It’s my turn.
I get at least a million sales emails a week. Some offers for thousands of dollars. (Really) So, I am entitled to this one.
I am inviting you to buy my new E-book. Recession priced. 60 pages. Short chapters for those of us who have ADD.
SALES, LIES AND NAKED TRUTHS.
It will set you back $9.95 and if you get one nugget of good information it will be worth it.
It is a compilation of articles I wrote for this blog a couple of years ago when I had three readers. Two relatives and one friend. So chances are they will be all new to you.
Here are a couple of snippets from the chapters that will give you an idea of what’s in the book..
FROM THE INTRODUCTION:
This ain’t your Daddy’s sales manual. It bears little resemblance to Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich – or at the other extreme, Donald Trump’s book, Think Big and Kick Ass…
This is geared toward you – the salesperson in the action – whether you are brand new, a multi-millionaire or a candidate for the lead in the Death of a Salesman.
FROM CHAPTER TWO : Scared to death and ready to go:
You see a new opportunity for yourself. It’s a natural. Now you must make the call. Nothing happens without it.
But, you are hesitating.
The first thought that comes to mind is that you are afraid of rejection. It is not a pleasant thought. Fear of failure is something with which we are very familiar. We’ve failed before. People have turned us down.
FROM CHAPTER THREE: Change – Is it time?
Anthony DeMello, the late Jesuit/Mystic priest, said we really don’t want to change. We don’t want a cure. All we want is relief.
He pictures most of humanity standing in sewer water up to our noses. We are not really interested in getting out of the sewer. We just don’t want anyone to make waves.
FROM CHAPTER FOUR: Appreciation
Even if you are a stay-at-home Mom and your greatest challenge today (except for your children) is you are in charge of the annual bake sale for the PTA. It involves selling. You can’t do it alone. You are dependent on other mothers to bake those cupcakes.
FROM CHAPTER SIX: The Crazies
The crazies also have about 250 acquaintances.
If you offend one of these people, you run the risk of their spreading the word to their 250 people. Maybe over the fence, at the supermarket, at the dentist - wherever they happen to be. You would think that since most of their 250’s are on to the fact that they dealing with a nut, they wouldn’t listen – but they still hear the gripe about you. It creates an imprint.
FROM CHAPTER EIGHT: Got a minute?
“Do you have a minute?”
How many times have you heard that question and said yes?
Did it take a minute? No. There is nothing that can be done in a minute except a cell phone call to tell someone you are there waiting in the car for them downstairs and you are double parked.
FROM CHAPTER TEN: Closing the deal
Closing a sale also includes this knowing of when it is time. Pay attention to your customer’s body language. Are their arms crossed across their chest? Are they looking down or away from you? Do you feel resistance? (Yes, you can feel it) Don’t even go there. It is not time.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Looking for a job?
9. Don’t knock your old company. You loved your job there. Decide to say something like there was no way to progress. If you were fired, say that you left for “personal reasons.” They won’t ask you what they were.
FROM CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: The Big Idea – When to bail out
Knowing when to give up and start something new is not easy. It is like giving up your new baby but you must have confidence in the fact that your inner guidance will lead you to the next project. And it will not be so hard for you with all your experience.
As Anne Morrow Lindbergh said, “It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.”
There is a million dollar idea out there. Keep looking for it. Don’t give up the intention. Just the idea you left behind.
Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
So, what do you think?
I think you are worth the ten bucks. Go for it.
Special thanks to Michelle Vandepas for doing all the tech work on this!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Re Chapter 8: I can microwave my morning coffee in a minute – so there!!!
Good luck on your new book. . .
I’m selling something, too — travel insurance . . . goto veracrews.com and you’ll see why buy any — I do regularly, and have had claims settled I never would have thought of . . . we had Chicago visitor here last week – Ramsey Lewis, and trio . . . great jazz . ..
Hi Vera
Travel insurance is very important. Most people have no idea that their health insurance rarely covers them overseas. You are doing a great service in introducing people to the option.
Ramsey Lewis lived in my condo building downtown. I cannot say he was a friend, but I met him in the elevator or the lobby often.
A not only talented musician – but friendly and chatty. A good neighbor. Nice person.
I enjoyed your book. There are some amusing anecdotes and good advice.
However you are probably selling yourself short. It has a far wider appeal than just to sales people. I like the fact that in the sales bits you were actually doing something quite ethical. The thrust of your book is really about helping people to get what they wanted. Furthermore you were helping them understand what they wanted.
The difficulty for most people is more than realising their goals. It is realising what their goals might be.
I can’t sell very well – not even myself – especially myself. Having said that, when I next have to, I bet a few of the tips you passed on get put in play.
It is a distillation of experience and sound practice. Everyone will learn something in the reading.
Thanks
Chris, your approval means a lot to me. As a professional journalist, you keep me on my toes
- and call me out once in a while, which is helpful! Love when that happens.
Yes, I hope that my sales tips are ethical. I have always felt that there was so much good stuff to sell, there is no excuse for selling anything bad.
I don’t know why you say you are not a good salesman. You sold me right away.
Dear Corinne,
I wanted to put a comment here even though I have already spoken about your book on your most recent post. I’m proud of your production.
So here goes with my “Book Review”.
I am not in sales. I assist a very talented trainer and I love my job so much that I would do it for free (which come to think of, I did just that today).
Since I had bought “Sales, Lies and Naked Truths” and downloaded it to my laptop, I was able to read it today from the back of the room and I was first of all delighted with the style of your writing and then came inspiration.
I think so much in life really is sales, but of a sweeter nature than that which we usually ascribe. I will be teaching a class on “How to be a Great Assistant” and I am inspired to make the class about this book.
I am going to pattern the time I have with the people around the principles of the book and give them the website so that they can buy it and get it on their computers. It is the best I can do for them.
You have done a valuable service and I believe the result is that you will in turn be served. I know I am at your service.
Sharon Beck
Sharon Becks last blog post..THIS BLOG HAS MOVED!!!!!
Hi Sharon -
Well this is exciting news for me!
“I think so much in life really is sales, but of a sweeter nature than that which we usually ascribe. I will be teaching a class on “How to be a Great Assistant” and I am inspired to make the class about this book.”
Funny, since many of the stories in the book were used by me when I was a sales trainer. Stories are important. People learn more from the tales from the front than any other medium.
Be sure to let us know how it is going.
And thanks again for your always loving support – not only for my book but for my blog and ME!