Manifesto

As I’ve said before here, we are all in sales
So to all you sales people out there,
Aren’t you sick of being seen as slightly smarter version of the guy who delivers a cheesy pitch on a forecourt?
Do you ever wonder whether the company that you’re out there representing, day-after-day, really understands what you bring to the table, other than a wallet full of business cards?
Does anyone really understand what sales is, or what it’s for?
So many questions.
So what’s the answer?
I think the world of sales is changing.
Customers aren’t just wise to the tricks of the trade, they resent the fact that we ever resorted to ‘tricks’ in the first place.
This is our chance to make a change.
To evolve the methodology and perception.
Make sales something to be proud of again.
Here is my manifesto for Sales 2.0

Sales should be the beginning of an ongoing relationship, not the finish line.
We should think about the long-term benefits rather than short-term wins.
Focus on relationships rather than transactions.
Conversations instead of pitches.
Ask yourself, am I creating interest or interruptions?
Are you listening or lecturing?
Can you find a way to add value, rather than pressure?
And what about your prospects, are they friends or clients?
Now’s the time to concentrate on commitment rather than commission.
Let’s make sales something we open up, instead of fixating on how we close.

This is something I'm going to return to, I have a Webinar planned for September
Like any manifesto, it’s useless without a movement willing to embrace it.
So come on guys, who’s with me?