Sales and raising kids
I started reading the book "Fanatical Prospecting" this month. It's been an eye-opener, to say the least.
As a sales professional, I always knew that prospecting was one of the most important parts of the sales process. But this book has given me a new perspective on what it takes to be a top-performing salesperson.
What's even more exciting is that I'm able to take what I'm learning from the book and apply it to my personal life. As a parent, I'm constantly looking for ways to teach my children important life skills. And being a sales superstar while raising a family takes a lot of discipline. It's teaching my children the importance of being persistent and developing relationships with customers.
One of the things that really resonated with me in the book is the idea of having a "why". Why do you do what you do? What motivates you to get up every morning and make those prospecting calls? For me, my "why" is my family. I want to provide them with the best life possible, and that means being a top-performing salesperson.
As I mentioned earlier, being a sales superstar while raising a family takes a lot of discipline. But it's not impossible. In fact, I've found that the skills I'm developing as a salesperson are actually helping me be a better parent.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned from the book is the importance of persistence. In sales, you can't give up after one rejection. You need to keep pushing forward, even when it feels like no one is interested in what you have to offer. The same is true with parenting. There are going to be days when it feels like you're not getting through to your kids. But you can't give up. You need to keep trying, keep communicating, and keep building those relationships.
Another skill that I'm developing as a salesperson is the ability to listen. When you're prospecting, you need to really listen to your customers' needs and pain points. You can't just push your product or service on them. The same is true with parenting. You need to listen to your children's concerns and fears, and really try to understand where they're coming from.
One of the things I love about my job is that I can take what I'm learning and teach it to my children. They're still young, but even at their age, I can start instilling in them the importance of persistence and building relationships.
For example, when we're playing together and my son gets frustrated because he can't figure something out, I remind him that it's okay to make mistakes. I tell him that he just needs to keep trying, and eventually he'll figure it out. This is the same mindset that I have when I'm prospecting.
Another way that I'm teaching my children about sales is by showing them how to build relationships. When we go to the grocery store, I encourage them to say "hello" to the cashier and ask them how their day is going. It's a small thing, but it's helping them develop the social skills that will be so important later in life.
Reading "Fanatical Prospecting" has been a great experience for me so far. Not only am I learning valuable skills that will help me be a better salesperson, but I'm also able to apply those skills to my personal life. Teaching my children about persistence, building relationships, and having a growth mindset is just as important to me as hitting my sales goals. 😊
Kayla Travis -Account ManagerÂ