Selling yourself is hard, especially when you are in a position where people already have presumptions about you. Those in sales face this every day by being ridiculed as “sleazy” and “annoying.” Infamous quarterback, Tom Brady, faced a similar hurdle as well. To overcome it, he displayed his consistency.
In College
From the beginning, Tom Brady was always seen as a backup. When he played at the University of Michigan, there were originally 6 other quarterbacks ahead of him. So, he began as a backup and rose to become the starter in 1998 through 1999. To ascend, Brady worked hard. He would ultimately achieve an All-Big Ten honorable mention and appear in the Orange Bowl.
In the NFL
Every analyst predicted Brady would be the least likely to succeed in the NFL. He was skinny and his times were slow. Ultimately, Brady was selected 199th for the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL draft. He became the Patriot’s backup for their franchise quarterback, Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe was one of the most highly paid quarterbacks in the league; no one suspected he was going to leave anytime soon. After an injury, Brady had to step in. He proved he was a worthy contender. Once Bledsoe recovered, the Patriots decided to place Brady as the starter. Why? Brady effectively sold himself to fans, opponents, and his coaches that he could lead the Patriots.
The Lesson Here
In both college and in the NFL, Brady’s consistency asserted the length of his capabilities. The same applies to sales. However, we must be careful with what is meant by “consistency.” In sales, consistency does not mean constantly calling your clients. It does, though, mean always showing a smile, putting your best foot forward, and having a good work ethic. Adopting consistency allows you to appear more favorable than competitors. If selling is a business of “moving others,” clients would much prefer to work with someone who is consistently kind and hard working.
testacr22
Hi Liam, I’m not a fan of Tom Brady, so therefore, I didn’t enjoy reading your blog post. However, I do believe you’ve brought up valid points on how Tom Brady’s career relates to the art of selling. In sales, it is critical to be “consistent” in how you treat others. You might not “close the deal,” but that does not define your worth as a person.
Liam, I liked how you demonstrated how you can sell in an untraditional way using a football player to demonstrate this. I’m not the biggest Brady fan but I do agree he is very consistent and you gotta give him credit for that.