How my 11-Year-Old Son's 'Lazy' Approach to Sales Taught Me the Secret to Successful Selling

Paxton was tasked with selling booklets of tickets for his soccer team, and as a sales coach, I advised him to knock on every door in the neighborhood. But to my surprise, he ignored my advice and like most kids was distracted from the task at hand and instead decided to set up a lemonade stand in the garage.

At first, I was frustrated and was worried it was going to be another one of those waiting until the last day and then ask me to bring the booklet to the office and help him sell out. But, as I watched from the window, I noticed something interesting happening. People started stopping their cars and buying lemonade from him. And as they did, they were having a long conversation with him. I thought, probably typical small talk about his stand and what was going on in his life.

Curious, I went outside to check on his lemonade sales. I saw a pile of cash and only half the lemonade was gone. I asked if people bought lemonade or just wanted to throw a dollar or two at him to help him out. To my surprise, he responded, "I'm not selling lemonade, dad. I'm selling tickets."

It dawned on me that my son wasn't using the traditional sales approach of going door-to-door or cold-calling someone. He was simply sitting there and making the customer come to him. Every time someone stopped, he started a conversation, which led to him bringing up the tickets he was supposed to sell. It wasn't about forcing someone to buy with a good pitch and a closing script, but about starting a conversation and building a relationship allowing people to make their own decisions based on how they were feeling emotionally. He smiled, they smiled back, and they just wanted to help the little guy!

My son's success taught me a valuable lesson about sales and marketing. The traditional model of sales and marketing that focused on persuasion and transactional approach is slowly becoming less effective in today's world where customers are more empowered and have more access to information. Building a genuine connection and engaging in meaningful conversations with potential customers can help create a positive experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Customers are more likely to do business with someone they like, trust and feel comfortable with, rather than someone who is just trying to sell them something. By focusing on building relationships rather than just making sales, businesses can establish themselves as trustworthy and reliable, and create a loyal customer base.

My son's approach to sales, even if it may seem "lazy," is actually very effective and can be applied in many different industries. It's all about understanding the importance of relationships and creating a positive experience that leaves a lasting impression.

So, my friends, sometimes the best sales coach can be someone who knows nothing about sales. My son's "lazy" approach to sales taught me the secret to successful selling in this new age. It's about creating a connection and allowing customers to make their own decisions based on how they feel about you, not just about the product you're pitching. #salestips #b2bsales #socialselling #salesleadership #salesstrategy #closingdealsinheels #salessuccess #salestraining