I hate being sold by sleazy salesmen. I hate to be closed, up sold, lied to, manipulated, “fear-of-loss”-ed, convinced into buying something that I don’t want or need.
Most people feel the same way. That’s why sales is such an intimidating profession. I once heard that the dropout rate for the sales industry is well above 90% over a one year period.
Unfortunately for you, there’s no way to get around it – network marketing is an industry of sales and marketing. Anybody trying to sugar coat it by telling you otherwise is either in denial, or not telling cold, hard truth.
But fortunately, manipulating people and trying to convince them to buy something they don’t need is NOT what “selling” is about.
Now, whenever you see someone advertising the tagline “No selling” for a home based business opportunity, you can safely say BULLSH*T!!
“No Conning” or “No Convincing” or “No Manipulating” would be a more suitable tagline.
If you own a business, or you are involved in a business opportunity, you are in sales. Period.
The word “sell” actually originates from the old English word sellan, which literally means to give.
In our modern, money hungry culture, it seems to take would be a more suitable definition. And this is why so many people who are in sales, do not want to admit they’re in sales.
Selling is ALWAYS more profitable when you come from the paradigm of giving.
When you are truly serving someone, it is never about you, or your product or service, however great they are. It’s all about them.
The sleazy salesman’s goal is not to serve the customer. He’s always thinking about how he can take advantage of the next guy and how much money he can make. And that’s why everybody hates him.
What selling is really about…
Here’s what I believe true sales is about. Selling truthfully is NOT about taking advantage of other people, it IS about giving them an advantage.
It’s not about convincing people to buy something they don’t want or need. It’s about finding out what someone does want or need and helping them to get it.
The biggest misconception people have about selling is they think it is about getting when it really is completely the opposite.
In a previous post, I gave the analogy of a spotlight on a theater stage. When dealing with a prospect, the spotlight must always be on them. Which means always giving them your full attention, giving them time, giving them empathy, giving them education, and helping them make a decision that’s right for them.
When you have this approach to sales, which I believe is the right approach, you can be true to yourself, you can be feel comfortable doing it because you know that you’re serving others, you can have fun, and best of all you can be profitable.
To your MLM success,
Wayne Wu
P.S. I would love your input! If you have an opinion that would contribute to this discussion, please leave me a comment below.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post, Wayne! You’re right that there will always be some degree of selling in network marketing businesses.
There really does tend to be that salesman stigma that people want to avoid, and for good reason. I can understand why people want to avoid that but at the same time we can also work toward bringing back the original definition of sales!
Stacy´s last [type] ..5 Ways to Attract Targeted Blog Followers
Unfortunately, it’s often difficult for people to overcome their own agendas and just come from a place of giving. It’s a valuable skill to learn.
Hey Wayne
I agree with Stacy, great post and I always enjoy the read
I like what you wrote “it IS about giving them an advantage”
I think I am going to steal that when I am sitting across a from a potential client
Peter Fuller MBA´s last [type] ..How has my business grown since I started my blog
Hey Peter,
To be honest with you, I “stole” that from someone else too. Make good use of it with your client.
I agree with you 100% Wayne, don’t sell, one thing that stroke my mind when reading your post was, what bait do we use when we want to catch a fish. And what bait do we use when we want to catch people into our business,,,, just a thought.
Soren Egstrup´s last [type] ..What most people need to know before starting in mlm
Hey Soren,
The best “bait” to use in our industry is the gift of knowledge and skills.
Hi Wayne
Very well put.
I think bartering societis like the Olde English really understood selling. ‘Losing your head’ in a deal takes on a whole new meaning when both parties carries a sword.
Sellan- To Give…Good Value. Or Else.
Kind of strange, on one wants to be sold to, but everyone loves a bargain. Show that you have what they want and they sell themselves.
Mike
Michael Cole´s last [type] ..Invasion Of The Faceless Spammers
Great post!
Keep Rocking!!!
I have got this book from Oliver – time to read it…
Thank You!!!
Martin
Martin Rysan´s last [type] ..Why WorldVentures Monavie distributor watch this
Nice article.
So what are you selling?
There is another way to look at this. The fact that goods or services have to change hands and money (usually) have to be transferred, it does not always mean to sell. In old English is to Give, in New English is to Take, I call it to Share.
You need to sell things that people do not necessary need but if you share something everyone need, you do not need to sell!!!
Ronen3236588769
Hi Ronen,
Welcome to my blog. That’s a good way to put it. If you share something everyone needs, then you don’t have to sell.
Hi Wayne
I like that – serve, have fun and be profitable. If we do things in that order, then success will surely come.
all the best
Charlie Holles
Charlie Holles´s last [type] ..Goal Setting – should you aim for the stars
Hey Wayne,
What a great post! I love that old English definition and more sales people should learn it.
Thanks for another awesome read!
Susanna
Susanna Hess´s last [type] ..2 Business Mistakes- 99 Of People Make One – Which One Do YOU Make
Hey Wayne,
Great post. I always enjoy reading your blog. It is fulled with great content and you really capture the subject.
It is always good “to give” than “to take”
Have a great day,
Tommy D.
MLM Prospecting Hero
Tommy DiPietro | MLM Prospecting Hero´s last [type] ..HONEY- I Blew Up Our Home Based Internet Business!
I learned something this week. I’m no longer a Salesperson I am a Builder of Relationships. Politically correct might also be the Polite Correction.
One of our Aussie comedians named ‘Steady Eddie’ because of his Cerebral Palsy returned from the US not so long ago saying he is no longer disabled but physically challenged. He said you should have seen them run when he tried to give someone a high five. Relationship building can be such an intimidating process for comedians with Cerebral Palsy.
Hey Dennis,
I remember “Steady Eddie”, a very funny guy. Can’t imagine why anyone would run from him, though. Cerebral Palsy is a big challenge indeed.
I like the way you put it – not a salesperson, but a builder of relationships. It’s what this industry is all about.
Hi Wayne, I agree.
While, in the network marketing industry, we are “selling”, it’s the approach that makes all the difference. So, even though we ARE selling something, most of us “professionals” are in the sorting business, not the convincing business. I believe people use that term “no selling” because of the negative connotation “selling” has (people automatically think of the stereotypical “used car salesman”) and that’s the intent of the “no selling” – to convey that they won’t be out there trying to convince people to buy something. But like you say, “no convincing” would be more accurate.
I love what you say about it being all about them and not about you – that is SO key. When you come from a genuine desire to help someone get what they want, that’s where your long-term success comes from.
Great article! Thanks, Laura
Hi Laura,
Welcome to my blog. Yes, the “no selling” thing is definitely used to keep people’s guard down, but that “used car salesman” thing is not what selling is about.
And you’re absolutely right, your long term success comes from a genuine desire to help others get what they want.
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