Are We Really All In Sales?

How many people have tried to sell you stuff today? Six? Sixteen? Sixty-six? It's a lot, isn't it?

Some days it feels as if everything is a sales pitch. Buy this, try that, sign-up for freemium but get ready to pay. It's good for you, it's what you need, it will bring you friends and fun.

I know, I know, I know. We're all in sales. I sell stuff, too. I do better if people sign up for my courses. I make more money when customers supplement their learning by buying materials from me. I sell, I sell, so who am I to tell?

I get so weary of people trying to sell me things that I almost stop selling things myself.

But, I do find myself selling less these days. I'm not criticizing sales. I have a son who is an absolute ace at selling insurance and he does very well, and well -- people DO need insurance. It meets a need. But, we don't think about it, we don't address the need, unless someone tells us about it. Unless someone sells us something.

How do we make peace with all of this sometimes annoying, sometimes necessary sales talk? Here's one way: think less about selling and more about serving. How can you help? How can I help? What can we do to help each other in ways that are fair, economical, and ethical?

Are we really all in sales? Sure. But much more importantly, we're all also in service. Serve first and the sales will follow.

-- doug smith

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