Articles from October 2012



Friend, Coworkers, and Vampires! Which is Worse?

Calendar October 29, 2012 | Posted by Admin9!

This post deals with a serious topic, and I think you will enjoy it.  Remember you are there to make goals and make money.  Relationships may ber everything, but…..not this kind!

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A sales department is best when it has a vibrant atmosphere and unbridled activity.  Once it gets going, sales professionals can be fueled by this activity and a desire to ‘compete’ with their fellow sales professionals.  If the atmosphere in your sales function is electric you will ended

You work with other sales professionals; some are on your team, and some you compete with.  Know them well and know their disposition as there is money to be made out there and you don’t need anything to slow you down.vor to be a part of it, hoping that success spills over to you.  If the atmosphere is more like a funeral, you will utilize your best judgment in attempting to separate yourself from it or at least insulate yourself as best you can.

Friend or Coworker?

As you already know, if someone is on the payroll they are a coworker.  The important issue is that in the sales profession, not all coworkers are your friends.

This is not meant to be divisive, but to stand in recognition that unless your sales function is organized in a different fashion than most, sales departments or functions are designed in a way that spurs competition.  This is not bad; it is just an environment that pits employees against other employees.  In sales you probably have learned to accept it.

Situations occur when you forget that ‘Emily and John’ are the competition and you believing they are friends share ‘trade’ secrets.  This is where feelings get hurt.  Be ready to compete fairly and recognize that these are coworkers, and you owe them respect, but give no quarter from a business standpoint.  Compete and win on the virtue of hard work, and doing things smarter.  Be relentless in terms of your persistency and always be ethical.  Your friends are not the same as your coworkers even though you may be committed to them.

Treat everyone with respect and don’t expect to find your ‘BFF’ at your job because that is not the way it is meant to happen.

Don’t “Buy” Anyone to Early

You will meet a world of individuals at your job and many will be in the sales function.  You will be asked at some point to give your impression of them to someone inside or outside the organization.  The most important thing you could do is to be cordial and helpful, but to reserve judgment on anyone until you are sure.  These are coworkers remember?  When someone rushes to judgement I call it “buying someone”.

Work with them, cooperate with them, but don’t “buy” them until they prove their worthiness over time.  You can be an excellent sales coworker without endorsing someone.  You definitely will know when it is time.

The problem with buying someone too early is that you may not have an idea of what that individual is really about until you have difficult times.  Tough times do not change people, it unmasks them. If you have given a premature endorsement, you could find yourself backing a real ‘loser’.

The Vampire

I once worked in a sales department that had a variety of characters.  There were journeymen, sage veterans, hard working upstarts, and then there were those who were full of complaints and found nothing right with the manager, the company, the product or…. the world.

I call them vampires and if you know some of these individuals, your quest will be to keep away from them.  You won’t need garlic, or a crucifix, but will need to strictly avoid this person whose quest is to ‘suck the life out of you’.  These unhappy sales people have the poorest of attitudes.  To them everything is wrong with the organization and that they bear not fault or blame for anything.

  • The vampire is constantly on vigil to determine who is trying to accomplish anything new and innovative, so they can discourage them.
  • This individual is peering over your shoulder to determine if you are taking any new training or courses for self-improvement, as he or she would love to talk you out of it.
  • The vampire is trying to determine what prospect you are working on as he or she knows all of them and they want you to think it will be fruitless.
  • This individual would do anything possible to engage you in a long 3-hour lunch as he or she has nothing to do, and they want to make sure you get the same amount done as they do…nothing!

The vampire can be bright and be full of knowledge, but just does not recognize that you get out what you put in.  They may have made a decision as to how much energy they will expend, but now they want to rob you of yours.

It is Real?

I once had the challenge of working with a sales representative who was truly a vampire.  I was the regional sales manager in another state and this individual complained about everything.  His field sales manager seemed to accept that he was going to complain, but eventually it was realized that he was hurting morale.

The vampire assured us that management was sorely lacking (I did not take it personally), criticized our products, attempted to negatively influence new hires, and did everything possible to turn sales representatives against the organization.

On the basis of performance, we had to help him make a decision that he did not want to be with us.  It was for the best for all parties.  I resisted saying that we put a stake through his heart as …well you know why!  Remember, if your goals are so crosswise with the organization, read Black Sales Journal 4/7/2011 When to Consider Moving On, and think about your next station in life.

Always leave when it is wise and always, always be the professional.

Your comments are welcome.

Category Categories: African American Sales Professionals, Black Salesmen, Black Saleswomen, Success Tips for Black Sales Professionals  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Getting Motivated! It’s a Personal Issue!

Calendar October 25, 2012 | Posted by Admin9!

What motivates you?  Is it money?  Is it recognition?  Is it success?  Think about it as you read this post.  We all have our ‘switches’.  Read it and give it some good thought!

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Motivation is an interesting subject.  I believe that it has to come from within, although each of us may need some ‘cheerleading’ it at some point.  Success can motivate some individuals, while lack of success can be the fuel for some others.  Some sales professionals respond to challenges, some to sarcasm, and others to the thrill of being ‘numero uno’.

In my case motivation had to come from within, and could not be ‘supplied’ by a great speaker or a reading.  I did respond to personal pride though.

There are motivational factors that are good and bad, including motivational speeches that stimulate and excite.  My favorite of all time is below, and I hope you will enjoy it.  Note, there is some tough language in this great video, yet it is priceless:

WARNING STRONG POSSIBLY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.

I know that the majority of you will never have to endure this type of speech. Although it is great theater it is something you would never forget.  Motivational speeches can come from many angles, and I suppose that some could come from individuals other than the sales manager, as was the case with this screenplay.

Your Sources of Motivation

Whether or not you agree that motivation comes from within, you might also recognize that there is a great following for the sales gurus that would like to create that atmosphere of motivation.  Zig Ziglar is sales motivator who has made millions in his speeches and seminars.  He is world renown, yet his quotes, albeit catchy, and for the most part true, did not do anything for me.  Google Zig and see if any of the quotes and quips do anything for you.

I am not endorsing or criticizing any of these individuals, as I believe that their worth is based on what the listener needs.  As I mention in Black Sales Journal 8/15, Tuning-Up Your Sales Career, I mention that these sessions can be important as you attempt to “sharpen your saw”.

Other motivation can come from reading sales books, online sales blogs, as well as attending seminars that are replete with exciting speakers and content.

When I was selling, there was a more omnipresent form of motivation.  As a single father with three children in tow, the picture on my desk showing the faces of my three children, looking angelic even though they were a handful was the motivating symbol.  This short video will give you an idea of what things could be like around the breakfast or dinner table:

Obviously it was never quite like this, yet the reality is that your family and a desire for the best life you could have is serious motivation.  Wanting family vacations, new vehicles, and a home that you can be proud of provides fuel that is intrinsic and long lasting.  Sales managers often encourage overreaching by sales professionals as it provides a constant motivation that is sometimes dangerous.  This can be dangerous, and can backfire on the sales professional.  I counted on the fact that I could not fail in providing for my children and that was an enzyme that gave me serious motivation.  It was more humble than overreaching, yet effective.

Many of you are in the same situation as you start your families, or raise them to maturity.  You recognize that your family is dependent on you, so as you ‘hit the bricks’ you realize that your motivation is at home.  Your children do not know, or need to know, about the difficult sales environment for a Black sales professional.  Your husband or wife might serve as a good sounding board on that topic, yet maybe you don’t want to burden them with it either.  No one knows it as well as the Black sales professionals who read this journal.

It Gets Real Personal

Know that your skill level is important and you should keep it sharp.  Recognize that the tactics that you use must be honed sharply as your compete with other sales professionals looking to show the advantages of their products and their own attributes.  More than anything else you should realize that the motivations that you thrive on, if they are as intrinsic as your financial and family needs will propel you better than anything external.

Use the external stuff for a finishing touch, and realize that you can find some darn good tips out from these clever speakers well as the benefit of being with those sales professionals who are in the same situation.  Knowledge is everything.

Maybe more than anything else, your probably recognize that I believe that motivation is a personal issue no matter what color you are.  I will also note that pride is an important factor, and provides motivation as well.  Being able emerge as a sales leader even in the face of the obstacles that you encounter as a minority is an accomplishment that few will understand, but is real.

Always be the best.

Your comments are always welcome.

Category Categories: African American Sales Professionals, Black Business Owners, Black Entreprenuers, Black Salesmen, Black Saleswomen, Entrepreneurs, Success Tips for Black Sales Professionals  |  Tag Tags: , , , , ,  |  Comments No Comments