Don't try and sell me! I'm tired of it.

I have had some "sales" training over the last 4 years. Sales is a bad word in my opinion. But, at the request (order) of the Marine Corps I found myself in a classroom with 15 other Marines trying to learn as much as possible so that we could have a successful tour on Recruiting Duty. As my journey started and I began to talk to people about the Marine Corps and the opportunities that are available in the Corps, I started to understand that it is not "sales". It is helping someone make a decision or what I like to say help them buy. I got this idea from Jeffrey Gitmer. Like I said I think sales is a bad word and I did not want to come off as a salesman. So when I stumbled upon Gitmer I saw the proverbial "Light". I realized that all people have a desire to improve or accomplish something and that if I listened and cared enough about THEM that I could help them either discover their need or remind them of it. Then, and only then could we explore the Marine Corps and see if it would benefit them.

Sadly, most people feel that there is nothing that they can do to change their situation and circumstances, they feel as though today is the same as yesterday that will lead to tomorrow. This feeling of being stagnant with no other alternative is where the opportunity to buy becomes intriguing.

An example of this:

You are driving your car and the AC goes out on a hot day, you start to hear a knock in the engine. You start to question how much longer this vehicle will last you. You have things to do, a job to get to on time, so you make a decision to go to the car dealership during your lunch break to see what is out there. You get there and meet a salesperson who runs to meet you. They do this so they can get your "sale". They show you a couple of cars that you can not afford and frankly, are not interested in owning. They try and tell you how good you would look or feel driving it. You leave the dealership to go back to your job, that you probably only go to in order to make money to pay for your house and expenses, and you feel like $h!t.

What if the salesperson asked some questions about what you were looking for, what you needed and what your price range is? What if they truly cared about your situation, do you think you would still feel as bad? No you would not, in fact you might even have "hope", not because they told you to have hope but because it came from inside you. Then you would feel powerful and people like feeling that.

How does this apply to you?


Politics:

Do both of the candidates truly care about you. Do they know your thoughts, dreams and desires? Are they running for office for themselves or you?


Your Life, Job, Family etc.

In your day to day interactions with people, do you care about them as much as yourself? Do you show compassion, interest and understanding? Do you listen to respond or understand?

You can always tell who is faking. Do they offer emotion to you first or facts? If it is facts first then they are allowing you to make the choice and develop your own feelings. If it is emotion first then they are trying to sell you.

Stop selling and start helping them buy!