The Five Best Ways To Increase Your Street Smarts On Any Selling Skill
Sales/Marketing Strategies
Written by Jim Meisenheimer
on 03/2003 - Word Count: 653
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Would you like to increase the distance between you and your competition?
Would you like to earn more money and be more successful?
Would you like to be recognized within your sales organization as a top producer?
Who doesn’t want these things? Well, probably 90% of all salespeople. Sure they think about it – but they don't take action. They will not take the action steps necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills that will make a difference in their selling results.
What you have, is what you deserve. If you’re not satisfied with your lot in life and your selling results in particular – you can do something about it. If you’re one of those special people who hungers for success, here are five quick ways to increase your street smarts on any individual selling skill.
5. Do your homework. Years ago doing research and homework meant going to the library. That was time consuming and sometimes boring. Today you can peruse the shelves of the New York City Public Library by logging onto the internet and keying in www.google.com.
You can enter key words like cold calling, telephone skills, negotiating, time management etc. and have instant access to downloadable advice on any selling subject.
4. Put the zipper on your mouth. Here’s the reason why – your mouth never taught you anything. Seek to sharpen your listening and observation skills. Pay attention to all the salespeople you encounter in your personal and professional life. Note what works and what doesn’t work. Hang out with salespeople who are the high achievers in your company and your industry. Call one a week to ask for advice or share an idea.
3. Learn from the experts. For example, let’s assume you want to sharpen your telephone skills. Art Sobczak is the #1 telephone expert in North America. Develop a connection with the experts and your business will take off.
2. Read books. Buy books written by the old Masters, like Elmer Wheeler, Frank Bettger, Dale Carnegie. Imagine this, and it’s true, the answers to all your problems, personal and professional, are in print somewhere. Keep reading the books to help you discover the new ideas that can solve your "Old" problems and ultimately change your life.
Books are like barbells. The more you use them, the stronger you’ll become. Hey, if you don’t take time to expand your brain - it doesn’t expand, it contracts.
1. Experience is no substitute for classroom knowledge. It never has been and never will be. Everything you need to succeed is being taught somewhere right now. So, go take a course if you want to learn something new. You don’t have to be trapped by your past when the doors to your future are waiting to be opened.
In conclusion, if you’re not at least 105% to your sales quota after the first two months – you need to take a good look in the mirror. All the “I’m thinking about its” in the world won’t add up to a hill of beans.
Be like Nike – “Just Do It” just do something. If your sales aren’t where you want them to be, do something about it. Create a list of the ten things you can do immediately to increase your sales and personal productivity. Do all ten things at once and you’ll begin to see positive results.
Jim Meisenheimer, CSP, is a professional speaker, sales trainer, and personal coach. He shows salespeople and sales managers how to increase sales, earn more money, have more fun and how to do it all in less time. His newest and fourth book is The 12 Best Questions To Ask Customers. For information about Jim’s Keynote presentations and consulting services,
