Thread: Looking for Salesman and Good Sales experiences.

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

Having been in sales /marketing most of my adult life, and having trained many thousands of sales people over the years, I can tell you that it is very rewarding financially, emotionally, etc. However... if you don't have a natural knack for it then you'll have to really apply yourself to learning how to sell, and you must NEVER GIVE UP!

The best advice I can give is to learn "The Art of Asking Questions". Good sales people listen a lot more than they talk, and most folks will tell you exactly what they want if you learn to ask the right questions...

...That, and as I say: Persistence is the Key...

Yes. I don't know if I have the real knack until I get "on the lot" and really face the dragon. BUT I have sold cars for friends and of course all those that I've ever owned. In the 15-20 cars of my life I've only ever bought one through a dealer.

It will be a challenge shutting my mouth, BUT then I've used that in the cars/deals i've made/sold in the last few years...profit makes a good motivator.

time to dig

I'm a manufacturing/supply sales guy for 35 years, managed, trained and hired scores of salespeople, own my own company and have had a great time seeing the world and working with pros in many fascinating industries. I wouldn't trade my career for anything except being adopted by Bill Gates.

Take (or read) a highly rated professional selling course. "Born" salesmen, if they actually exist, rarely outperform trained sales professionals. Learn sales methodology and learn what personality types prosper in which areas of sales. Consider there are only a few types of sales including intangibles (insurance, finance), capital equipment (aircraft, mill machinery), engineered products (custom designed and manufactured equipment), repeat/supply products (work gloves, paint) and retail (counter work, personal selling). Each class of sale is best suited to a certain personality type. While I have done well with repeat/supply industrial products I would have suffered in retail or intangibles, for example. You might think you want to sell cars, for instance, but your gift may be understanding, explaining and selling custom suspension design/manufacturing services.

I do not totally agree, "if you can sell then you can sell". A qualified engineer might take a year to sell me a 1-atmosphere underwater divers habitat for use at 250-400 feet but he'd not likely have the skill (or interest) to sell me five $2000 suits with matching ties, belts, shoes, cuff links and shirts. Understanding this is how a professional selling class will help you position yourself quickly for the most fun and the most success. Professional selling, especially (for me, not necessarily you) to professional buyers, engineers or purchase agents, is great career! Good luck.

No charge.

I'm a $h!tty salesman really
Part of my job is sales but generally I tend to tell the customer what they want /need and drop it.
Surprisingly, the jobs that I told the customers I wanted no more to do with end up buying from me
I guess sometimes being an uncompromising d!@k works LOL
Please don't take this as advice
Mike