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In kicking off a session with a bunch of sales reps and managers, I always try to start with a group discussion that establishes a common bond. Last week I decided to focus on something a lot of customers say that derails a sales call. The first thing I did was project the following words up on the wall:

You don’t understand. We’re different Read More

There aren’t many feelings as cool as when you get to see one of your own best practices kick in. I had the great good fortune this past Wednesday to watch one of mine take hold and accomplish its intended effect. (I just wish I had actually thought the practice up instead of simply bumbling into it about four years ago… Read More

Mr. Customer, the net present value of the investment I’m suggesting is $377,000.

That’s the translation of “Many companies like yours have found tremendous value is this service of ours” into the Universal Language of Business. Just a tad more compelling, wouldn’t you agree Read More

Dave Brock started the mudslinging at a useless forecasting metric, then Anthony Iannarino piled on. These two guys are right on the money – again – and I can’t help but throw another log on the fire Read More

Does a 17th century French philosopher, mathematician, physicist, and writer have something to say to 21st century sales reps about “push” and “pull” and their relative effectiveness in getting commitment?

“We never understand a thing so well, and make it our own, as when we have discovered it for ourselves.” — Rene Descarte Read More

According to the best research I can find, roughly 2/3 of CRM implementations fail. How can this be? After so many years why haven’t sales leaders and CRM vendors figured this out Read More

It all started last November at a barbecue joint in Birmingham, AL. (Read about our Dreamland experience.) At the time, none of us knew the other two also had the Don Quixote gene, ever-ready to embark on a grand quest. It’s been a fascinating ride so far, and the windmills keep getting interestinger and interestinger Read More

Who am I to argue with General Dwight D. Eisenhower? He made the comment in this post’s title regarding the Normandy invasion. He was reflecting upon how little the actual battle resembled the D-Day plan; a plan that resulted from a truly stupendous effort on the part of the Allies Read More

What’s in it for the customer? From day one of a sales career, the necessity of thinking in that context is crystal clear. Everybody knows it. Everybody believes it. It’s intuitively obvious!!! BUT …sometimes the obvious is not so easy to execute Read More

I know, I know, you’ve all heard the “ask why five times” cliché over and over and over. Why repeat it again? I’ll tell you why. It’s because of a story I heard just last week from an extremely successful rep with more than 30 years of experience Read More