How To Sell Anything

I remember the first job I ever had was as a “rouseabout” working in a shearing shed.

My job was to pick up the fleece of a sheep once it had been shorn by the shearer,and throw it on a table where is was “classed “ and then sorted in to bails, then pressed and sent off to a wool broker where it could be exported internationally or sold locally.

It was a very demanding and physical job. So you might be thinking, what that has got to do with selling?

I believe there are certain traits found in great salespeople.

They are usually someone that has a peculiar way about him or her, does not fear rejection, is always optimistic and has a real feel for what their clients want.

In a shearing shed you learn these traits very quickly. Why? You are on the bottom of the heap, you have to take orders from shearers and everyone else in the gang. You learn to overcome and deal with rejection, you learn to be optimistic and not get too down when you are the last to have lunch – after you have done all the jobs.

But you learn one important trait if you are any good -reading people. Shearers are the toughest men and women you would want to meet. They get paid on results – the sheep count.

So if you are any good, you learn to anticipate their needs. If it is another thirty sheep in the pen, then do not leave it until there are two left. If it is water they want, always have the bottle full.

Selling  is not that much different from being a rouseabout… just master the basics.

Good selling

PHOTO - State Records NSW