If You Can Sell, You Can Succeed

When I was 16, my dad told me that if I can sell, I can succeed in life. To this day, I'm convinced he was right!

Upon his advice, I took up sales roles for large multinational companies such as Diners Club International & 艺康 after graduating from 美国加州大学洛杉矶分校 . By the time I started my own business coaching firm in 2008 through the ActionCOACH Global franchise, driving growth and business improvement were second nature to me. For many years in various companies, my team and I achieved so much together winning global & regional awards & recognition.

I love being a sales person; helping clients find solutions gives me meaning and a sense of pride for a job well done.

To me, sales is much more than a job. It's a training camp that helps us become smart, caring, and resilient individuals in life and in business.

Selling is not just about pushing a product. Great sales people are creative problem solvers. Remember, clients don't buy products or services; they buy solutions to their existing challenges. Therefore, our job as sales people is to listen to their needs and find a solution for them. Creative problem solving is necessary beyond our sales roles. Imagine what you can do if you are a solutions-orientated person? Instead of finding reasons why things can't be done, you are finding ways that can work. Instead of giving up, you push through. Instead of sticking to the same old strategies, you learn to disrupt the norm and invent new ones. Would that be useful in all aspects of life? Would you teach that to your children?

I think the most important aspect of being a sales person is the ability to motivate ourselves. Great sales people do not wait for our leaders to chase us. We have a natural sense of personal pride and a drive for excellence. Even though we may be working for a company, we always work for ourselves, our goals, and our dreams. I remember always exceeding my sales targets. Why? Because I could, and because it was fun for me! To me, it wasn't fun to make excuses to my boss in monthly meetings. It was more fun to win awards and feel a sense of personal achievement.

What other transferrable skills can you gain in a sales role?

In sales, we learn often make cold calls. Gosh, that's hard! We go through hundreds of "no, thanks" before getting to a "yes." (Often we don't even get the "thanks.") What's the value of learning to be rejected? Falling down and getting right back up again? Putting away our fears and talking to a complete stranger? In Indonesian, we call it developing the "iron face" (muka besi); it's the same thing as being resilient. And that feeling of achievement when we do get a "yes"... ah, I can't describe it! The lesson of putting in the work and getting a result is priceless.

Another common activity in sales is managing time & our "business." Which prospects have we called? What was the outcome? When should we follow up? What's our next plan of action? The skill of organising our work and making the best use of our time are so transferrable especially as our lives expand with a bigger job, a bigger family, and bigger responsibilities. When I became a sales manager, I made sure my team was prepared. I can see that the more organised individuals achieve more and get less complaints from clients.

Great sales people sincerely care for their clients and that's why they go above and beyond the call of duty. They also learn to listen more than they speak, to make sure the solutions they provide fit the client's needs. Don't be surprised if caring and listening help you advance in your career, build trust with the people around you, and be an all around better friend, spouse, parent.

Achieving in my sales role gave my lessons that I still use today to improve businesses, relate with people, and overcome life's challenges. I feel more secure about my financial future knowing that I probably have the ability to generate good income for years to come using my skills. I want you to feel the same for your future too.

I hope that from this simple article, you can start to see your role in a different way and use it to grow personally & professionally.

Be proud of being a sales person! You will grow so much from it.