That Guy
I’m in the process of seeking to understand sales a little better. I’ve never considered myself a “salesperson” and have always wanted to avoid coming off as smarmy and slick.
Most of my career has been spent in the church and non-profit world, and there’s nothing worse than a pastor-type who comes off as “Eddie, the used-car salesman” — complete with the oily slicked-back hair and the polyester-plaid sport coat.
Never be that guy.
It’s taken me 5 years to get here (I’m a slow learner). You can have something to sell and not be “that guy”.
So wash your hair and take off that sport coat.
Because, more than likely, you’re in sales too. It’s part and parcel with the 21st-century economy.
In Daniel Pink’s book “To Sell is Human” he references a survey that asks this question:
“What percentage of your work involves convincing or persuading people to give up something they value for something you have?”
The average reply of all responders was 41%.
A lot of us spend a decent amount of team each week moving people, which is as much leadership as it is sales.
So, after five years of pushing back on this idea, I’m embracing it.
