This is a bold statement from someone who didn’t always love being a salesperson. To start with, I am innately an introvert. I hate making small talk and reaching out to perfect strangers seemed like a very scary thing. It had been my original goal to be involved in international business or international affairs. I have a natural affinity for learning new languages and always had a driving need to see the world.
So how did I get into sales? Well, Reality (with a true capital R) entered the picture. Joining the professional world in 1980, I quickly learned that opportunities for women outside the U.S. were virtually non-existent. While it was still very challenging in the U.S., many larger companies would give you a chance. With the burden of a big student loan to pay, I took the job that a humanities major could get, which was a sales job.
I spent the first 5 years in a sales role hating every minute of it. Prospecting was particularly difficult for me. My natural drive and ambition to succeed kept me going until I finally started to see some success. Success became the hook to help me overcome my fears and to begin building the techniques that would catapult me to top tier results.
Over time, it became clear that people skills were the big differentiator.I observed that those with a better EQ did substantially better than me.So, what is EQ?
Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.
Improving my EQ became my new focus.
In today’s environment I have observed many new salespeople struggle. Companies give them a desk, a laptop and a phone and expect some natural transformation to occur. They throw all kinds of automated tools into the mix which are rarely designed to promote the sales process. They are mostly designed to allow management oversight. What has been totally lacking is training in the people skills needed to drive customer engagement and to maximize sales outcomes.
G.O.A.T. Selling happens when your EQ improves. G.O.A.T Selling Academy is focused on sharing those skills which lead to larger sales, better client relationships and more personal satisfaction.
I now believe selling is the greatest profession on earth. So many people say to me, “Oh, I could never be in sales!” What they don’t realize is that sales is the one place where you can set your own value to a company. Your results are objective and potential discrimination in pay is minimized. The sky is your limit! It is also the place where you will have the most freedom and latitude to manage your time and minimize your oversight when you are successful at it. And lastly, it contributes to more success in every aspect of your life. What many don’t realize is that everyone is selling to everyone all the time. Mostly we never sell things, we sell ideas. When you learn to sell your ideas, the world is your oyster!
We invite you to subscribe to the G.O.A.T. Selling Academy Today! Let us help you supercharge your results and your income.
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