I have heard it said that, “you have to believe in what you are selling.” I have often wondered if this statement is true, then how does a used car salesman sell a junky car to a customer? So is it then safe to assume that everyone believes in what they are selling? Probably not.
So what can we assume? It would be safe to presume that the salesman has belief in the sale but maybe not in what he is selling. So what is the difference? Believing in the sale is doing anything it takes to sell a product, regardless of its fit for the customer. Believing in what you are selling is selling the product you believe fits the need of the customer.
Last summer, I worked for a large health insurer in Pittsburgh, Pa. While I do not “love” health insurance, I do believe it is a necessary entity to allow people to afford their healthcare related bills, and I would have no problem selling it to the right fitting customer.
When looking for future employment I think it is vital to seek a company that sells a product you “believe in.” Nobody wants to be that used car salesman and I believe this is one step in the right direction to becoming a salesperson with integrity.
BoweryJE22
Very true! I also think that this coincides the “features tell, benefits sell” theme that Coach DiDonato was talking about in class last week! Customers are concerned with what they are going to get out of the product and this is a very important principle. Great post, James!
Great post. there is almost a moral calling to believe in the product or company youre selling. I certainly wouldn’t want to sell anything that I had reservations about purchasing myself.
That’s a great point. I think what separates the “good” salesmen from the truly great, is those who do believe in the importance of their product/service to their customers. I also think choosing the right company that does something you’re truly passionate about is equally important. Too often people rush into the first opportunity because it’s their only opportunity. Being patient and finding the right fit could be the difference between a miserable life and a few miserable months finding the ‘right fit.’