So what makes a great salesperson? According to Barbara Corcoran, having something to prove can be the difference between success and failure. Barbara is known for her building a real estate empire worth millions and starring on NBC’s Shark Tank. In this interview with Business Insider, Barbara explains how she would pitch her business if she were on Shark Tank and what makes a great salesperson.
According to Barbara, it is the people who work smarter, not harder, that make the most sales. She describes some of her hardest workers as being her least successful. So what does work? Barbara believes a chip-on-your-shoulder can give a person the edge that they need. This is present in the field of entrepreneurship as well. The need to prove one’s self (or at least prove someone else wrong) is the motivation they need to get them through the tough times of founding a startup. It is proven that telling other people your goals makes you more likely to achieve your goals. Perhaps the best salesperson, is one who has been told they will never be successful and must prove to themselves and those around them that they can? Next time you set a goal, tell people about it and then tell yourself that no matter what happens or what people say you will achieve it. I am not advocating for purposefully creating your own insecurities but I think if we are honest with ourselves we all have a fear of failure to some extent. So do what scares you and pursue with the intention of proving that you can.
BoweryJE22
Right on Stu – there’s nothing like the weight of others’ expectations – and opinions to incite action. Just in my own experience, I’m so much more likely to work harder for something if I know that other people are either doubting I can do it or expect me to succeed. Even though the typical entrepreneur is stereotyped as independent and self-sufficient, they really do depend on other people in every part of the process.
I agree with this in full. I have found that in starting my own company, the days when I just worked hard often produced little to no results. It was the days when I was down for the count and needed to either sell or shut down that I proved my worth as a salesperson. It was never enough to just work hard and hope for the best, I had to bear down and show that I was capable of producing results. And it was on those make or break days that I would make most of my sales.
I am torn on this one. I definitely agree that, as Corcoran said, the areas of life where we have had the least guidance and support are often those we take personal control of and work the hardest in. These can be areas of great success, by the grace of God, but they can also be areas of great pain. Wouldn’t it be all the greater if success were achieved with the guidance and support of those around us? I think these kind of success stories are just as prevalent, if not more so.