Collection: Sales - #1 Zig Ziglar 'Master This, BEFORE Mastering Sales'
[Transcript]
INTERVIEWER 00:00
I'm here today talking with Zig Ziglar about the profession of sales. Zig, you've always championed the idea of salespeople. What do you think? The sales profession is such a good choice?
ZIG ZIGLAR 00:12
Easily, the first answer to that I'll give you is that you have freedom because you have the freedom to be your best self, you have freedom to run your own life, your own business, the freedom to impact the lives of other people.
And this is one of the things I will always emphasize, a salesperson must have the highest integrity of virtually any profession in the world because we are trained to persuade. And unethical salesman can persuade people to buy something that is overpriced or they've got no business buying, or don't need them whatever. But these are the salespeople that come and go, those with integrity who always look to the best interest of the person they're dealing with, are the ones who will build a long-term successful career in the world of sales.
INTERVIEWER 01:01
And let me ask you this, a lot of the times with the stereotypes out there. Why should somebody take pride in being just a salesperson?
ZIG ZIGLAR 01:11
Well, first of all, let me say, there's no such thing as, just a salesman.
There are salespeople who have really bought into the idea that they can make a difference and make a contribution to the person they're dealing with. You should never sell anything that you do not fervently believe is in the best interest of the prospect you're dealing with. These are short-term salespeople, they will move from one to another to another, and never really find the satisfaction.
But when you can honestly serve and find a product or a process that will enable them to better their lives. That will fulfill the thing that I've always believed in namely that you can have everything in life you want, if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want.
INTERVIEWER 01:59
I've heard that before. Let me ask you this, what would you advise somebody just starting in the profession of sales?
ZIG ZIGLAR 02:07
Number one, I would say to make certain you do your homework and find out for certain that you're representing a company that is ethical that they have products or goods or services that will benefit the other person.
And then if you can find an individual in that company that you can bond with, then you can share things with and they're willing to mentor you in some of the aspects of life. Now that general is done through the leadership, the manager, the owner or whatever.
But be careful of whom you associate because you pick up their habits and when you pick up the wrong habits, that's the problem, but when you're following somebody who's dealt ethically with all of his customers, you've got a champion in the making with yourself.
INTERVIEWER 02:54
Excellent.
Excellent. Let me ask you this also, if I were starting out in sales, what would be the advice you would give or some of the information that you would provide me that will allow me to create into a 20, 30, 40 years career as opposed to just, as you said earlier, step by step.
ZIG ZIGLAR 03:13
I would emphasize very strongly that you deal with people and products that benefit the other individual. It really is more than a cliche to say that you can have everything in life you want, if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want. So always deal from the top of the deck. Sell something that you believe in so much that you in most cases would buy it yourself.
Now, you can't always buy everything you sell. For example, if you're selling caskets, you might not want to buy one until the time comes, but you should have a belief in the product that says, I would invest my money in this for my family because I want them to have the best too. That's the reason I'm with this particular company.
INTERVIEWER 03:58
Excellent advice.
(Source: https://youtu.be/4xHNd_MNRJ0)
[YAPSS Takeaway]
"A salesperson must have the highest integrity of virtually any profession in the world." ~Zig Ziglar
Don't sell things that you won't buy yourself.
