If you can’t earn their trust, you can’t make a deal.

Following our recent discussion on building a good savings habit (in case you missed it, catch up here), the next couple article will serve as a filler episode so readers can embark on my instantaneous savings tips for a month and see results. I will have upcoming content focused on my sales and business development adventures throughout my life. So without further ado, let's dive into the topic of making more money!

Let's admit it, we all want more money, whether to afford a bigger house, a better car, or to pay for that triple chocolate pudding – we need money in everyday life. The easiest way to make money is to do work in sales and business development. The problem is, many face challenges in getting their sales across. There are many reasons one cannot make sales: Maybe the product is crap. Maybe the cost is too high. Maybe the consumers doesn't have enough money. Maybe they market demand it slow. The reasons are endless. But the truth is, and there is only one truth, is that when you make that sale, your customer trusted you.

How do we get our customers to trust us?

Now, while making sales poses its challenges, one crucial factor stands out — trust. Trust isn’t a commodity you can buy or demand; it’s built over time. If you're curious about developing this essential element, keep reading:

When I started my sales job a decade ago, the odds were against me — mediocre products, a challenging industry reputation, and dubious customer reviews. Yet, I excelled in sales because my clients trusted me. My most trusted customer: myself.

Would I trust myself? Absolutely! So I did business with myself.? Do my friends and family trust me? Those who do, did business with me. And that's because we have built a relationship throughout our lives.

How? Well, back in my school days, I ventured into a small business that, despite its "illicit" nature, created lasting bonds with my peers. Fast forward to adulthood, those childhood friends chose to do business with me because of the trust we'd built over the years. It’s a testament to the enduring power of relationships in business. People remember me as the cheeky little bastard who smuggled coke and candies into a school where the cafeteria had a monopoly and overcharged everyone.? Their first image is someone who would cross heaven and hell to bring you a good deal.? You can probably image how the competition went when I showed up at a sales meeting with a seasoned salesmen in a very, very nice piece of suit.

(He did have on some really nice suit.)

So go. Start building trust with those around you. Help your neighbors, contribute to your community, lend a hand to those in need. While you may not be in sales now or in the foreseeable future, there’s always one thing you’ll need to sell: yourself.? And you’ve got to build a community around you before you can take anything for yourself.

Stay tuned for more sales and business development tips in the coming weeks!