Author Archive
The Second Dimension of Screening Sales Talent
My wife Sharon and I dated for exactly two years before I proposed to her. Over our two year courtship, I got to know her likes and dislikes. I understood her goals in life and her aspirations. She knew the same about me. On July 24, 1996, in the White House Rose Garden (true story), […]
Sales Candidate Attributes: Desired or Required
Close your eyes. Think of the perfect mate. Are you done? Close your eyes again. Think some more. How long is your list of requirements of the perfect mate? Are there five of them? Ten? Perhaps, you have twenty. Think about your list again. Are each of those really requirements of your ideal mate? Or, […]
Why Can’t I Hire The Right Sales People?
Candidate screening is one of the most difficult tasks that recruiters and managers face. Most will tell you that screening sales talent is the toughest of all. Why? Sales people are trained in the art of persuasion. They know how to provide the desired responses to the questions. Even more daunting is when you are […]
When the Sale Doesn’t Happen
In the 70’s and 80’s, there was a great television show called “Quincy.” This show revolved around a coroner who investigated deaths. Jack Klugman, a.k.a. Dr. Quincy, performed an autopsy on what appeared to be a death by natural causes and realized that the actual cause of death was murder. Once that determination was made, […]
What Is The Game Plan?
The other day I was working out in the gym when a guy asked me to spot him on the bench press. For those of you not familiar with the term “spot,” it means to watch and assist the lifter if they need help. Of course, I agreed to do this. As is customary when […]
Are Job Applicants Destroying Your Brand?
Phil walks into his favorite retailer to apply for a job. He sits down at the kiosk and begins to fill out the employment application. He fumbles through the online form and realizes that he forgot to enter his apartment number. He clicks the browser to go back to the prior page. In doing so, […]
The Secret to Overcoming the Price Objection
Ok. This is false advertising. There is no secret to “overcoming” the price objection. The truth is that the price objection cannot be overcome. That is because it isn’t intended to be overcome. It is meant to be resolved through thought facilitation by a sales person. The sales person’s role is to help the prospect […]
The Best Sales People Aren’t Necessarily The Right Ones For Your Company
I recently had the opportunity to speak to a group of CEOs about their sales recruitment needs. To make a point, I mentioned to them that my friend, Willie McMoney, had heard that I was speaking to this group and asked that I mention he was looking for a new sales home. I shared Willie’s […]
What Every Sales Person Could Learn From the Yankees
This is the time of year when salespeople begin to reflect on their performance. Was it a good year? Was it a great year? Some will say they earned the dollars they desired, so it was a great year. Others will hang their hat on an account that they won and say it was a […]
Finding the Right Home for Your Sales Skills
It’s that time of year again when salespeople peak their heads up from their cubicles to see if there is a better opportunity out there. So, what do I mean by “that time of the year?” Actually, it’s most every day. The way most salespeople are wired, they have an insatiable urge for more. More […]
