My Rude Awakening To Sales

Years ago I had a very rude awakening as a new sales representative. I was so wet behind the ears, if I stood in place for any length of time, I'd be standing in a puddle of my own perspiration. I was young and had energy to burn. I knew all the answers so I didn't need to ask any questions. You could say I was full of myself. I loved my new job. I was selling laboratory supplies, chemicals, and equipment to people who wore white lab coats. I also had to deal with purchasing agents, who seemed to enjoy making sales representatives, especially new ones like me, very uncomfortable. I was in my sales territory for about 3 1/2 weeks. I was in training for two of those weeks, where I got to watch different people do different jobs. As soon as my boss cut me loose from the training program - I headed straight for my largest accounts, the ones who were currently doing the most business with us. Then, I started calling our largest potential prospects. Up first was the General Foods R&D Center, located in Tarrytown New York. I remember walking confidently into the rather large lobby and walking over to the receptionist. Her name was Felicia. I introduced myself and asked to see Brian N. who was the senior buyer, at that time, for laboratory supplies. She called him and a few minutes he came out of his office. He was the size of a walrus. He motioned for me to sit down with him in one of the not so private seating areas in the main lobby. I barely said my name before he interrupted and jumped in with, "We don't buy from your company and we never will." He added, "I guess if we desperately needed something and no one else had the product, we might order it from you." With that he got up turned his back to me and walked back to his office. Well - I sure showed him. Now, I had him exactly where I wanted him. In sales, sometimes you have to be patient and I mean very patient. In fact you may have to wait until somebody retires or dies before you can get your foot in the door. Brian did both and I did get a sizable chunk of the business. It wasn't so many years later that I realized I didn't know what I didn't know. Because I had so little experience and even less sales training, I believed wrongly, that my options were limited. Today I realize my options were limited only by my imagination, determination, and other outside resources available to me. I coulda put together a written plan. I coulda got my management team involved. I coulda wore Brian down with handwritten notes, cards, and helpful business articles relating to his business. I coulda sent him a gigantic coffee mug from www.greatbigstuff.com with a note asking him to talk business with me over a cup of coffee. I coulda sent him a dozen roses with an appropriate note. Maybe this wouldn't work with Brian - but you get the picture. I coulda sent him a six-foot ruler with a note asking him what we would need to do to measure up to his expectations? (www.greatbigstuff.com) I coulda sent him a special card for every conceivable holiday on the calendar. I coulda, woulda, shoulda done a whole lot more than I did. That was then this is now. Today I'm different. I rely on new information and get an abundance of new ideas from my collection of books, e-books, eCourses, single CDs, and even audio books. I have convinced myself there are no problems I can't solve if I look in the right places for the right resources for the answers I need. It took some time for me to finally wake up after my first rude awakening. Imagine if I could go back in time and make that first sales call to Brian N. again. I probably would listen to the CD titled, "How To Avoid Sounding Pathetic During A Sales Call." http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/netcart.asp?MerchantID=39581&off erid=16002&q=2 I coulda called a sales coach and probably gotten some good ideas to help me get my foot in that door. There are still (3) slots available. http://www.meisenheimer.com/sales_coaching/oneonone.htm Today, in my business, I seek out awakenings, the positive ones, to help me grow my business. I do however prefer to take a pass on the rude ones. Let's go sell something . . .