I have some bad news for you! Like it or not you are distracted!
We all know someone who is the classic example of someone who could not get his sales day started. He would spend hours in the office talking about his plans for the day but he would never actually make any calls or schedule any meetings. He was paralyzed by fear and frustration and it showed in his lack of results.
In today's world of social media, instant online news, email, and text messages the distractions have only gotten worse.
Whether you are starting a new sales job or just a new month, your job can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You might feel a surge of enthusiasm for the challenge ahead while also a sense of apprehension about where to start. It is not uncommon to feel a mix of emotions when faced with the task of meeting sales quotes, achieving financial targets, and building a client base.
But here is the thing, the real secret to success in sales is just getting started. Action creates momentum and momentum creates results. If you are new in sales or just feeling stuck, it's time to overcome your fears and find your motivation.
The first step to getting started in sales is to understand your motivation. Why do you want to sell? Is it to make money, to help people, to build relationships, or to gain experience? knowing your why will give you the drive to push through the inevitable challenges and setbacks you'll encounter on the way to success.
Once you know your why, it's time to set specific goals for yourself. What is your sales quota and how will you achieve it? How much money do you want to make and how many clients do you need to close to reach that target? Break down your goals into manageable steps and create an action plan to achieve them.
But even with a plan, it is easy to get sidetracked by distractions and excuses. One of the biggest obstacles to getting started in sales is fear. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of not knowing what to do, at some point in my career I felt all of these emotions. It's natural to feel scared but the key to success is to take action, even in the face of fear.
I once worked with a sales representative who was the classic example of someone who couldn't get started. He would spend hours in the office talking about his plans for the day, but never actually make any calls or schedule any appointments. He was paralyzed by fear and frustration and it showed in his lack of results.
So how do you avoid falling into this trap? Make a plan of action. As scary or painful as it may be, make that first call, it doesn't matter if it results in success, just making it is a great start. Send that first email, and challenge yourself to set your first appointment. Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect script, they don't exist. Instead focus on building momentum and learning from the mistakes you will inevitably make (you are not alone, we all make mistakes).
Remember, in sales, activity creates synergy and synergy creates positive repeatable success! The more you do, the more you learn, and the more confident you become. Embrace the challenges and embrace the process. Sales is a marathon, not a sprint and the only way to win is to keep moving forward.
So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, remember that getting started is the hardest part. It's also the most important. Don't let fear or frustration hold you back. Find your motivation, set your goals and take action. Success in sales is within your reach, all you have to do is get started!
Understand your motivation. Knowing why you want to sell will give you the drive to push through the challenges and fear you'll face.
Take action! It's easy to get stuck in planning mode but the real progress happens when you take action. Turn your fear into action. If you are afraid to make cold calls, understand that people will say no, no matter what. Start with a goal to make 10 calls, then move forward from there. Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect script, it will never come. Just get started! Remember, the more you do, the more you'll learn and the more confident you will become.
Embrace the process. Sales is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Embrace the challenges and use them as an opportunity to improve. Keep pushing forward and you will achieve success!