Sales Processes | Hello From the Other Side!
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It’s only when I stop and think, do I realise how much things have changed for me.
I joined Signable in November 2014 having spent a long and successful career in the office supplies industry with an excellent company. But because of this I made some wrong assumptions. These were:
- I have proven, successful sales processes. This will mean selling Signable will be easy.
- I am experienced and therefore I need no real further development. I also need a structure to work to my potential.
Let’s look at these one by one…
I have proven, successful sales processes. This will mean selling Signable will be easy.
Yes I did but no it wasn’t!
I found out very quickly that selling recognised products (that are needed and used by everyone) is very different to selling an online software solution. Not everyone needs to it and it’s not very mainstream and that makes it tough. Very tough.
It took a good 8 months for me to develop a new process which worked for Signable but also meant I could target big businesses – luckily our “bread and butter” businesses came to us naturally through marketing strategies and product awareness.
Now as a sales person, and we are sensitive souls, this hit me really hard. But since this learning curve it’s allowed me to really BOOM.
An important tip that I’ve learnt since then; don’t give up. Even when you feel like you’re running through tar – the experience will stand you in mighty shame when you do breakthrough.
So, point no.2…
I am experienced and therefore I need no real further development. I also need a structure to work to my potential.
When I rocked up to Signable HQ on day one, Olly said four things to me:
- “There is no set holiday time – take what you want/need”
- “You don’t have to work in the office”
- “There are no strict working hours”
- “If you’re doing something that is time consuming, let me know and i’ll build some tech to sort it”
Well to me, that last one was just magic. As a non techie i’m totally in awe of how he does that. I guess that’s why he lives in The Matrix and I just chat and drink coffee! But the other points really unnerved me. Odd that, isn’t it? Having more freedom presented issues that I never anticipated, and working remotely meant getting used to not having lots of people around.
Another thing Olly mentioned was that whatever development I thought I needed or wanted, he would support. I never took him up on this, as I felt I had “been there, done that!” However as time went on I soon realised I had to start from scratch and begin my development again.
So, between then and now I have developed, studied and trained on sales, public speaking, personality profiling and much, much more. I have now used my 4Networking membership and regularly speak at events all over the UK on a variety of different topics. This has led me on to speaking at Property Investor Network seminars, which has led to invitations to speak, present and educate others at different events and online universities.
Another tip; your better self and a more prosperous future lies outside your comfort zone. Once you realise this and take action, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that flow your way!
As for the sales processes that I have developed, which has contributed to Signable tripling in size since November 2014? Well, that my friends, is for another blog post! Watch this space…
Cheers,
Nick.