Salespeople are disrespected in American society.
Salespeople are usually portrayed as con artists in movies and books.
For example, Michael Douglas played Gordon Gekko, an unscrupulous trader in Wall Street.
Richard Dreyfous and Danny Devito played shady aluminum siding salespeople in Tin Men.
Being a great salesperson isn’t about “pushing” products or services that people don’t need. It’s all about serving people by helping them make decisions that are good for them and matching them up with products and services that solve their problems or create positive experiences that improve their lives.
That means salespeople qualify prospective customers to assure their products and services are appropriate for them and educate prospective customers about the benefits they will receive after they own those products and services.
All of us need selling skills.
Parents sell their children on making good life choices.
Children sell their parents on giving them the toys, clothes, tools, and devices they want.
Employees sell their employers on raise their salaries and giving them promotions to provide more lucrative opportunities within the company.
Employers sell their employees on being productive, working together effectively and contributing as team members.
Salespeople play an essential role in any business, because with no sales, there would be no business. When a company makes sales profitably, it can survive and provide jobs, sponsor community activities and continue benefiting the community with its products and services.