To increase your good luck in sales you have to learn how to convert the bad luck into good luck. In outside selling there are two fundamentally different kind of sales calls. Prospecting calls are essentially going out cold calling and looking for accounts interested in using your product/service. They are pretty much convinced that what you sell is a good solution for them and your primary job is to find them and sign them up. Like the prospectors of the 1849 California Gold Rush these callers are looking for gold that already exists… it just a matter of making enough calls to find enough nuggets of gold. In other words, prospecting is pretty much a matter of going out and looking to get lucky.
Sales Alchemy is another matter entirely. An alchemist in medieval times was something of a magician who could reportedly take a non-precious metal like lead and turn it into gold. Alchemist weren’t out looking for existing gold but looking for ways to turn non-gold into gold. In sales, alchemy is any attempt to take an account that is apathetic or even hostile to your product/service and transform them into interested and eventually passionate users.
Very few sales people make this distinction in their mind. Prospecting is more or less a numbers game. Call on enough accounts and you will eventually find enough people that want to buy. I always recommend that for the first 3 months in their territory, even up to the first year, my reps focus on prospecting, finding people that want to buy. Eventually though you may run out of those and have to learn a whole new skill set. You may have to learn how to manufacture some luck.
Alchemy is where you really begin to earn your money. I always loved the challenge of taking someone who was completely disinterested and transforming the relationship over time into a sale. The best feeling in the world is taking a customer that is completely hostile because of a past negative experience and turning them into a raving fan. And the essence of alchemy is learning what will best serve your individual customer and give it to them.
SERVICE ORIENTED SELLING
JOIN THE REVOLUTION!
Welcome to "SUCCESSPATH SELLING SERVICE ORIENTED SELLING", a site designed to "Revolutionize Your Approach To Sales and Marketing" . Our goals are to offer ideas and resources that will help you make increasingly high levels of income by offering increasingly high levels of service. This site is for corporate sales and marketing professionals, small business owners who sell, and direct marketers. It is for anyone who is tired of the old, manipulative "me first" and "get all you can" methods. Servant sales people sell their products, services, and themselves with refreshing and sometimes radical "How Can I Serve You?" attitudes and strategies. It is our hope to offer new, contemporary, fresh approaches, integrated with timeless principles that will give your customers "WOW" Experiences". In the process we hope to lead you toward tremendous career success, satisfaction, and significance. Topics we cover include all parts of a sales presentation, time management, creativity, people skills, competition, attitude and more... all from our unique "Servant Selling" perspective.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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Comments On Coaching and Classes
The Purpose of this letter is to describe the benefits I enjoyed from my coaching experience with Dale Cobb. I had a very specific issue, which I needed help getting over the hump with. Our conversations were very helpful in keeping me on track and getting me to the finish line. I believe that Dale is a keen observer of the human condition and has the ability to reflect back an individuals thoughts and goals as one strives for success. I found the services offered by Dale to be timely and effective. In the future, I am sure I will be presented with challenges that require outside assistance. When that time comes,
I will not hesitate to call on Dale for his fresh bright and insightful guidance.
Thank You,
Joe Sexton
Managing Partner
CFR Executive Search
Chicago, Illinois
Memphis, Tennessee
"Dale has always impressed me with his integrity, marketing insights, compassion and follow through. He thinks outside the box, asks the questions that others fail to ask and has a real heart for training others to be the best they can be. You can count on Dale."
Tim Turner, Owner Turner Strategic
Atlanta, Georgia
“Dale is always the most prepared person in the room. He has the ability to listen and clarify the issue at hand. He is a creative, caring leader. He has always been a joy to work with.”
Beverly Sherman, Owner Creative Connections
Lansing, Michigan
I would like to take the opportunity to offer my recommendation for Dale Cobb. He has the remarkable ability to clearly listen to a problem, understand the issues and suggest a course of action that satisfies the needs of me and my clients. I cannot tell you how many times his advice was precisely what I needed to close a deal or carefully resolve a difficult situation. He is resourceful and creative in his teaching style. Over all he helped me to be more efficient and successful in my career.
It has been an incredible experience for me having you as my coach. As a small business owner I have at times felt isolated and stuck in my own thinking. With your excellent coaching I have been able to expand not only my thinking about existing design practice but about the design and building industry and how I can enlarge my place in it.
Interior Designer
Carmel, California
Dale helped me with exploring perspectives, chunking them down, setting goals, action planning, and overcoming hurdles (professionally and personally). The coaching format has moved me from a dream to implementing an action plan.
Management Consultant
Greenbrae, California
I have found your coaching very helpful. I have been somewhat stuck in my career decisions, but with your understanding and focus I am now moving forward. I am now positive about my direction and the steps I want to take. The coaching has also helped my personal life. I thank you for being there for me now and in the future.
Retired Dentist
Meadow Vista, California
This is one of the most beneficial and rewarding classes I have attended. Thank You.
Comfortable casual feeling....Lots of laughter...Made classes fun and increased learning.
Everything was explained so clearly. I came away from the course having learned a great deal.
Very interesting, I've learned a lot... The material has given me a lot to work with.
I've enjoyed all the sessions and feel I received something from each session to help me be a better person.
I will not hesitate to call on Dale for his fresh bright and insightful guidance.
Thank You,
Joe Sexton
Managing Partner
CFR Executive Search
Chicago, Illinois
“Working with Dale has always been rewarding. Dale has always been on the leading edge developing new ways of marketing his products and services. Always willing to try new approaches and follow through... Always convincing.”
Fred Friday, Director of Operations Fundcraft PublishingMemphis, Tennessee
"Dale has always impressed me with his integrity, marketing insights, compassion and follow through. He thinks outside the box, asks the questions that others fail to ask and has a real heart for training others to be the best they can be. You can count on Dale."
Tim Turner, Owner Turner Strategic
Atlanta, Georgia
“Dale is always the most prepared person in the room. He has the ability to listen and clarify the issue at hand. He is a creative, caring leader. He has always been a joy to work with.”
Beverly Sherman, Owner Creative Connections
Lansing, Michigan
I would like to take the opportunity to offer my recommendation for Dale Cobb. He has the remarkable ability to clearly listen to a problem, understand the issues and suggest a course of action that satisfies the needs of me and my clients. I cannot tell you how many times his advice was precisely what I needed to close a deal or carefully resolve a difficult situation. He is resourceful and creative in his teaching style. Over all he helped me to be more efficient and successful in my career.
Michael Ward
Sacramento, California
It has been an incredible experience for me having you as my coach. As a small business owner I have at times felt isolated and stuck in my own thinking. With your excellent coaching I have been able to expand not only my thinking about existing design practice but about the design and building industry and how I can enlarge my place in it.
Interior Designer
Carmel, California
Dale helped me with exploring perspectives, chunking them down, setting goals, action planning, and overcoming hurdles (professionally and personally). The coaching format has moved me from a dream to implementing an action plan.
Management Consultant
Greenbrae, California
I have found your coaching very helpful. I have been somewhat stuck in my career decisions, but with your understanding and focus I am now moving forward. I am now positive about my direction and the steps I want to take. The coaching has also helped my personal life. I thank you for being there for me now and in the future.
Retired Dentist
Meadow Vista, California
This is one of the most beneficial and rewarding classes I have attended. Thank You.
Comfortable casual feeling....Lots of laughter...Made classes fun and increased learning.
Everything was explained so clearly. I came away from the course having learned a great deal.
Very interesting, I've learned a lot... The material has given me a lot to work with.
I've enjoyed all the sessions and feel I received something from each session to help me be a better person.
Copyright Restrictions and Fair Use
Copyright 2008 Dale Cobb All Rights Reserved
Please feel free to print and use any of the posts for personal growth or for your sales team as long as you prominently display the source. Any attempt to resell the material is strictly prohibited.
Please feel free to print and use any of the posts for personal growth or for your sales team as long as you prominently display the source. Any attempt to resell the material is strictly prohibited.
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