The difference between a sales person and not...

[M.D. Holloway]

One of my guys has decided to leave and go to a major oil co as a tech serv rep. He was one of my decent sales guys and frankly he was doing well compared to a few others but not as good as a few others. I went to visit him at his home (he lives 20min from me) to get his lap top. We were cool - he told me that he just didn't think he was very good at his job and that sales was much more difficult then expected. he came from a tech serv job, was well versed in the technology, understood the customers, was very social and presented well. he asked the right questions for the job.

As I was leaving his home, we went through the garage and I happened to see an old round top trunk. I commented that I had a few of those. he said that he's been meaning to take it to the curb to throw out. I asked him if he didn't want it I would gladly take it off his hands. So we loaded it up.

I get it home and my Son is in the garage welding something. I ask him to help me take it out of the back of the SUV. We get it out and he asks what I'm going to do with it. I told him I think I would refinish it someday when I had a free weekend (which is pretty much never). He looked at it, went to his iPhone. I moved the guys office stuff and laptop inside and as I went out side he says "take $75 for it?" I said "sell it? as is? What if we restore it?" He smiled at me and said "first off, I do metal not wood, secondly refinished these go for $200 to $800 but its gonna need a few pieces of hard ware to fetch that - easy to get but not cheap. Its gonna take you a week end to do it which you don't have. I have a buyer right now, that will give me $75 cash."

Seems like while I was inside I guess he did quick research, determined the fetch price and work entailed to make new and then decided to research out how much they typically go for as is. Took a few snaps and posted. Within minutes he had a buyer giving him what he asked for.

So...the difference between a sales person and not is just doing the work and enjoying it I guess ... like anything else.

epilogue - I should hire him to sell for me! And yes, I let him keep the money. He did the work he gets the commission.

[ckelly78z]

A true Wheeler/Dealer. I used to be like that, and still have freinds who play the game.....I have some good stories to tell of quick money.

I had a few other freinds who always said "man, these deals just fall into your lap". Well, no they don't, you have to keep your eyes (and mind) open for deals.

[911SauCy]

There are 2 different things going on here.

You're old employee had everything he needed to be a great salesperson, "he came from a tech serv job, was well versed in the technology, understood the customers, was very social and presented well. he asked the right questions for the job." If you truly felt this way about this guy, he was mentally getting in his own way. Fear of rejection, the "what if" etc etc, especialy if there are other sales people with the same "tools" out performing him.

Your son knows none of this, but what he does do fantastically, is execute. He saw an opportunity, used the tools at his disposal to gather information and used said information to capitalize.

Your son has the balls...the other guy will continue to wonder. Your son will do better in life.

This is coming from a salesman with a rather great track record.

[impactbumper]

[Otter74]

Your son is on the ball! Sounds just like my girlfriend, who is terrific at evaluating and executing quickly.

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

One of my guys has decided to leave and go to a major oil co as a tech serv rep. He was one of my decent sales guys and frankly he was doing well compared to a few others but not as good as a few others. I went to visit him at his home (he lives 20min from me) to get his lap top. We were cool - he told me that he just didn't think he was very good at his job and that sales was much more difficult then expected. he came from a tech serv job, was well versed in the technology, understood the customers, was very social and presented well. he asked the right questions for the job.

As I was leaving his home, we went through the garage and I happened to see an old round top trunk. I commented that I had a few of those. he said that he's been meaning to take it to the curb to throw out. I asked him if he didn't want it I would gladly take it off his hands. So we loaded it up.

I get it home and my Son is in the garage welding something. I ask him to help me take it out of the back of the SUV. We get it out and he asks what I'm going to do with it. I told him I think I would refinish it someday when I had a free weekend (which is pretty much never). He looked at it, went to his iPhone. I moved the guys office stuff and laptop inside and as I went out side he says "take $75 for it?" I said "sell it? as is? What if we restore it?" He smiled at me and said "first off, I do metal not wood, secondly refinished these go for $200 to $800 but its gonna need a few pieces of hard ware to fetch that - easy to get but not cheap. Its gonna take you a week end to do it which you don't have. I have a buyer right now, that will give me $75 cash."

Seems like while I was inside I guess he did quick research, determined the fetch price and work entailed to make new and then decided to research out how much they typically go for as is. Took a few snaps and posted. Within minutes he had a buyer giving him what he asked for.

So...the difference between a sales person and not is just doing the work and enjoying it I guess ... like anything else.

epilogue - I should hire him to sell for me! And yes, I let him keep the money. He did the work he gets the commission.

[LWJ]

Love it. I have been making my living in a sales role since I was about 12.

What venue did he use to sell it? Not craigslist?

[MMiller]

Salesmen are born not taught. The gift can be refined with a proper mentor. It's possible to train others to sell and have some success but they are not nor will they ever be " true" sales people. Much like an athlete it's a gift and one that can serve one financially very well.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Love it. I have been making my living in a sales role since I was about 12.

What venue did he use to sell it? Not craigslist?

That fast, I'd think it was the LetGo App.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Panerai

Salesmen are born not taught. The gift can be refined with a proper mentor. It's possible to train others to sell and have some success but they are not nor will they ever be " true" sales people. Much like an athlete it's a gift and one that can serve one financially very well.

Zaktly!

Nothing more insulting to me than a book on how to sell...

I was born with it.

[1990C4S]

I often grab stuff from the curb that my neighbors put out with the trash.

I put it on Craigslist for a month, if it doesn't sell then it goes back to the curb.

My point is most people are too lazy to sell things, don't know what will sell, or they are worried about crazy people from Craigslist coming to their house.

[URY914]

My wife won't use CL but I do. She likes OfferUp. She said it seems more personal.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Love it. I have been making my living in a sales role since I was about 12.

What venue did he use to sell it? Not craigslist?

He uses several but the one he has the best luck with is a FaceBook app.