Cima: The Peak Marketing Show

Have you ever been driving down the street and and thought, “OH NO! I forgot to do [fill in the blank]?” Salespeople are especially prone to have overwhelmed minds due to a constantly fluctuation calendar, and pressure to sell. Learn here how salespeople can turn things around and build an organization strategy that will free up their minds for success!

Salespeople are becoming less effective as time goes on, due to the flooding of the market with sales tools and automation, to name a few reasons. Listen to George’s advice and solutions as he presents an answer to the problem of ineffectiveness, and how Membrain can solve that problem for organizations.

“Cold calling is dead.”

I’m sure you have heard this phrase repeated over and over again. It seems increasingly common for sales people to believe that cold calling is dead, and it almost brings solace to some sales people to feel like they don’t need to cold call anymore.

I’m baffled by that though…because without cold calling, how would you get sales? I know, I know, cold calling calling methodologies have changed, but the fact of the matter is you still need to call on customers. The term cold calling has taken on a negative connotation, however in reality all that cold calling is is making sales calls. And sales people need to make sales calls.

I am extremely excited to have Elaine Zelker on the podcast with us. For the past 10 years, Elaine has been running her photography business in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. She has mastered the perfect headshot, and has enjoyed photographing thousands of people all over the country. From individual shots to corporate events, mastering the headshot is what she does best.

But when she's not shooting in the studio or on location, Elaine can be seen teaching classes in photography, branding in social media, and running motivational mastermind classes online and in person. Known as a serial entrepreneur, she has multiple side hustles, and loves art. She's a mom, a teacher, a photographer, brand strategist, wife, team leader, author, DIY-er, speaker, and lover of life.

The fact that she can do all of these different things, excel in so many different areas, but not lose the passion for life through all of it. As I'm sure you'll hear throughout the conversation, it's that love of life and that passion for life that drives her to do all of the things that she's doing.

Elaine, thank-you for joining us.

Thank you everyone for tuning in today on The Living Sales Podcast. I am extremely honored to have Jeff Haden on the podcast today. Jeff is the author of one of the best books I've read, called The Motivation Myth. He is a highly accomplished Ink Magazine columnist, a ghost writer, a cyclist, and in my opinion a master at achieving goals and establishing routines and plans to achieve those goals.

Spinning stories creates anxiety!

Massive sales and business success can be realized by simply taking action

Simplifying your sales process is the most important thing you can do as a sales person. Do you ask a question during your sales meetings or do you simply talk?

Stop giving customers so many options… Learn to talk about what matters to them.

Do you remember your first sale? Can you think of why you got involved in sales in the first place?
I absolutely do, and it is a fond memory!
 I have always loved sales. It's actually been something that has been in my blood ever since I can remember. One of my first sales experiences was when I was working at an adventure outfitter shop my freshman and sophomore years of college. One of the responsibilities I had was selling jackets and clothing to people who were going out to hike the Appalachian Trail or nearby trails.
What I quickly discovered was that I excelled at convincing people to buy the more expensive jackets. People would come in looking for a rain jacket. When they'd come to the counter with a cheap $25 rain jacket, I would say to them, "Well, you know, if you buy this, it's going to wear out within a season and you're going to have to keep buying a new jacket every season. Have you ever considered buying a Gortex jacket?” I would go in to a whole pitch about the value of the jacket, demonstrate how it worked and I would say nine times out of ten, I could convince people to leave the store with a $400 jacket, when in reality they came in with the desire to buy something cheap for only $25.
It was then that I realized that I was really good at sales...and I really loved it. I began seeking out other opportunities to-to sell.
That moment has stuck with me forever and coming back to it always helps me keep things simple.
Sales can so easily be defined as "Persuading someone who has a problem to exchange money or something valuable with you for a solution that will make them happy and will make their problem go away, and that will also benefit you financially."
That's the truth I keep coming back too. When I sell, I always remember that the person I am talking to needs what I am selling. As a side note...that means I'll never sell something I don't believe in, and I don't think anyone should.
For me, I started selling because I love the thrill of the hunt, I love the process of sales, I love helping others, and I love the financial rewards. I genuinely love business and love sales. It is that simple to me.
I have cycled through many thoughts to determine but what my proper motivation is, but it always comes back that. And it is so freeing to me to realize that I do this because I love it.
But don't miss that last part...it also benefits you financially. This isn't selfish...everyone knows that you are selling to them because you and your company are trying to make money.
If you lose your original passion, you won't succeed and you'll be stressed and overwhelmed.
Why Did You Start Selling?
Do you remember why you started selling? Think about it. What made you first get involved with selling? What was your first sale?
Understanding that will help bring your mind back to a time when you weren't scattered and overwhelmed. Thinking back to those moments always calms my mind and helps me simplify the sales process.
Do You Think Its's Wrong to Care About Your Personal Benefit?
Have you fallen prey to sales myths? There is so much bad sales advice out there. People often say that you should never focus on the benefit to you but only to the customer.
Let me ask you this...do you think your customer cares about themselves and their success? They make decisions about what is good for them...so why can't you make decisions about what is good for you?
Time to Get Back to Where it All Started
I don't think anyone is working (in ANY job) because they are just doing it for someone else. Everyone works because they need to take care of themselves. Being motivated by that isn't selfish. In fact, when you realize that your customers make decisions based on what is good for them, and you realize that you work hard because it is good for you, everyone wins!
Enjoy the process. Live Life, Eliminate Stress, Close More Sales.

The Secrets of Living Life, Eliminating Stress, and Closing More Sales: The Living Sales Manual. GET IT FREE TODAY!