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Started By
Message
Salesmen of the OT...regardless of industry, what has been your biggest success factor?
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:16 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:16 am
I meet with these guys all the time and see all the different approaches.
Do you have a specific attribute, knowledgebase, network, personality trait that you feel has been the biggest aid in your success?
And on the other hand what has been the worst thing you've had to struggle against in your career?
BTW there's too many young guys that have been watching too many Andy Elliot types and thinking over the top macho bravado closes sales.
Do you have a specific attribute, knowledgebase, network, personality trait that you feel has been the biggest aid in your success?
And on the other hand what has been the worst thing you've had to struggle against in your career?
BTW there's too many young guys that have been watching too many Andy Elliot types and thinking over the top macho bravado closes sales.
60
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:18 am to sidewalkside
Always
Be
Something-ing
Be
Something-ing
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:19 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:20 am to sidewalkside
Not in Sales but deal with a considerable amount of Salesmen.....
My favorite thing about a salesmen? When they're not annoying as shite.
Pitch me your service or idea and give me everything I need to know about it, after that there's no need to blow me up 24/7.
My favorite thing about a salesmen? When they're not annoying as shite.
Pitch me your service or idea and give me everything I need to know about it, after that there's no need to blow me up 24/7.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:23 am to sidewalkside
Gonna be tons of funny responses in here.. but I’ll give it a shot:
Big thing that helps me with my customers is organization and knowledge sharing. Bring something useful to the client even if they aren’t buying today. Whether that’s info on the latest and greatest or good info on how to keep up with what they have. Do not be too pushy and don’t annoy them.
Organization allows me to quickly help them when they call so I can be of even more value to them.
The donut and boudin sales people who think they can just take everyone fishing or golfing don’t go far because that doesn’t separate you from the pack. Plus any over aggressive sales types might sell big numbers at certain points but you turn off a ton of people and burn bridges too.
My .02
Big thing that helps me with my customers is organization and knowledge sharing. Bring something useful to the client even if they aren’t buying today. Whether that’s info on the latest and greatest or good info on how to keep up with what they have. Do not be too pushy and don’t annoy them.
Organization allows me to quickly help them when they call so I can be of even more value to them.
The donut and boudin sales people who think they can just take everyone fishing or golfing don’t go far because that doesn’t separate you from the pack. Plus any over aggressive sales types might sell big numbers at certain points but you turn off a ton of people and burn bridges too.
My .02
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:33 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:23 am to sidewalkside
Small business owner here, but if you can literally just be a normal human being with a product or service that actually adds value you’ll be great.
Too many are so over the top pushy but can’t help if you ask a single question on their product/service. “Let me get with my team and get back with you” as a constant response gets old. Know your customer; I certainly don’t need another layer of software on top of software on top of more fricking subscription software.
Also, if you blow up my email with some generic email sequence, and it goes more than 3 times without a response, please stop or I’m blocking your junk email.
Too many are so over the top pushy but can’t help if you ask a single question on their product/service. “Let me get with my team and get back with you” as a constant response gets old. Know your customer; I certainly don’t need another layer of software on top of software on top of more fricking subscription software.
Also, if you blow up my email with some generic email sequence, and it goes more than 3 times without a response, please stop or I’m blocking your junk email.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:27 am to sidewalkside
Gotta stay in front of people and bring value without being overly aggressive or annoying. That value could be a lot of things - price, service, product. etc
I've never been the annoying in your face type but you do have to remain in front of potential customers. Of course - if you or your product/service does bring value then that should not be too difficult.
I've never been the annoying in your face type but you do have to remain in front of potential customers. Of course - if you or your product/service does bring value then that should not be too difficult.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:27 am to sidewalkside
quote:
I meet with these guys all the time and see all the different approaches. Do you have a specific attribute, knowledgebase, network, personality trait that you feel has been the biggest aid in your success? And on the other hand what has been the worst thing you've had to struggle against in your career? BTW there's too many young guys that have been watching too many Andy Elliot types and thinking over the top macho bravado closes sales.
Just be disciplined and actually put in the time.
Also follow up until you get a no. You wouldn’t believe the amount of people that try to sell me something that never follow up after the quote
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 9:06 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:28 am to sidewalkside
Showing up. Now a sales manager but when I was a rep (medical devices) I had hospital decision-makers tell me they bought from me because I was always there providing value and asking for the business while my competition wasn't. Of course, having great products and working for a great company helps.
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:43 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:28 am to sidewalkside
Developed real friendships with many customers. We talk regularly outside of work, hang out together, get the kids together, etc.
I also dont talk too much about work with them, at work.
I ask them about their weekend, how their knee is doing after the surgery they had 3 weeks ago, how their vacation was and do they have any recommendations on places to stay, eat, etc. Its never a robotic transaction.
Just remembering shite they have going on in their lives and letting them elaborate on it. People like to talk about themselves.
I also dont talk too much about work with them, at work.
I ask them about their weekend, how their knee is doing after the surgery they had 3 weeks ago, how their vacation was and do they have any recommendations on places to stay, eat, etc. Its never a robotic transaction.
Just remembering shite they have going on in their lives and letting them elaborate on it. People like to talk about themselves.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:29 am to sidewalkside
quote:
Do you have a specific attribute, knowledgebase, network, personality trait that you feel has been the biggest aid in your success?
You obviously have to know your shite, but people want to do business with someone they like. If they like you it increases the chances they'll read your email, meet with you, and want to get you through. I also always turn my camera on for meetings because it's a lot harder for them to ignore you when they've "met" you and you're not some faceless message that lands in their inbox.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:31 am to AZBadgerFan
quote:
Now a sales manager but when I was a rep (medical devices)
If I recall correctly you worked for the same company my ex-GF (no pics) does.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:33 am to sidewalkside
I sell some, and I also meet with a lot of salesmen.
Be your true self. I can tell a faker as soon as they sit down in front of me. I won't by from a faker.
Keep after potential customers, but not in an annoying way. Give them space, but check in from time to time. For example, if Customer A is happy buying from someone else, I just check in with them every six months or so to see how things are going. You may walk in there on the right day and they're pissed at the other supplier and you score a PO and then a long-term customer.
No one likes an a-hole. Treat your competition with respect, and you will get respect back. Especially true if you're in a smallish industry.
My best salesman on my team has sleeve-tattoos up each arm, gauges in his ears, and plays drums in a metal band on the weekend. The dude crushes it against suit-wearing corporate types.
Be your true self. I can tell a faker as soon as they sit down in front of me. I won't by from a faker.
Keep after potential customers, but not in an annoying way. Give them space, but check in from time to time. For example, if Customer A is happy buying from someone else, I just check in with them every six months or so to see how things are going. You may walk in there on the right day and they're pissed at the other supplier and you score a PO and then a long-term customer.
No one likes an a-hole. Treat your competition with respect, and you will get respect back. Especially true if you're in a smallish industry.
My best salesman on my team has sleeve-tattoos up each arm, gauges in his ears, and plays drums in a metal band on the weekend. The dude crushes it against suit-wearing corporate types.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:36 am to sidewalkside
I don't think I can really put it in to 1 single thing. It's combo of the following:
- Mastering the sales process
- Asking/listening way more than I talk
- Establishing as fast as possible what actually matters to the buyer/customer
- Do everything possible to build trust AFTER the sale. People talk.
- Nerd out on data. If your company provides analytics, market insights, category trends; anything: become an expert on ALL of it
I'm currently a Regional Manager in the med device space.
- Mastering the sales process
- Asking/listening way more than I talk
- Establishing as fast as possible what actually matters to the buyer/customer
- Do everything possible to build trust AFTER the sale. People talk.
- Nerd out on data. If your company provides analytics, market insights, category trends; anything: become an expert on ALL of it
I'm currently a Regional Manager in the med device space.
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:38 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:36 am to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
If I recall correctly you worked for the same company my ex-GF (no pics) does.
Medtronic? Is she in sales and which division?
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:38 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:37 am to sidewalkside
Be available. Answer your phone or call people back immediately. Thst makes you better than 80%
Don’t ever refer them to contact another dept, you handle it. That makes you better than another 10
Align yourself with a company that has its shite together, constantly fixing issues wears everyone out.
Limit or eliminate any out of office emails or greetings, unless a true emergency, vacations or field trips w kids don’t count
Get a system to insure all the bullcrap gets taken care of, a pen and paper works for me in a Franklin Covey type system, but do it.
Don’t get too tied up in company nonsense, conf calls, zooms, sales force or whatever bullshite. You gotta do it, but ultimately you will be judged by numbers and supporting company initiatives.
Don’t ever refer them to contact another dept, you handle it. That makes you better than another 10
Align yourself with a company that has its shite together, constantly fixing issues wears everyone out.
Limit or eliminate any out of office emails or greetings, unless a true emergency, vacations or field trips w kids don’t count
Get a system to insure all the bullcrap gets taken care of, a pen and paper works for me in a Franklin Covey type system, but do it.
Don’t get too tied up in company nonsense, conf calls, zooms, sales force or whatever bullshite. You gotta do it, but ultimately you will be judged by numbers and supporting company initiatives.
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 8:41 am
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:38 am to sidewalkside
NEPQ
Awesome stuff
Awesome stuff
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:39 am to sidewalkside
quote:
Andy Elliot
Discovered him via ballerbusters on Instagram. Total clown yet still has people buying into his program.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:39 am to sidewalkside
show up, do what you say you will do, return calls and emails, get back to customers with answers. It's really not that hard but many people are not willing to work these days.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:41 am to sidewalkside
I have been in "persuasion" my entire career in one capacity or another. I have always believed that my personality trait secret sauce (as opposed to my core competencies) that puts my performance in the top tier over decades across industries is that my clients can tell I sincerely connect to them and like them. People say the key is being likeable, but I've always thought it was that your client can see that you respect and like them.
My struggle early in my career was dealing with authority. I'm not a corporate guy-I'm super agreeable across and down the chain but confrontational up the chain. That's why I haven't been on a payroll since 2003. I have to create my own gig, be my own boss. That's not always good as you don't get the corporate gravy.
My struggle early in my career was dealing with authority. I'm not a corporate guy-I'm super agreeable across and down the chain but confrontational up the chain. That's why I haven't been on a payroll since 2003. I have to create my own gig, be my own boss. That's not always good as you don't get the corporate gravy.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 8:46 am to sidewalkside
Lunch, dinner, golf, something or other and then the recommendation…….bam. Let me ask questions and get to the point quickly on answers. And , pitch the rest of the spiel if I did not cover it in my questions. Too much yakking turned me off.
When in the receiving end, I always liked recommendation first, salient bullet points, and details or deep dive if necessary. Sometimes those minute details may not be needed…
When in the receiving end, I always liked recommendation first, salient bullet points, and details or deep dive if necessary. Sometimes those minute details may not be needed…
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