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A Good Seller is a Good Teacher #506 Have you ever had a difficult customer that tested your patience? You want to do a good job, but it seems that all the prospect wants to do is to make it harder on themselves. Sure you want to help, but they don't want to be helped. And now you can't help but wonder why are they even talking to you. You know something is there, you think you think you can teach them a few things that would be good for their business. You might even be able to address their issues. But they're not the good student. There is a part of you that doesn't want to let it go and in the words of the Clash, you wonder "Should I stay or should I go now?" What does it mean to be a good teacher, that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 10

How to Sell by Not Selling #505 In the timeless dance of commerce I'd like to reflect a bit on the business aspects of selling, the topic this podcast babbles about weekly. When you consider the profession of sales, what comes to mind? Is it a realm where one must assume the guise of a rapid-talking predator? Do you still hear at times the notion that selling requires you to be the elusive shark in the marketplace? It's a pervasive belief, and indeed, a hurtful one. So let's consider this: that the art of selling isn't a slam dance to the rhythm of forceful persuasion. In fact, the most profound selling arises not from the act of selling itself. Rather, it emerges from a subtler dance—a waltz of not selling. Yes, this is a paradox. Fathom a sales process that flows like a river, effortlessly shaping its course without the turbulent eddies of aggressive pitches. This is our exploration and the topic of today's episode, how to sell by not selling. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful

How to Own Your  Mistakes #504 So, you like being right? But what about when you’re wrong? Nobody likes being called out for making a mistake or screwing up. And let me tell you, it’s even worse when you have to apologize for your mistake or, worse yet, your company’s mistake. It’s like going to the dentist for a root canal. Unfortunately, once in a while, this situation pops up and it’s extremely uncomfortable for the sales professional. It’s not the end of the world. You just have to own up to it and move on. That’s what separates the men from the boys. Or the women from the girls. Or the sales professionals from the amateurs. You get the idea. Look, if you’ve made a mistake, don’t worry. Just apologize, learn from it, and move on. It’s not rocket science. It’s just common sense. That’s why we’re talking about it today. How to own your mistakes. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and he

How To Advance the Sale - Step by Step #503 Ever notice how after a sales call, it feels like the deal is moving at the speed of a glacier melt? I mean, who knew closing deals was like waiting for paint to dry? In today's episode, we're diving into the thrilling world of why deals move slower than a tortoise with a GPS glitch. Let's crack the code on the sales process, the buying process, and the intricate dance of advancing the sale, all with the ultimate goal of closing – well, maybe not today but someday Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and mos

How to Give Control to Take Control When Selling #502 My wife says I worry too much. I think I don't worry enough.  I'm always on the lookout for trouble and control what I can to avoid drama. Control is my secret power, and it's also my greatest weakness. Bringing a control attitude into the sales profession was a turn-off to many prospects. By trying to control the sales process and wrangling the prospect's actions it had the opposite effect and killed deals. It was by studying the Tao I got the idea of taking control the sale by giving control to the prospects. It was a brilliant albeit belated idea I had because works amazingly well. Today's topic is how to give control to take control when selling.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and di

Why Sellers Need to Recognize the Elephant in the Room #501 Have you ever skirted the truth when talking to a prospect? Have you ever redirected the conversation to put your offering in the best light? Have you ever wondered why a prospect stops taking your calls when at first you thought everything was going well? Maybe the prospects saw through your avoidance. Maybe they sensed there was something wrong with your product or service. Maybe you lost their trust. In this week's episode, we talk about the elephant in the room, those big issues that salespeople are afraid to bring up with hopes they will just go away. But they don't! Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presen

Sales Babble 500th Anniversary Special #500 In March 2014 the first episode of the Sales Babble podcast was published, dedicated to sharing selling secrets for non-sellers. After years of working at a start-up as the VP of Sales, I was ready to share my experience with a broader audience and grow my selling skills. "Sales Babble" was the solution and my next adventure. Now it's October in 2023 and we've reached the 500th episode and it's a miracle that I'm still at the microphone, babbling about sales and how to do it better. Today my guest is my co-founder and wife Denise Helmers. We turn the tables and we discuss the journey of the podcast, where it came from, where it's been, and what aspirations we have for the future.   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of

How to Discover the Buyer Using Compassionate Listening #499 I have a point of view on selling that may catch you off guard. Just like social work, nursing, or counseling, I see selling as a helping profession.  The way I see it, as sellers, it's our responsibility to relieve the suffering of our customers and clients. Each prospect you meet has some unfulfilled need or desire that greatly pains both them and their organizations. The way master sellers can assuage this suffering is to listen and to listen with compassion. Instead of guessing what's troubling them, ask and they will tell you what it is they want and they need. Too often sellers are quick to jump the gun and talk about their stuff when it would make more sense to shut up and let them talk.  How to discover the buyer with compassionate listening. That's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them

How To Stay Innovative in an Emerging Market #498 There is an old saying in tech that there are only two kinds of technologies: the out-of-date and the "it's not yet available." Products loved and admired by customers will someday be considered antiques. Few products or services are considered modern forever. Instead, the marketplace is constantly birthing a rebirthing, innovation after innovation. Salespeople play a tremendous role in guiding their companies to stay competitive. They are the canaries in the coal mine and the first to discern what's the next big thing.  So what can sellers do to stay innovative in an emerging market? That's the topic for today.    Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qual

Don't Force the Sale, Allow the Sale #497 Sometimes sellers in their zeal to win push and prod buyers into uncomfortable buying decisions. It's always a good time for a seller to win a sale, but that's not the case for buyers. Sometimes a purchase is part of a broader project that requires planning.  Too often sellers forget that their timeline should be the buyer's timeline. In this episode of the Tao of Sales Babble, we discuss the hazards of forcing a deal and the benefits of giving buyers space to decide on their own.   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discussed all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, c

We Only Learn From Failure #496 I’m a goof and I screw up a lot. I’m known to talk to myself and say things like “What were thinking?” or “You’re an idiot Pat.” This behavior really bugs my wife. She’ll say “Why are you so hard on yourself?” to which I reply “I’m not hard enough!’ But she may have a point. You can read good advice, or in the case of a podcast, listen to good advice but it’s not going to be embraced nearly as much as when you screw up and learn a lesson from it.   According to the author George Bernard Shaw "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."  That’s the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying,

How To Find Your Niche #495 If you ever sold a new invention, idea, or innovation then you’ve probably experienced the crushing defeat and rejection that comes with disrupting the status quo. After that experience you may have walked away with the same feeling I had when I did the Point of No Return waterpark ride which descended 10 stories in 4 seconds, No thank you, once was enough for me. But on the other hand, if you are bold and believe in the old adage that the “Riches are in the Niches” this is the episode for you. How to get a new innovation adopted. That’s the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals,

How to Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn Sales #494 Do you know how some people just don't listen? They complain about their situation,  yet they're never open to alternatives. It's a case where confidence and cockiness become handcuffs. This is all too common in sales. It's a paradox but sometimes the best way to learn something is to first unlearn what you already know. To relearn is to keep growing and that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is

What is the Tao of Sales Babble #493 Each week we apply the Taoist philosophy to some aspect of sales. We may talk about prospecting, qualifying, and closing, and share some practical Taoist examples using little parables involving Pat, Chris, and Lee. I’m unusually fascinated by this topic, a bit of a fanatic,  and have coined this topic the Tao of Sales Babble. Why babble? To quote Lao Tzu, "Sincere words are not fine; Fine words are not sincere." Lao Tzu taught that understanding and wisdom do not necessarily rely on eloquent or elaborate speech. When it comes to sales, there is a plethora of babble about selling, and most of it is negative. I believe true wisdom comes from sincerity and a deeper connection to the fundamental truths. That's what I call the Tao of Sales Babble. Today let's babble about those fundamental truths.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to mak

Six More Taoist Sales Lessons That Make Common Sense #492 This is the podcast where each week we apply an aspect of Taoism to sales. Last week we departed from this structure and surveyed six Taoist sales lessons instead of a single aspect. Each lesson contained common sense practical advice.  This week we’re going to do six more and if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, that’s OK. These lessons aren’t in any order There is no need to go back before listening to this episode. But I do urge you to listen to it, especially if you’ve found value in this episode.  As I said these lessons are solid advice that speaks to the art of sales, not just the science. This Taoist advice talks about mindset and intuition and how to approach selling at an instinctive level. Real life is filled with randomness and chaos. No one script or formula can address all possibilities. That’s why I’m a strong proponent of having a mindset that can address all challenges. Frankly, I’m fascinated by these concepts which is why

Six Taoist Sales Lessons That Make Common Sense #491 Each week the Sales Babble podcast applies the Taoist philosophy to some aspect of sales. We may talk about prospecting, qualifying, or closing, and dig into the details with some practical Taoist examples with little parables involving Pat, Chris, and Lee. This is a topic near to my heart. I started studying Taoism for over over 30 years ago. From my studies, I've come to some realizations that I want to share. So this week I'd like to diverge and take a broader view than one topic and instead talk about some Taoist lessons that apply across all aspects of sales, and life too. Here are six Taoist sales lessons that make common sense. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things s

If It Fits They'll Buy It #490 Stop me if you've heard this one.  One day a lady was walking down the street and she noticed a dress in the shop window. Instantly she thought that it might be the perfect dress for the wedding she was attending that weekend. She immediately walked into a boutique and asked the sales lady “May I try on that cute dress in the window?” The sales lady replied; “Absolutely ma'am, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a dressing room?” This is master selling! The sales lady understood that what the buyer said, was not exactly what she wanted. Great sellers can read between the lines. But as in most sales, buyers often want to try a new product before buying. We see this all the time with freemium apps and 30-day money-back guarantee trials. This requires patience to give buyers the chance to "try it on" and that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what

Lead Gen Innovation Pearl Diver with Nick Lissette #489 Today on Sales Babble we meet Nick Lissette the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blackpearl Group. Black Pearl is the company that created our sponsor, Pearl Diver. Pearl Diver is the tool that allows you to see who's visiting your website, even if they never signup or connect with you.  Nick has over a decade of experience working with cloud-based services. He started with anti-spam software and now leverages his expertise to use big data technology to help sales organizations discover hot leads.  Today Nick and I talk about startups, technology, sales, and most importantly, lead generation.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, va

Less is More When Selling #488 Picture a stage where the actor is a sales professional and their words flow like a never-ending river of verbosity and theatrics! The seller wants but one thing - to present the product in its most complete and benefits-rich manner.  In the next act the seller, stands tall, basking in the spotlight. going on and on and on. Meanwhile, the buyer in the 12th seat of the 5th-row fidgets and readies to bolt for the door. This is not fiction but is often a consequence of the seller's enthusiasm for the pomp, pageant, and theatre of the sale. In this episode, we are reminded of the art of brevity. Today we speak not to impress but to inspire. For this grand spectacle of selling, it's the value that steals the show, and the buyer who becomes the true star.  Less is more.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their

Cold Calling Part Deux #487 Today Pat's taking a mulligan. After listening to last week's episode I believe I missed the mark. In many regards, cold calling looks like a pushy activity and as such seems unTaoist, if that's a word. How can that be? Last week I didn't do a good enough job explaining.  In this episode, I riff on the topic and explain how you can embrace wu-wei to simplify your cold-calling activities. Multiple quotes from the Tao Te Ching are shared. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop