Give Yourself A Break
You will find sales professionals and business owners topping the lists for the highest income earners in the country. I think this is the result of the various skills required to succeed.
I had coffee with a gentleman who is four months into his sales career after spending several years as a graphic designer. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about the product and is exceeding expectations. However, the challenges are coming in the form of time management, juggling the different tasks of cold calling, following up, new proposals and effectively managing his territory.
The same challenges come with being a solopreneur and bootstrapping your own business. In spite of your expertise and passion for a product, you have to manage the business and all the tasks required from accounting to websites and product fulfillment to name a few. Plus you have to develop a sales process that works for you.
On several occasions, I have heard best selling author Dan Miller mention that his business requires as many as twenty something tasks to operate. Dan hires subcontractors to handle the majority of these tasks freeing him up to spend time in the two or three areas of his greatest enjoyment and expertise.
Depending on the product or business, your sales process may require several skills including a positive attitude, cold calling, building relationships, asking good questions, listening, product knowledge, confidence, time management and organizational skills.
Have you mastered all of these skills? If you havenā€™t, please give yourself a break. These skills take time to develop and no one is a born salesperson. You will also find that different aspects of your sales process will be easier than others based on your personality wiring.
People who have become competent in selling have the most transferable skill set of any profession and can be the highest paid. Find your personal selling style and remember, nothing happens in business until something is sold.
Have a great week!
Pierce
