In order to raise capital to start my new business, I am working part time making cold calls for a financial firm. It is 100% commission.
Why?
Because it is teaching me something I need: the mindset it takes to sell. I could have spent thousands of dollars on sales training. Instead, I took a tough sales job.
And do you know what? It’s actually fun!
I’m focusing on the people I’m calling, not on myself. I’m there to make their life easier. I work to exude caring and concern.
At first I got down when people hung up on me. And I got excited when people went out of their way to connect me with the right person.
But I am learning to avoid these extremes of emotion. I’m learning to concentrate on just making the call. To take my ego out of it. To stop trying to prove how clever I am.
I’m learning to listen, to care, to connect — and to trust the process.
I’m loving it. The very thing I have dreaded most, cold calling: I’m loving it!
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Susan,
Good for you!! You have just the right attitude to be successful. It is Always about the customer. Sales is really about problem solving. You can solve certain problems and not others. This helps to determine whether you have the right to ask a customer to buy. That is what distinguishes authentic sales people from
the ’stereotypes’. And knowing you, Authentic is your middle name.
Look at the new skills you are learning!
Sharann
I love the part where you say “I’m learning to listen, to care, to connect — and to trust the process.” That is an excellent lesson to learn and even better that you are getting paid to do it.
http://www.bethlamie.com
haha, i came across this blog looking for fellow telemarketers. I’m glad you have a great perspective of you’re work, as for me I’m not enjoying it so far. It’s kinda.. dull.
Laurence — Things are dull when we separate who we are from what we are doing. Carrie Wilkerson (http://twitter.com/barefootexec) likes to say that what motivates her is her “why.” She is spot on.
The answer to boredom is within us, deep in our own purpose in doing this or aby job. There are things to learn about life, about business, about ourselves. And the secret is that once you begin to think like this, the world opens itself up to you.
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