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If You Cant Sell, You Cant Serve

Guest post by: Keith Hanna

Article Overview: No valuable lasting change ever happens unless a sale is made first. That's right: "a sale", that most nasty of four-letter words in the service business.

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If You Cant Sell, You Cant Serve

I was talking to a nutrition coach (Adam) last night about my liver health and how it affects my mood, energy level and cashflow, which I'm certain they do.

He said that for many people (meaning in particular "middle aged white men" like me), such a regeneration can take 7 years. Wow. I was hoping for a 7 day cleanse and a bottle of pills. No such luck.

Clearly, it's going to work better for me to think of my health as a process and a lifestyle choice rather than a series of disjointed "projects" grasping for the seemingly harder to find feel good moments.

Adam is smart (clearly) and passionate (obviously) and I think understands the gravity of the service business: if a person with health issues, does not become and client and remain a client for prolonged periods of time, the person makes no lasting changes, gets no benefits and Adam makes no money and has no impact.

I left the conversation with Adam more connected to the value of my health. It's a good start. I don't currently pay Adam and so the chat last night was a sales conversation even if it seemed like a social one at a house party.

No valuable lasting change ever happens unless a sale is made first. That's right: "a sale", that most nasty of four-letter words in the service business.

But I propose that a service provider (coach, lawyer, accountant, financial planner) is only as good as his or her sales skills and attitude. We are all in the intervention business and anyone too shy, insecure, backed up or afraid to sell is not going to be as useful to me when the situation gets hard and I really need to rely on someone. Many well-meaning and well-educated people with value to contribute are starving or at least not making the difference they are capable of because they are unwilling to sell.

Selling is not an affront to professionalism. Selling is the apriori professional skill. I make no difference to anyone with no clients, no money for food and my mortgage and no opportunities to hone my craft. Sell-serve-sell-serve-sell...etc.

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Article Tags: health, sale, sell, serve
Referred by: http://www.infinity-pr.com

About the Author: Keith Hanna
RSS for Keith's articles - Visit Keith's website

Keith Hanna’s experience as a coach spans over 15 years and includes helping entrepreneurs and growing companies identify and implement the changes needed to take their success to the next level. With a commitment to creating tangible value for his clients, Keith has worked with leaders in a wide variety of industries and at every stage of their careers and personal lives. His career as a coach began as a natural extension of his work as a product designer helping entrepreneurs turn their vision into innovative products. Through that work, Keith realized the most important innovations entrepreneurs had to make were inward focused. Those who were able to deal with the stresses caused by personal and business changes around them were able to make those changes work for them, and were able to live greater lives and build greater businesses. Keith holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary, with a specialization in industrial design and new venture development. He is author of two books, StepUp and Higher Purpose, Higher Profit, as well as an accomplished speaker and facilitator. Keith lives with his wife and two children at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Bragg Creek, Alberta, from which he makes mountain climbing excursions in the summer and dog sledding trips in the winter.

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More from Keith Hanna
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Dont Give Up On Your Dream
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Related Forum Posts
Essential Leadership skills Essential Leadership skills - Delegate Serve Creativity optimistic smart Focused Reliable honest Good sense of judgment consistent... It all comes from the confidence from within
Your advantage over others Your advantage over others - Sell using your USP - unique selling proposition. Why should people buy from you, instead of your competitors? Think about it, why are you so great? It may be a hard question, but finding the answer can multiply the effectiveness of any advertising or marketing activities you undertake.
Re: When do entrepreneurs retire, if ever? Re: When do entrepreneurs retire, if ever? - Why would you ever retire when you love what you are doing? Sell the business and start another one maybe - but retire - NEVER! You should all read, The 4 Hour Work Week - By Timothy Ferris. He talks about building your business so that you can take mini 'retirement's throughout your life, instead of saving it all up for when you are old. Great concept - what do you think??
Re: SES Toronto - Day 1! Re: SES Toronto - Day 1! - ...oh and even though it's 21 secrets, why do you have [quote:1gz722fe]Tip #22: Use Your Thank You Page to Sell[/quote:1gz722fe] on your blog? Are you holding out on secrets or are you adding your own? Hope to see you at the next conference!
Re: Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; Re: Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; - Thanks Jason I was overseas during the Hippie Generation (but i understand according to you, we have not completed that generation) I just don't see the long hair, bare breasted flower children and open drugs as I understand was so prevalent then or I haven't been looking in the right places. OFF THE CHAIN got me? As to sex and age, I always prefer to see a warning to others, especially minors A question for you, "With so much FREE sex, videos, pictures, stories as such available on the interest, readily accessible to all - Why does SEX still Sell online?


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