Preface: Wolrad Claudy is a great friend and client. I first met him years ago when he ran global sales for Tekelec (acquired by Oracle). He’s one of the most fascinating sales leaders I’ve worked with. Since Tekelec, he has been involved in a number of technology start-ups, has developed a specialized fund, providing seed capital to some start-ups. And, on the side, he has a winery. Here’s Wolrad, I love his creative approach in answering my question.
My friend, Dave Brock challenged me to explore, “why Iām obsessed with selling.’ First, I asked Chat GPT the question. Here is what I got:
“Being passionate about selling can be beneficial for several reasons:
Financial Success: A strong focus on selling can lead to increased revenue and financial stability.
Personal Growth: Selling often involves constant learning, communication, and negotiation, which can contribute to personal and professional development.
Impact: Effective selling can help others discover products or services that genuinely improve their lives.
Entrepreneurial Pursuits: For entrepreneurs, a selling mindset is crucial for growing a business and reaching a wider audience.
Adaptability: Sales skills are transferable and can be valuable in various aspects of life, including relationships and career advancement.
Remember, while being focused on selling can be beneficial, it’s important to balance this with ethical and genuine interactions to cultivate long-term relationships with customers.ā
This does not reflect my conviction and passion for selling, not one bit. Selling is everything in life and understanding the art of sales and implementing selling with a scientific approach is the foundation to manage a successful business as much as personal life. The answer above convinces me, that sales manager might never be replaced by AI, selling represents core values of human beings.
As a student studying physics, I was convinced that sales is the last thing I would consider for my professional life. The image of self-confident actors manipulating others to get their money, with the talent to sell fridges to Eskimos was driving my desire. With a passion for teaching I got 30 years ago into sales by accident, experiencing selling as the last undiscovered science, offering personal rewards and satisfaction like nothing else.
Selling, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. What was once a straightforward transactional process has evolved into a dynamic, relationship-centric practice,. It all starts with discovering the need.
Looking ahead, Artificial intelligence and machine learning will enable hyper-personalization, allowing businesses to anticipate customer needs and deliver tailored solutions seamlessly to assist the sales process to become more efficient but not to replace the sales person in any regard. The evolution of selling in business reflects a broader societal shift towards relationship-building and customer-centricity.
While technology continues to reshape the selling landscape, the fundamental principles of understanding needs, building empathy, and trust remain at the core of successful sales strategies, not limited to business at all. As we adapt to these changes, the future of selling promises a more connected, empathetic, and value-driven approach to meeting other people needs.
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