being assumptive.  What upsets prospects the most is assumptive salespeople.  Don’t assume people have problems.  It is insulting.  They certainly don’t want other people pointing out their problems.  Especially a salesperson off the street, they never met.

Start working with people.  Get on the same side of the table with them and fight with them against a problem or towards a desired goal.  Here are three reasons why: [Read more…]

When They Say NO!

Most salespeople will admit they don’t like hearing a “No” from prospects during the sales process. There is a small sting of rejection that is hard to accept with a lingering sense of discouragement. This is not uncommon and if you feel this way, you are not alone. [Read more…]

Be a Problem Finder!

See, prospects are buying on value, not price. Salespeople think prospects are buying on price, so the right away selling on price, price, price, and then I go, who’s turning your product into a commodity? Me, the prospect you’re leading with price. So you’re telling me I should buy from them. So if somebody else comes in the door and they’re offering your same product for fifty cents less, you’re telling me I should buy it from them? [Read more…]

VIDEO: Growing Revenue and Increasing Profit


Presented a luncheon workshop on Tuesday, January 29, 2019
at the Minneapolis Club [Read more…]

Get Outside your Comfort Zone

In negotiation, the more information you have, the better position you’re in. The greater leverage. Same thing when it comes to sales. Prospects know this so they withhold information, don’t share it with the salesperson, and then they’re in control. The prospects are in control and the salesperson is scrambling. Because the first time they had a conversation with them, there wasn’t enough engagement.

Are Your Results Rewarding?

Are your actions rewarding? Are you moving ahead. Think about where you are and where you want to be. Are your actions taking you there? If not, what has to change? [Read more…]

When a Prospect Gets Upset

I’m curious. Tell me more. So then you know the salesperson that asks another question and listens for the right followup question, and here’s where these followup questions get more emotional and here’s where the salespeople start backing off. [Read more…]

You Can’t Do That!

http://www.mnsales.com – Watch me. That’s what a prospect is saying when a salesperson says you can’t do that. Or we share our product or service will ‘allow them to’…really, the prospect is saying. You are going to give me permission to do something I want. I need your approval to proceed. [Read more…]

Define: Value!

Value in one of three parts to this equation; Cost minus price equals value. Too often salespeople talk about price, without understanding the cost and consequences of inaction. What’s worst is prospects don’t know them either. Then salespeople talk about solutions. “We have the greatest products on earth,” when the need has not been defined, and the impact of inaction, has not yet been discovered. [Read more…]

What’s A Perfect Week Look Like?

When I interview salespeople, whether they are an existing employee, or a candidate for a sales position, one of my most resourceful questions is, What’s a perfect week look like for you in your current role?

Often they will tell me “it depends.” This tells me how much of their time they are being proactive or reactive – letting other people determine how they spend their time. [Read more…]