Topic

quirky

ideas and experiences with a selling angle that come from left-field

Draw Your School

A friend of mine shared a fascinating experience from a former parents’ evening at his lad’s junior school. When the class reaches a certain stage, the teacher asks them to draw their school. Regardless of any interrogative questions from the floor, no further instructions are given. Each is simply

Media Elevator Pitches

London’s Liberal-leaning Guardian newspaper has an entertaining microsite where web startups promote their wares. Since the start of 2008 they’ve broadcast wannabe dotcom stars at the rate of around half-a-dozen a month, although this rate tailed off into 2011, with only three in the first Quarter. [http://www.

Account Manager Genie

There are some pretty awkward meetings account management can throw your way. Each nasty scenario will be well known to higher management and will come with a positive counter. For instance, when summoned to be told that your company’s provision is so bad that your supply is no longer

Work On Spec

My recent post on free pitch [http://salespodder.com/free-pitch-backlash] issues got me thinking. This relates to free work. On spec. Having to spend time and money doing something for a prospect with no guarantee you’ll ever see cash for your endeavours. I can’t think of anyone that

Exchanging Rings

Here’s something threateningly bizarre I came across from a ‘Lifestyle’ section of an English broadsheet a while back. Whilst I can in no way condone the book this was supposedly taken from, the concept intrigued me linked with how to handle yourself as an incumbent. Specifically, how you can

When Facts Change

Spookily following on from yesterday’s post, I heard yet more talk radio, this time on BBC Radio 4. It was about neutrinos. There was a potentially baffling half-hour on how our view of the universe has swung each time a new physics theorem is ‘proved’. The one useful selling

Let’s Look At The Facts

I heard a radio phone in the other day which pitted two scientists against each other. What struck me, was that both ‘experts’, eminent in the field, claimed sole ownership of the “facts”. How could this be when both opinions were polar opposites? Two pointers emerged. The first is to

Masterchef Feedback Tri-Way

When it comes to providing negative feedback, I have rarely heard a salesman deliver what could be described as constructive criticism. In almost every case, the stereotypical dominance takes over. “That’s not good enough” is as mild as I can recount, minus the raised voice and expletives. I’ve

Meeting Jazz Hands

[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/10/hands-up-to-protest] Here’s something interesting to try at your next meeting. Provided you know the protagonists well. Not only would it be likely to provide a bit of sparkle, it may also encourage more open participation. I’ve a sneaky feeling

Machiavellian Solution Selling Core

I still have a secluded box with all the papers gathered during my first baby steps in selling. Ravenous for knowledge, I kept all sorts of training notes, photocopied articles and in-field scribbles. Rummaging through it lately, I came across a copy of an essay from my undergraduate days. It