Sales is difficult. No matter what the circumstances, you have to look on the bright side. That’s something I’ve always done well, and I think it’s genetic.
My uncle, an extraordinary salesman with a sense of humor to match, liked to say, “I got two orders today – get out and stay out.”
When an apprehensive sales rep was leaving to make an important call, my father, who has a way of putting people at ease, liked to say, “Don’t worry if you don’t sell anything. Just try not to take anything back.”
Optimism requires a sense of humor. Sales people who take themselves too seriously tend to lose perspective. When things go awry, they put so much pressure on themselves that they wind up making matters worse. Remember – no matter how bad things may look today, they’re bound to look better the next day, or the day after that.
Question
When did a positive outlook lead you to a positive sales outcome?
Random Silliness
Robyn McMaster probes the science of laughter and offers hilarious links.
Looking to add spice to your life? Try bacon salt.
Andrew reveals his daily success plan. Looks good to me!
From the Scrambled Toast archives, one of my sillier posts, about a well-rounded optimist.
Snatching victory from the jaws of unemployment, Brent invents the Jobless Fun Center.
Hi Brad, love this cartoon. Do you believe that humor’s a tool that leads to a sale, Brad? The social enjoyment together might foster a more positive relationship between sales person and customer. The Budwiser commercials seem to take advantage of that and that’s not face to face.
Hi Robyn, thanks – this cartoon is one of my faves. YES, humor can lead to a sale, especially in the sense you describe. Few people like to be around sales people (or companies) that take themselves too seriously. Sometimes humor can backfire, though. For instance, most of the humor financial institutions use in their TV ads is ineffective and inappropriate. I’m not going to select a bank because they’re funny. Budweiser? That’s another story. I want to drink funny beer. You also have to be careful with not to offend with humor in business. Some clients do not have a good sense of when humor crosses the line. Humor, especially in print, can be misinterpreted or mistimed. If a customer reads a funny ad you put out immediately after being chewed out by the boss, you may lose the next order. On the other hand, the right humor done properly works wonders, as it does for companies like Budweiser, Geico, and Verizon.
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