The salesman's family was given some venison from a friend of the
family who was a skilled hunter. That night the salesman's wife cooked
up some deer steaks and served them for dinner.
"What is this?" asked the salesman's young daughter. "Is it beef?"
"No, it's not beef," replied the salesman.
"Is it pork?" asked the salesman's son.
"No, it's not pork," replied the salesman. "I'll give you a clue. It's what your mother sometimes calls me."
"Spit it out sis! Quick! Spit it out!" yelled the salesman's son. "I didn't think they'd get this big, but we must be eating bass turds!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales, you need to be likeable. People like to do business with people they like. Chances are if your prospects or customers are calling you by other names behind your back, they are not going to be doing business with you much longer. How do you know if they are calling you names? Well in the majority of cases you'll never know. The only thing you can do, is to do your best not to give them any reasons to call you names to begin with. Never over promise and under deliver. Never gouge a customer on price. Never sell something to someone unless they absolutely need it. Last, if a customer or prospect, asks you for something that you don't have, or can't deliver, simply tell them you can't and provide them with a referral to someone else who can help them out with their issues right now. That's being of service. That's what real customer service, rather than mere lip service, is all about.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi
"What is this?" asked the salesman's young daughter. "Is it beef?"
"No, it's not beef," replied the salesman.
"Is it pork?" asked the salesman's son.
"No, it's not pork," replied the salesman. "I'll give you a clue. It's what your mother sometimes calls me."
"Spit it out sis! Quick! Spit it out!" yelled the salesman's son. "I didn't think they'd get this big, but we must be eating bass turds!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales, you need to be likeable. People like to do business with people they like. Chances are if your prospects or customers are calling you by other names behind your back, they are not going to be doing business with you much longer. How do you know if they are calling you names? Well in the majority of cases you'll never know. The only thing you can do, is to do your best not to give them any reasons to call you names to begin with. Never over promise and under deliver. Never gouge a customer on price. Never sell something to someone unless they absolutely need it. Last, if a customer or prospect, asks you for something that you don't have, or can't deliver, simply tell them you can't and provide them with a referral to someone else who can help them out with their issues right now. That's being of service. That's what real customer service, rather than mere lip service, is all about.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi
