Everyone is a Salesman
by Miki Saxon“It’s all about sales. I’ve never seen an entrepreneur who wasn’t a salesman. I always feel like, with an entrepreneur, it’s not just about convincing someone to come in but it’s really about getting them to see life the way you see it through your eyes.” —Barbara Corcoran, Shark Tank
Corcoran is right, but it isn’t just entrepreneurs; it applies to everyone.
“See it through your eyes.”
Isn’t that what everyone wants?
From convincing investors to give you their money to selling yourself to a potential boss (or selling the company to a candidate), to making the case to your boss for a new piece of equipment to deciding what movie to see, it’s all sales.
Persuade, influence, blandishment, brainwash, cajole, con, conversion, enticement, exhortation, force, induce, inveigle, sweet talk, wheedle, preach, manipulate—call it what you will it’s still sales.
Folks do tend to get upset when “negative” words—manipulate, brainwash, con—are included in a discussion of sales, but then, there are people who think ‘sales’ is a negative action.
Which is ridiculous.
Without all the myriad ways we sell every day not only commerce, but religion, relationships and most of life would grind to a halt.
The actions that are termed sales or any of its synonyms aren’t good or bad; as with any tool it is how you choose to use it that defines whether it’s positive or negative.
Or, to paraphrase, sell to others how and what you would want sold to yourself.
See, is that so hard?
Flickr image credit: PR_Springer_Fachmedien_Wiesbaden
