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Today's PROFESSIONAL SALES PERSON Versus THE AMATEUR



Today's PROFESSIONAL SALES PERSON Versus THE AMATEUR
   

I often ask in our sales workshops, “What’s the difference between a professional and an amateur”?

If I get blank looks I’ll ask, “How about a professional golfer versus an amateur golfer? Or a professional actor versus an amateur actor?”

That always seems to get a response.

The Professional...

* Has made a full time career out of what they do.
* They make their living from doing what they do.
* They make more than a living. They make far more money than the amateur ever will.
* They love what they do and they are dedicated to being the very best they can be.
* They have far greater skills than the amateur.
* They are constantly improving on the skills they have and developing new skills
* They keep practising and honing their skills because they realise that if they don’t, they will lose their edge.
* They found a good coach and stopped wasting time learning by trial and error
* They enjoy their success and are proud of their profession
* Their future is bright and secure because their real security resides within them and with their expertise

So then I bring the question back to

So what is the difference between a professional sales person and an amateur sales person?

They finally understand that point I am making. The list is exactly the same as for any professional.

Selling is the highest paid easy work you’ll ever do… and the lowest paid hard work you’ll ever do.

What makes the difference? It depends on how good you decide to be at it. It depends on whether you decide to be a professional or an amateur.

In my opinion only about 5% or less of sales people ever decide to get serious enough about their profession to become true professionals.

Now that’s both good and bad.

It’s bad, because it gives the sales profession a bad reputation because of poor customer experiences.

But it’s also a good thing for the real professional, because when a client meets a true sales professional this man or woman stands out from the rest. Very often this client will come back to this professional time and time again to buy and they refer their friends too. Business and success flows towards this type of sales person.

The over-night success.

The other interesting thing to note about a professional is that they did not become an “over-night success” by accident.

Tiger Woods started his golf career at age 3 and it wasn’t until his early twenties that his made the big time (and big money) as a Golf Pro.

Russel Crow’s first screen appearance was in 1971 at age 7 in an episode of “Spyforce” a TV programme. It was no accident. He had worked hard to get this part. His persistence continued as he landed bigger and better parts through the ‘70s and ‘80s until he made it into the big time in the late 1990s with movies like L.A. Confidential and The Insider. Then in 2000, he stared in The Gladiator.

The lesson here is, that professionals become that way on purpose.

We rarely float to the top of the heap when it comes to success.
Professionals make their own luck through the development of their skills and through persistence.

How about you? Are you a true professional or working towards being one?

It’s worth the effort, because in my opinion nothing beats the view from the top.

Have a great week. Make it a great week!

Wayne Berry CSP *

Today's PROFESSIONAL SALES PERSON Versus THE AMATEUR - To learn more about this author, visit Wayne Berry's Website.

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About the Author


Wayne Berry
(Visit Wayne's Website)
Wayne Berry CSP* is Australia's own TOP GUN Sales Coach and most in-demand speaker on sales, negotiating and sales management. He is ranked in the top 7% of professional speakers in the world by the USA based National Speakers Association. He is a best selling author and one of Australia's best known speakers. His four books, “Negotiating In The Age of Integrity”, “How To Get The Best Deal Every Time”, “How To Get The Best Sale Every Time” and “How To Lead and Motivate A TOP GUN Sales Team” are now sold in 13 countries. He speaks more than 200 times each year at conferences around Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and at programs arranged by his TOP GUN® Business Academy. This year his seminars and workshops will be attended by more than 20,000 sales and business people. He has also recorded more than 40 audio and DVD video programs on selling, sales management and negotiating. He has shared the platform with Tom Hopkins, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightingale, Dr Norman Vincent Peale, Dr Denis Waitley, James Rohn, and many, many other internationally renown speakers.
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