An Open Letter to Sales Cynics

An open letter to Sales Cynics:

Dear Cynic-

Your attitude sucks.

You add no value to any conversation.

Stop kidding yourself and those around you that you’re just “calling it as you see it”.

Your experience and/or past accomplishments do not support you being a smart-ass; it only shows that you lack both as a sales professional.

Opposition to cynicism is not naivete. We’ve just learned that complaining about a problem is not the act of providing a solution.

The lack of success you experience is not because the system has failed you, or because those ahead have “cheated” in some way. It is because you suck!  It really is that simple.

Fortunately for you..and the rest of us there is hope. Oh, and this is your idea!

I know if you’re reading this blog you’re not a cynic. How could you be? You’re actually reading to stay on top of your craft. But, I’m sure you know one, five, or ten of those sales reps who, no matter what, always find something or someone to complain about.

Do you ever feel like you’re surrounded by cynics?

Anthony Innarino of The Sales Blog wrote a piece on how Cynicism Is a Recipe for Mediocrity, and I have to say that I completely agree. He shares that “To be exceptionally effective in sales, you have to believe. You have to believe that you have a greater ability to help your dream client than your competitors. You have to believe that your company is the better choice. Cynicism undermines your ability to believe. By undermining your belief, you can go through the motions of selling, but you won’t sell much.”

Naturally these cynics not only diminish their own belief and succumb to a mediocre career but they also begin to infect others. We are in a profession where the attitude in which you approach your day plays a make-or-break role.  Have a plan on how you will go about maintaining a positive attitude.

Surround yourself with successful people, or those who want to enjoy a higher level of professional success, daily. In the last four months I’ve purchased three books on maintaining a positive attitude. I’ve read two of them and will continue to read more. Attitude is one of those traits that few actually work on and end up leaving it to the whims of their emotions. Your attitude is like a muscle; the more you work it out the more it develops. Stop working it out and it diminishes. My recommendation is to actively work on attitude so that you can enjoy the success that few cynics do.

Here are a few quick tips to surmount the cynics:

• Distance yourself from them now.
• Read a positive article or a positive video on YouTube the beginning of each day.
• Buy one book on positive thinking and commit to reading it this month. ( I recommend: “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale or Yes! Attitude by Jeffrey Gitomer)
• Take on a mentor role with someone in your sales force. Don’t wait!

Have an awesome week!