SECRETS

of

CLOSING

the

RIM

Other books by Zig Ziglar:

See You at the Top

Dear Family

Steps to the Top

Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World

Top Performance

Courtship after Marriage

Ziglar on Sel ing

Over the Top

Something to Smile About

Zig Ziglar's Little Instruction Book

Success for Dummies

Confessions of a Happy Christian

Confessions of a Grieving Christian

Breaking Through to the Next Level

What I Learned on the Way to the Top

What I Learned on the Way to the Top

Something to Smile About

Something Else to Smile About

Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World

You Can Reach the Top

Life Lifters

Zig: The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar

SECRETS

of

CLOSING

the

SALE

Updated Edition

Zig Ziglar

To Bil Cranford

Who gave me my start in the world of sel ing and gently but forceful y pushed me to strive for excel ence and reach for new heights. He was my friend, my brother, my mentor, and my golfing buddy. He was a great guy and one more fine man.

fine man.

Contents

Preface 9

Introduction to the Updated Edition 11

Part 1 The Psychology of Closing

1. The "Household Executive" Saleslady 17

2. Making "King" Customer the Winner 27

3. Credibility: The Key to a Sales Career 39

4. Commonsense Sel ing 48

5. Voice Training to Close Sales 58

6. The Professional Sel s and Delivers 72

Part 2 The Heart of Your Sales Career

7. The Critical Step in Sel ing 83

8. The Big "E" in Sel ing 90

9. The Right Mental Attitude 103

10. Your Attitude toward You 108

11. Your Attitude toward Others 114

12. Your Attitude toward the Sales Profession 119

13. Building Physical "Reserves" in Sel ing 136

14. Building a Mental Reserve in Sel ing 144

15. Ya Gotta Have Love 154

Part 3 The Sales Professional

16. Learning and Using Professional Techniques 161

17. Characteristics of the Professional Salesperson 164

18. Here Is a Professional 177

19. Everybody Is a Salesperson and Everything Is Sel ing 192

Part 4 Imagination and Word Pictures 20. Imagination in Sel ing 213

21. Imagination Sel s and Closes Sales 227

22. Using Word Pictures to Sel 251

23. Picture Sel ing for Bigger, Permanent Sales 261

Part 5 The Nuts and Bolts of Sel ing

24. Objections-The Key to Closing the Sale 269

25. Objections Are Consistent-Objectors Aren't 278

26. The Salesman's Friend 286

27. Using Objections to Close the Sale 295

28. Reasons and Excuses for Buying 307

29. Using Questions to Close the Sale 313

30. For Direct Sales People 320

Part 6 The Keys in Closing

31. Four Ideas and the Keys to Sales Success 339

32. Sel ing and Courting Run Paral el Paths 350

33. The "Look and Listen" Close 365

34. Listen-Real y Listen 379

35. The Keys in Closing-Conclusion 387

36. The "Narrative" Close 402

Part 7 Technology and the Sales Professional

37. Technology 409

Thank You 419

Notes 422

Index of Closes 423

Preface

Over the past fifty years it has been my privilege to be in as many actual sales situations, sel ing goods, products, services, or job opportunities, as virtual y anyone who ever carried the title of salesperson. Additional y, it has been my privilege to share the platform with and learn from some of the greatest speakers and sales trainers our country has produced. Many of those men are gone now, but quite a few stil grace platforms around the country. I go back to the days of Elmer Wheeler, Charlie Cul en, Frank Bettger, Fred Herman, Charles Roth, Dick Gardner, J. Douglas Edwards, and Percy Whiting. The list includes Cavett Robert, Red Motley, Ken McFarland, Dan Bel us, Joe Batten, Charlie Jones, Hal Krause, Mike Frank, Ira Hayes, Heartsil Wilson, Judge Ziglar, Thom Norman, Bil Gove, John Hammond, Larry-Wilson-and the list goes on and on.

Over these fifty years I have been a pack rat. I have taken copious notes from many great trainers. In addition, I have clipped innumerable sales articles from newspapers and magazines, and have learned much by watching salespeople in action. My library includes books and manuals from the greatest writers and trainers of the last fifty years, and I have over a thousand hours of recordings from these and other speakers.

This background presents a rather unique problem. To be completely honest, I sometimes forget the source of my information. To the best of my ability, I have given credit in this book to each individual who has made a contribution via a speech, a personal conference, a book, or an article.

Many times, however, I have no idea who my benefactor is. Additional y, I recognize the possibility that in some instances I wil credit the wrong author or even claim originality because I learned a technique long ago and have used it so many times that I believe the technique or idea was original. In the event this has happened, I ask the author to forgive me. My objective is to be completely fair with everyone.

Your own personality, conviction, and credibility in the application of the principles and procedures in this book wil be the determining factors in your success as a salesperson, but this I promise: The procedures and techniques I describe have worked not only for me but for countless others as wel . Many of them, as I wil repeatedly emphasize throughout the book, need alteration or adaptation to fit your sales situation, so you should constantly ask yourself this

adaptation to fit your sales situation, so you should constantly ask yourself this question as you read the book: "How can I adapt this information to fit my product to my prospect?"

I urge you to become a student as you dig into Secrets of Closing the Sale. I'm going to be bold enough to suggest that it has taken me a lifetime to accumulate this information and several thousand hours to assemble and put the information into what I believe is its most effective form. With this in mind, I don't believe I overstate my case to point out that you probably are not going to be able to glean al the information in one reading.

Final y, I suggest that as you read this book you're going to realize that it is analogous to the fisherman's lure. Many sales books are written to catch the fisherman-namely, the salesperson-and not to help the fisherman catch the fish-meaning the customer. With that in mind, I emphasize that Secrets of Closing the Sale was written to help you-the fisherman-catch the fish and catch him in such a way that the fish (the customer) realizes he is in good hands-yours.

I firmly believe that if you buy the ideas and concepts covered in this book, as you apply the techniques and procedures, I wil SEE YOU AT THE

TOP-of the sales ladder!

Introduction

to the Updated Edition

When Secrets of Closing the Sale was published in 1984, I was convinced that it would be around a long time. Twenty years later I stil believe it wil be around a long time. The principles, procedures, and techniques are those that had stood the test of time long before 1984 and are stil standing the test of time. Integrity principles wil always be in vogue. In view of the recent corporate scandals in America, I believe the ethical salesperson of today who builds a reputation on integrity wil find these principles more valuable today than ever before.

This updated edition of Secrets of Closing the Sale contains a minimal number of changes. With the help of Michael Norton, who is gifted in explaining the practical application of sales technology, we have added the high-tech approach critical in today's sales world, but the rest (with needed updates) remains almost exactly as it was original y presented. I know these principles and procedures stil work, because I am frequently approached after seminars by people who say,

"Your book Secrets of Closing the Sale has revolutionized my career." One young man pointed out that his closing percentage had gone from 16 percent to over 60 percent. That's exciting! As you devour these pages, making them part of your repertoire, I believe you, too, wil experience some exciting results.

It's my conviction that of al the endeavors we can fol ow in life, outside the ministry itself, professional sales requires the highest degree of integrity.

Here's why: We are trained to persuade, and an unethical salesperson (who is in reality a con artist) is capable of persuading people to buy overpriced merchandise that they should not be buying at al .

Our philosophy that you can have everything in life you want if you wil just help enough other people get what they want is even truer today than it was when the book was original y published. The objective of every sale is to make certain the customer gets fair value, and if he gets more than fair value, not only do you have the sale but you've built a customer who wil , in turn, help you build other customers.

There are many instances in this book in which you wil read of people who walked away from a sale because they knew it was not in the best interests of the

walked away from a sale because they knew it was not in the best interests of the customer to buy. With this in mind, sel ing is much like many sporting events.

The championship tennis player hits his shot in a way that puts him in position to hit the next shot even more effectively. The professional golfer does the same thing, as does the pool player. Every salesperson should think in terms of "What wil be the result of this sale? Am I building a relationship, and hence a customer, or am I just making a few bucks at the expense of someone else?" I can assure you the last choice is a shortcut to oblivion in the world of sel ing.

To be candid, I feel very protective of this profession. Because of it, I have traveled the world over and experienced a high standard of quality, wel -

balanced living that was beyond my wildest imagination when I was growing up in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Because my gratitude is so great, I do what I can to promote integrity and professionalism in sel ing.

A firm conviction that what you're sel ing benefits the prospect is the first test of integrity. If you do not believe in your product or service enough to offer it to your own family and friends, then you should question the value of what you are sel ing. As an example, I spent fifteen years in direct sales, sel ing heavy-duty waterless cookware. It has been nearly forty years since I sold my last set; however, my belief in that product was and is so strong that I was thril ed when my best friend, Bernie Lofchick, saw to it that as my children married, the first thing they had for their homes was a set of heavy-duty waterless stainless-steel cookware. When my oldest granddaughter married, my friend Dave Hurley, I'm happy to say, continued the tradition by giving her a set of stainless-steel cookware.

As I stated in the preface, I am deeply indebted to the countless people who helped me early in my career. Some of the real giants were wil ing to share. I read their books, listened to their tapes, and became personal y acquainted with a number of them. My gratitude to them is deep and long-lasting.

As you read this book, I encourage you to understand that the principles are solid, but many wil require some personalization and adaptation to fit your specific product and your prospect's needs. Experience, common sense, and a studious perusal of the methods and processes contained in this book wil be very helpful. I encourage you to be that constant student, to understand that you wil not even begin to get the ful gist of this book with one reading. You should keep a notebook handy as you read, because there wil be key words and points that

a notebook handy as you read, because there wil be key words and points that wil jump to the surface. Mark the book. It's not something you want to preserve; it's something you want to use and "wear out" with use. I believe that as you fol ow the processes and put your heart deeply into this book, you wil find it wil have a lifelong impact on your sales career as wel as your everyday life, because al of life is, in reality, sel ing, and al of us sel every day of our lives.

Final y, I encourage you always to remember that with the exception of smal purchase items like pens, neckties, staplers, file folders, etc., the sale is not complete until the order is signed, the merchandise is delivered and paid for, and the customer is happy. That's career-building sel ing.

How to Use This Book. The title of this book clearly indicates that it is a book on sel ing for salespeople. The first chapter even more clearly demonstrates that it is a book on persuasion and wil be extremely helpful to anyone who has to persuade others to take action of any kind (mothers, teachers, dentists, husbands, ministers, coaches, law enforcement people, salesmen-anyone).

In order to use this book most effectively, you need to do exactly what the Redhead did to me.' You need to take my words and the product I'm talking about and translate them into your own specific sales situation. This way you have the best of both our worlds-the information I've managed to accumulate from personal experience and considerable research, combined with the knowledge you have acquired that is specifical y applicable to your life, your product, your prospects, and your sales situation.

You need-no, you must have-a pen and a notepad in order to get the maximum benefit from this book. It's easy reading because it contains so many examples, il ustrations, and stories. It is not a workbook, but it is a working-book, designed to get you involved in a learning-and not just a reading-process.

Since Secrets is written in narrative style, complete with considerable dialogue and humor, the reading wil be easy and pleasant. In addition, this manuscript contains over 700 questions and wel over 250 sales procedures, techniques, and closes wrapped up in nearly 100 stories, analogies, and anecdotes.

The Book You Never Finish Reading. The first time you read Secrets, I encourage you to move through the book quickly, with your pen in hand, underlining or highlighting the things that real y "grab" you. Don't analyze, but simply read as quickly as you can so you wil get the complete message and the overal view of the book.

overal view of the book.

For your second reading, you're going to need a notepad that is approximately the same size as the book. That wil make it easier to keep handy, even if you are on the road. I encourage you to title your notebook the same as I have titled this book, except add your name to the front. Then it becomes Your Secrets of Closing the Sale.

On the second reading, you wil want to stop and commit to writing the ideas generated by Secrets that you can specifical y use in your own sales career or personal life. The second reading of this book wil be lengthy and involved. Your objective is not to see how quickly you can get through the book but what you can get out of the book.

The third reading wil give you an even broader perspective of the book, and you wil add more pages and ideas to your own companion notebook.

Again, this reading wil take considerable time to complete; but remember, you are investing time, not spending it. Incidental y, I especial y encourage you to read this book early in the morning, late at night, and on weekends. Do not take the day off from your sel ing to read! (The book wil stick around-the prospect might not!)

The fourth reading wil make you even more aware of the more than 700

questions in Secrets. As I wrote Secrets-the dialogue and procedures frequently reflecting my own experience in sel ing-the questions came quite natural y. As I reflected on the manuscript, it was obvious to me that the question approach to sel ing is a way of life for me. One other advantage in reading the book several times is that this procedure, without your even being aware of it, wil become an integral part of you. Your effectiveness wil be greatly enhanced.

Even after the fourth reading, you wil want to keep Secrets handy as a reference.

Many of the questions, procedures, techniques, and closes wil need to be read repeatedly so you can commit them to memory and make them an integral part of your life.

PART 1

The Psychology of Closing

OBJECTIVES

To "sel " the importance of the credibility of the salesperson.

To "sel " and teach the importance of commonsense psychology in the sales process.

To "sel " you on why you must learn to use your voice in the sales process.

To familiarize you with the concept that sales training alone won't make a salesperson, but it wil make a salesperson more effective.

To introduce you to a real sales pro and a series of professional sales techniques.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "Snooker" Close

The "Ownership" Close

The "Embarrassment" Close

The "1902" Close

The "Affordable" Close

The "Persuasion" Close

The "Want It" Close

The "Bride" Close

The "Alternate of Choice" Close

The "Alternate of Choice" Close

The "Now or Never" Close

The "Next One" Close

The "Fair Enough" Close

The "New Decision" Close

The "Voice Inflection" Close

The "Fear of Loss" Close

The "Cost" Close

The "Quality" Close

The "Reverse" Close

The "Shame" Close

The "Extra" Close

The "Add On" Close

The "Gloomy Gus" Close

1

The "Household Executive"

Saleslady

How Much Should We Invest? We moved to Dal as in 1968 and I immediately started teaching a class in sales and motivation from nine in the morning until nine in the evening, Monday through Saturday. I was as busy as I've ever been in my life. But it was also house-buying time because we obviously couldn't live in a motel. The Redhead and I talked about a house in considerable detail until we final y arrived at a "reasonable" figure we would be wil ing to invest in a home. I know the figure was "reasonable" because she assured me it was "reasonable."

know the figure was "reasonable" because she assured me it was "reasonable."

(Personal y, I felt the price bore a striking resemblance to the foreignaid bil for the world!)

After we'd arrived at the exact amount we were going to invest in a home, she said, "Honey, suppose we find the dream house. I mean, exactly like we want.

How much more can we invest?" That brought on a lot more talk. So we talked and we talked and we talked and final y arrived at a figure of an additional twenty thousand dol ars. Now in this day and age, when you talk about an additional twenty thousand dol ars, you're talking about building a nice carport or a patio if it isn't too big and elaborate. But in 1968, twenty thousand dol ars would build an additional two thousand square feet of quality construction. Yes, in 1968 things were quite different.

So house-hunting that Redhead went, and I mean she real y lookedat two houses.

When she walked into that second one, that ended al her house-hunting. She had found what she wanted.

How Much Does It Cost?

That night when I got back to the motel room, there she sat on the edge of the king-size bed. Even though she was just sitting there, the bed was vibrating! I've never seen her so excited. She jumped up and said, "Honey, I have found our dream home. It's absolutely gorgeous! Four beautiful bedrooms on a big lot, plenty of room in the backyard for you to build that arrow-shaped swimming pool you've been talking about, walk-in closets in every room, and four bathrooms!"

Interrupting her to squeeze in a question, I said, "Sweetheart, hold the phone!

How much does that house cost?" Sugar Baby: "Honey, you'l have to see it to believe it, but you're going to love it because the den is monstrous and it has exposed beams and a cathedral ceiling. The garage is so big we wil have room for the two cars and al our tools. Best of al , honey, there's an eleven-by-eleven-foot spot for you to build that little office where you can do the writing you've been talking about. And, honey, the master bedroom is so big we're going to have to get a riding vacuum cleaner! I'l tel you, that is soooooome house!"

Zig (interrupting her again): "Sweetheart, how much does that house cost?" She told me. It was eighteen thousand dol ars more than the maximum, which was already twenty thousand dol ars more than we had any business investing! Zig:

"Sweetheart, there is no way we can buy a house like that!" Sugar Baby: "Wel ,

"Sweetheart, there is no way we can buy a house like that!" Sugar Baby: "Wel , honey, I know that, but don't worry about it. You know we don't know a thing about real estate in Dal as, so I invited the builder to take us to the property after your class tomorrow night so we can both look at it and get a benchmark on real estate in this area."

Don't Let the Prospect Fool You

Zig: "Wel , I'l be glad to look, but I'l guarantee you that's as far as it's going to go." Sugar Baby: "I know that, so don't worry about it."

When we pul ed into the driveway the next evening, I knew I had a problem.

When we walked in the front door, I knew I was in bad trouble! The house was beautiful and was laid out precisely as I would have laid it out, had I been an architect. I instantly wanted that house-badly-but what we want and what we can get are sometimes worlds apart.

When I ful y realized the situation I was in, as a protective measure I started to treat my Redhead and the builder the same way your prospects have been treating you al of your sales career and wil continue to treat you as long as you're in the world of sel ing.

Even though I was interested, even excited about that house, I acted as if l had no interest whatsoever. The reason is simple. I was scared to death that between her and that builder they were going to get me to do something I already wanted to do, was afraid I was going to do, and knew I had no business doing. I'm talking about buying a house which I was absolutely convinced was more expensive than we could handle. To protect myself from myself, I acted as if I had no interest.

Many times your very best prospect wil almost adamantly refuse an appointment because he doesn't want to "waste your time or his time." He is often the best prospect for the very simple reason that he knows he either wants or needs-or both-the product, goods, or services you are sel ing.2

However, at this particular time he doesn't feel he is in a position to take action; therefore, he doesn't want to be tempted by viewing the demonstration or listening to your presentation. He gives you the excuse that he doesn't want to waste his time or yours by looking at something he knows he can't buy.

The "Snooker" Close

Don't let him "snooker" you out of position. There is a lot of difference between a prospect's saying, "I'm not interested," and "I real y am interested but don't feel I can get it right now and therefore don't want to watch a presentation at this particular moment." Many times the prospect is in identical y the same position I was in as I approached the front door of the house that the Redhead was excited about.

Now I would never accuse my Redhead of secretly taking drama lessons, but based on what happened next, I strongly suspect that she had. As we stepped up to the front door, she turned around and made huge sweeping motions with her arms and declared the yard perfect for the future construction of the circular driveway I had always wanted. As we walked inside, there was a nice chandelier in the entrance hal of the home. The Redhead didn't say a word, but she did come to a dead stop. It couldn't have been for more than a second. She turned slightly sideways, looked up, grinned, and walked on. That's al she needed to do.

Message delivered-message received.

As we walked into the den, with mounting enthusiasm she said, "Look at the size of this den, honey, and aren't those exposed beams gorgeous?"

Without waiting for an answer she continued, "And just look at your fireplace with all those bookshelves around it for your books [all of a sudden everything gets to be mine! That's good psychology!]. I can just see you watching the Cowboys whip up on somebody on Sunday afternoon out of one eye while watching your fire out of the other one."

Without pausing for breath she said, "Look back here," as she took off in a dead run back to the master bedroom. "Just look at the size of it, honey.

There's plenty of room for the king-size bed, and we could put our two chairs and table over here. It's perfect for us, because you know how we like to get up in the morning and have our coffee and quiet time together. And, honey, just look in your closet. Why, even as messy as you are there's plenty of room for everything."

Barely pausing for a breath, she said, "Look out here," as she opened the back door and pointed to the big backyard. "Plenty of room for your arrow-shaped swimming pool. We can put the point of the arrow in the direction of the garage and the diving board on the other end will still be ten

feet from the neighbor's lot."

As she stepped off the distance in the direction of the garage, she opened the door and said, "Just look. Plenty of room for the two cars, and here's that eleven-by-eleven-foot space for you to build your office you've planned for so long." As we moved back into the house, she said, "Look at this bedroom.

Suzie will be gone from home in a couple of years and we'll have that guest bedroom we've always wanted."

When the tour was finally over, she squeezed my hand, looked me in the eye, and asked, "How do you feel about it, honey?"

The "Embarrassment" Close

Question: What could I say? Obviously I couldn't say, "I don't like it," because that would not have been true. So I said, "Sweetheart, I like it. There's no question about it; it's a beautiful home, but you know perfectly good and wel we can't afford a house like this."

Did this discourage her or dampen her enthusiasm? Not in the least. She looked at me, and with a twinkle in those beautiful, loving eyes, she said,

"Honey, I know that, but I just wanted you to see something real y nice-[pause].

Now we'l go look at something cheap." (Now come on, you don't real y think she would try to embarrass me into buying a beautiful home, do you?) Not much else was said about the house that evening. We went back to the motel and to bed. I got up the next morning and was in the bathroom brushing my teeth (I know you'l agree that when you've got a mouthful of toothbrush, you're handicapped, at least from a talking point of view) when she walked in and said,

"How long are we going to live in Dal as?"

"Wrmwrmwrmmrr years," I replied, toothbrush stil in mouth.

She couldn't understand my garbled reply, so she asked again, "How long?"

This time I removed my toothbrush and replied, "A hundred years. I'm forty-two.

I'm going to live to be a hundred and forty-two, so that leaves a hundred." Sugar Baby: "No, I mean real y." Zig: "I do, too."

She's "Closing" In on Me Sugar Baby: "Honey, do you think we'l be here thirty years?" Zig: "I'l guarantee it! I love Dal as, it's central y located for my travels, I hate to move-we'l be here at least thirty years, but why do you ask about thirty years?"

Sugar Baby: "Honey, if we live here just thirty years, how much does that eighteen thousand dol ars figure out per year?" (She forgets-or ignores-the original price of the house. She forgets about the twenty thousand too much I felt our original commitment to a house had been. She forgets about the interest, insurance, and taxes.)

Zig: "Eighteen thousand dol ars for thirty years would be six hundred dol ars per year." Sugar Baby: "How much is that a month?" Zig: "That would be fifty dol ars a month." Sugar Baby: "How much is that a day?" Zig: "Now come on, sweetheart, your arithmetic is just as good as mine. It comes to about a dol ar and seventy cents a day, but why do you ask al these questions?" Sugar Baby:

"Honey, could I ask you one more question?"

Somehow I sensed as she stood there, al five feet, one and a half inches of her, with a twinkle in her eye and a "Look out, honey" grin on her face, that I was in the process of being had. But there was nothing I could do about it.

Zig: "Why, sure." Sugar Baby: "Honey, would you give another dol ar and seventy cents a day to have a happy wife-instead of `just' a wife?"

Guess where we live?

The story demonstrates a lot of points, techniques, and psychology. First, I knew what that Redhead was doing to me, but there was nothing I could do about it short of being obnoxious. Like the vast majority of the people you wil be dealing with in a sales situation, I wasn't about to treat that Redhead in any such way.

Real y good technique, in the hands of a good person (you can't be one kind of person and another kind of salesperson), is almost irresistible.

Translate to Your Situation

The "1902" Close

I tel this story-which is a true story-because I want you to do a lot of things.

First, I want you to translate this story to your specific situation. I cal the

First, I want you to translate this story to your specific situation. I cal the procedure the Redhead used on me the "1902" Close, because in 1902 a man named Frederick Sheldon described this close in his book. The Redhead had learned that close by sitting in on some of my sales training classes. When she heard that "1902" Close, she took it and applied it directly to her own situation and need.

Don't "Hear" Everything

The second lesson in the story is the fact that for some weird reason the Redhead developed a hearing problem which 1 had never noticed before.

I kept saying, "Too much money, can't afford it, not interested, can't afford it, not interested." To this day I don't think she heard a word I said. She had already decided she wanted that house and she wasn't going to listen to any negative talk about not getting it. I believe most salespeople need to be a little hard of-hearing when the prospect says he's not interested.

Think about it this way. When the prospect says, "Too high," or "Not interested,"

he is merely saying or implying that he is not going to give you his

"big" stack of money for your "little" stack of benefits. In those cases, be like my Redhead and become a little "hard of hearing."

Another factor which paral els this line of thinking is the fact that not once did that Redhead become defensive, argumentative, or antagonistic. Al the way through the presentation she was lovingly and enthusiastical y optimistic that she was going to make the sale. She never argued when I kept talking about money, and that's good, because arguments often create antagonisms and it's difficult to antagonize and positively influence at the same time.

The "Affordable" Close

Number three. My Redhead is an optimist and knows that I am also an optimist.

She was confident I could make a bigger payment by getting another speaking engagement or making another sale. You, too, need to be optimistic that your prospect can handle the purchase. It is an absolute fact that the salesman's expectancy has a direct bearing on the prospect's decision in many, many cases.

Expect a sale on every interview. (More on this later.) Number four. She asked me a lot of questions, and those questions led me to the

Number four. She asked me a lot of questions, and those questions led me to the obvious decision that not only could we get the house but we should get it. You can sel more by asking than tel ing. That's the Socratic (after Socrates) method, and it's used by doctors, lawyers, accountants, counselors, ministers, detectives, and successful people from al walks of life.

Her Objective Was Clear

Number five. The Redhead clearly understood that she needed to make an eighteen-thousand-dol ar sale. Before she went house-hunting she had already

"sold" the price we could pay. She had even "sold" the idea of going an additional twenty thousand dol ars. As a super saleslady she knew there was zero need to discuss what had already been decided.

The issue was clear. She had to make an eighteen-thousand-dol ar sale. If you are in real estate and the prospect tel s you he can go $200,000 for a house, then as a practical matter you have just gotten an order for $200,000. Your "sel ing"

takes place only in the sense that you have to "sel " the prospect on a particular house in a particular location, and then you have to "sel " the owner on accepting your buyer's offer, which is almost always lower than the asking price.

Your major sel ing takes place when you find what the buyer wants and needs, but at a price tag of $250,000 instead of the $200,000 which your prospect says is his maximum price. If you clearly understand that you need to make a $50,000

sale and not a $250,000 sale, your task wil be much easier. Actual y, your prospect "bought" $200,000, and you had little or nothing to do with it. His needs made the purchase from you or someone else mandatory.

The same thinking needs to be applied to any product on the market. If your prospect wants to invest X dol ars but his needs come to X -plus dol ars, then your real sale is the amount beyond what the prospect had already committed, in his own mind, to invest.

As I say, the Redhead had a sales job now of sel ing just the eighteen thousand dol ars. She knew that if we talked about the eighteen thousand dol ars plus the twenty thousand dol ars plus the original price plus the taxes, insurance, and interest, I would get financial indigestion. With this in mind, she took the extra amount, the eighteen thousand dol ars, and broke it into such smal units that it wouldn't even require a financial Pepto-Bismol. The late sales trainer J. Douglas Edwards cal ed this the "reduction to the ridiculous."

She knew that within reason I would get her just about anything she real y wanted, and she also knew that I was optimistical y confident I could work harder, sel more, or secure another speaking engagement to pay for the house.

Final y, the Redhead had worked with our budget long enough to know that regardless of how often you're paid or how you're paid, you spend money on a daily basis in order to live. She simply broke it down on a per-day basis, using figures she knew I could understand and felt confident I could handle. She did not let the why we should buy serve as a stumbling block to the how we could buy it. Point: Break the price down into smal amounts so your prospects can afford it. Make it easy for them to buy.

Know Something about Your Prospects

Number six, you cannot get to know al of your prospects as wel as the Redhead knew hers, but you should get as much advance informa tion as is humanly possible. She also knew a great deal about what I wanted. She knew, for example, that as a child one day in a fit of anger I had said I was going to build a swimming pool, a big one. Here are the circumstances.

As a boy in Yazoo City, Mississippi, I was invited one day to go swimming with a buddy at the country club, which had the only swimming pool in town. I rode my bicycle to the club on that hot summer day, and since I had my bathing suit on I was ready to swim. My buddy didn't show. That was more temptation than I could deal with, so into the pool I went. One of the club members was walking by the pool as he was playing a round of golf.

He saw me and knew I wasn't a member, so he promptly threw me out of the pool. He "invited" me to come down to his office the next day and talk about it.

I'd never been so frightened in my life. I was afraid to go and more afraid not to go. I honestly thought I was gong to go to jail for my "crime."

He was pretty hard on me. As a matter of fact, I left his office in tears. That day I made a strong statement as children wil sometimes do. I declared then and there,

"One of these days I'm going to build a swimming pool bigger than the one they've got at the country club in Yazoo City, Mississippi."

I said this in a moment of anger and I didn't real y believe it. Later on in life, however, when things started happening to me in a beautiful way and my career took off, the dream was reborn, and in 1969 we built a swimming pool in our backyard which is exactly one foot longer than that old original pool at the

backyard which is exactly one foot longer than that old original pool at the country club in Yazoo City.

What I'm suggesting is basic. Learn as much as you can about your prospect and capitalize on that information. Learn how to use voice inflections, which we wil thoroughly cover throughout Secrets. Break the price into smal segments.

Optimistical y sel , and be hard of hearing. Ask questions to identify the problem and lead the prospect to the decision. Find out what he needs to solve his problem, and show him how he can solve his problem with your product.

Three Things the House Didn't Have

The seventh lesson in the sales story is this. When we moved from Columbia, South Carolina, to Dal as, one of the things I shared with the Redhead was the fact that when we bought our next house she could make most of the choices as far as style, location, materials, and the "little extras" which would personalize

"our" home. However, I did want to have three things in that house and she could have everything else. First of al , I wanted that arrow-shaped swimming pool which I've mentioned already. Second, I wanted a smal office so I could write the book I had been talking about but doing nothing about. And third, I wanted a circle drive.

When we bought our house it had a lot of beautiful features, but there were three things the house did not have. Now, my reading friend, you know what three things were missing. However, the "saleslady," that Redhead, careful y pointed out where we could build a swimming pool, exactly where the office was going to be built, and the exact path for the circle drive.

This truly is a major point. Many times a prospect wil ask you for something very specific. Now if you have exactly what he wants, then you should fil that bil . But please remember that many people do not know what they want because they do not know what is available. In short, if you cannot fil the bil exactly, do not assume they are so adamant they would not even consider anything else.

From time to time, al of us have gone shopping for a specific item, couldn't find it, and ended up buying something else which we real y enjoy much more. Just because the house did not contain those items I wanted did not eliminate the house as a good one to buy. The Redhead simply pointed out that we could add those things later and we could build them exactly like we wanted them and not how some builder might have built them. This real y translates into using your imagination to help the prospect get what he wants. Remember: You can have

imagination to help the prospect get what he wants. Remember: You can have everything in life you want if you wil just help enough other people get what they want.

z

Making "King" Customer

the Winner

Hold the Phone! STOP: Don't read another word unless you have that pen I discussed at the beginning. Throughout Secrets you and I are going to be involved in a learning-motivational experience that wil enable you to sel more of whatever you sel . You need that pen from "hel o" to "good-bye,"

because you wil need to circle, underline, mark, and make notes on virtual y every page of this book, as wel as in the notebook you need for the second reading. Secrets of Closing the Sale is an easy, fun-to-read book, but my major objective as the author is not to inform or to entertain but to get you heavily involved in a growth-and-action process that wil be stimulating and financial y rewarding.

If you have that pen handy, we'l get started because you are ready to grow. If you don't have the pen ready to use, I need to ask you a question. Did you buy the book because you were curious, knew the author, or were looking for a miracle? Or because you wanted to further your career by effectively making more sales or persuading others to take specific action?

If it was the latter-and I surely hope it was-you're in luck, because this book contains proven methods and techniques which have worked for others and wil work for you if you get involved in the learning and doing process. That's a big if, but it wil play the key role in whether you write "sold" or

"missed" on many of your future interviews.

It's Not Easy

It takes work to become a professional salesperson or to substantial y improve your closing percentage while building customers instead of just making sales.

Work-a lot of work-is required if you are going to ful y develop your sales potential.

This goes far beyond just reading the script, but to put your mind at least partial y at ease, let me assure you that one trip through these pages wil definitely have considerable value. You wil pick up thoughts, ideas, and feelings which wil reinforce many things you already feel and believe but have not articulated. You wil learn power phrases and specific words which wil make what you are already using even more effective. You wil be motivated to do more and use more of what you already have, and your sales wil probably improve before you finish the first reading. You wil pick up new psychological insights which wil help you to understand why prospects "respond" or "react" as they do to certain techniques and procedures.

This is especial y important, because if you know how to do something-and then do it-you wil always have a job. But if you know why it is done, you wil be the boss or, in this case, the sales leader.

Of even more importance, you wil pick up attitudes and feelings about sel ing and the sales profession which wil make an immediate difference in your productivity and your long-term career in the most exciting profession (my opinion and that of most truly successful salespeople) in America.

Convince-Then Persuade

Perhaps the most frustrating experience a salesperson has is to gain agreement from the customer that yes, the product is good; yes, it wil save money; yes, he does need it; yes, he would like to have it; yes, he real y could afford the payments; but no, he is not going to buy. Many times this indicates that the prospect has been convinced of the merits-or at least appears to be convinced and "sold"-but he has not been persuaded to take action.

Aristotle is considered one of the most bril iant thinkers of al time, but he had one belief which was completely in error. He believed if two different weights of the same material were dropped from the same height, they would fal at different rates of speed. This belief was taught at the University of Pisa. Years later Galileo entered the picture, chal enged this theory, and started saying the

Galileo entered the picture, chal enged this theory, and started saying the opposite. The other professors and students were astonished that Galileo would dare refute what the great Aristotle had taught. They chal enged him to prove his position.

Galileo did so by going to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa with two different weights of the same material. He dropped them together and they hit the ground at precisely the same time. He convinced the students and professors beyond any doubt that he was right and Aristotle was wrong.

But guess what they kept teaching at the University of Pisa?

You're right. They continued to teach Aristotle's theory. Galileo had convinced them but he had not persuaded them. The questions are: (a) How do you persuade people? and (b) What is persuasion? The answers are: (a) You don't

"tel " them, you "ask" them; and (b) persuasion derives from the French, "to give good advice in advance." In the fol owing example I wil specifical y demonstrate the question-asking technique. Throughout Secrets we explore and demonstrate the role the sales professional plays in the process of becoming a "counselor" or assistant buyer who truly gives "good advice in advance." In the process of touching al the sales bases, as I indicated earlier, you wil encounter over 700

questions. Now, the example.

These questions are ridiculously simple-but it is critical that you answer them because this will clarify your thinking and set the tone for the entire book. What you answer will bear directly on your attitude and hence your success as a salesperson. Please use that pen, which you now have in your hand, and answer these simple questions one at a time: Chances are excellent you answered yes to all of these questions. What you're really saying is you honestly feel that the more problems you solve, the more profit you deserve. That's the way it should be.

I think it would be safe to say your answer to that last question is no.

If you answered yes, and in most cases you probably did, then the next question is, who was the biggest winner, you or the customer? Now if the customer is the biggest winner, who ought to say thank you to whom at the conclusion of the transaction?

Chances are fairly good that you spent all or most of your profit or commission shortly after you made the sale (if not before).

Chances are also excellent that your prospect or customer used and benefited from what you sold him for weeks, months, or maybe even years.

If you are selling a legitimate product that solves a problem and you sell it at a fair price, the customer makes the best deal.

(This is one of the most important and profound issues I will explore in Secrets. Your answer reveals everything about where your heart and interests lie in the world of selling.)

If, in your heart, you really feel the sales process is something you do to the prospect, then you are a manipulator. The dictionary defines manipulate:

"to control the action of, by management; also, to manage artfully or fraudulently." Manipulation: "skillful or dexterous management, sometimes for purpose of fraud; state of being manipulated." I'll be the first to admit that manipulators make sales, but in my fifty plus years in the profession I have never known even one manipulator who was successful in the profession.

(As you read Secrets you will discover my definition of success.) If, in your heart, you feel the sales process is something you do for the prospect, then this book will represent a significant addition to your sales library. Your benefits will be considerable because you are truly interested in benefiting others. - - -- - - - - -- - -

The world of selling is often the exact opposite of the world of athletics. I fought in the ring for two years. As a matter of fact, the only reason I quit was my hands-the referee kept stepping on them! One of the first things the coach taught me when I got into the ring was, "Zig, find the opponent's

weakness and exploit it; find out where his defenses are weak and capitalize on them; take advantage of him." In football, the quarterback is told to probe, to find out where the other team is weak and exploit that weakness.

In athletic competition you look for the opponent's weakness so you can exploit it.

In the world of selling you look for the opponent's (prospect's) weakness (need) so you can strengthen it by selling him your goods or services. Yes, the sales process is something we do for the prospect and not to the prospect. Conclusion: If you are truly professional, you will seek every legitimate means for persuading the prospect to take action for his or her benefit.

The Winner and Still Champion-"King" Customer I used the preceding series of questions to establish in your mind that the customer real y is the one who benefits the most. (I'm obviously assuming the product is legitimate, is fairly priced, and wil perform as expected.) Now let's reverse that process and assume that, instead of asking you those questions, I had simply said to you, "Let's face it, my sel ing friend. As everybody knows, the customer is the big winner." Many of you would have agreed, but a high percentage of you would have thought facetiously, Yeah, they are the big winners, al right, but then I didn't do too badly myself? You would probably have this thought with a satisfied and mildly sarcastic chuckle under your breath.

The method I used, however, is simple and clear because I did not attempt to "tel

" or "sel " you anything. If I had, you might have resisted. By my asking you questions, there's no way you can get unhappy with me about the answers you give to those questions.

Now let's translate this to your situation with your customers. When you ask or use this particular procedure, the customer is actual y persuading himself. There is no resentment and therefore the chance of his taking action-which is your objective-is much higher. Use the question technique. It works.

Here's Why They Won't-or Don't-Buy

There are five basic reasons people wil not buy from you. These are: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, and no trust. Since any "reason" or

"excuse" for not buying wil cost you a sale-and wil cost the prospect the benefits

"excuse" for not buying wil cost you a sale-and wil cost the prospect the benefits he would accrue from the purchase-the missed sale is a loss for both buyer and sel er.

Now because a missed sale is expensive to both buyer and sel er, let's look careful y at each reason a prospect does not buy from you. By identifying and then effectively dealing with each of them, your sales effectiveness, and hence your service to your prospects, wil increase. This translates into more profit for you because it means benefits to more people.

One of the five reasons prospects wil not buy from you is they do not feel they need what you are sel ing.

If everybody belonged to the old, old, old school of thought which says, "We should buy only what we need," then you and al other salespeople would be in serious trouble. I say this because most people have considerably more of everything than they "need." (How many clothes, how much floor space, how much car, how many TVs, how much food do you need?) Fortunately for us, and in most cases for the prospect, we buy what we want or desire. I deal with desire or lack of it as the fourth reason the prospect wil not buy from you.

Now let's get back to the question of need and what it real y means when the prospect says no. In many cases, if not most, the prospect says no because he doesn't know enough to say yes. More on this later.

The second reason most people do not buy is they don't have any money (and there are people who real y don't have any-or enough-money). You can use al the techniques in the world and you stil are not going to manufacture the money itself. Having made that observation, let me now state that I do not want to disil usion anyone, especial y if you are new in the world of sel ing. When it comes to money, some people wil actual y lie to you when they say they don't have any-or enough-to buy what you are sel ing. (I'l bet you have a suspicion you've already met some of those folks.) The "Want It" Close This little story verifies that point. Many years ago, when I first entered the world of sel ing, I was cal ing on a Funderburk family in Lancaster County, South Carolina. They raised chickens and sold eggs. I demonstrated a set of cookware for them and several of their friends. It was a complete demonstration and, since it was in their home, I had a chance to look through their cabinets and see the amount of cookware they did not have.

Their need for a good set of cookware was obvious. I tried for two solid hours to make the sale but never came close. Mrs. Funderburk kept saying,

"No money, too expensive, can't afford it!" She sounded like a broken record!

Then somehow, somewhere, somebody said something about fine china. I don't know if it was Mrs. Funderburk or me. At the mention of fine china, Mrs.

Funderburk's eyes lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree and the fol owing dialogue took place.

Mrs. Funderburk: "Do you have fine china?" Zig (smiling): "We just happen to have the finest china in the whole world!" (At least that's the way I saw it!) Mrs.

Funderburk: "Do you have any with you?" Zig (getting up to make a mad dash to the car): "You're in luck!"

A few minutes later I was leaving the Funderburk home with an order for china which involved substantial y more dol ars than the cookware which I had been trying to sel . Actual y, no "sel ing" was involved. It was just a question of choosing the china pattern she preferred and working out the financial arrangements.

Question: If she bought the china which cost more than the cookware which was

"too expensive" and which she "couldn't afford," was she lying when she said she didn't have the money? Interesting question, isn't it? Actual y, the answer is yes, she was lying-and I'm one of those purists who believes that a lie is a lie is a lie.

However, the purpose of this book is to help you persuade more people to take action in their own best interests, so let's move over to the customer's side of the table where we can think her thoughts, feel her feelings, and become an assistant buyer. (This is important whether you sel china, cars, computers, or anything else.)

When Mrs. Funderburk was saying she had no money and couldn't afford the cookware, she was completing the sentence to herself in this manner:

"I don't have any money for that cookware because I don't ivant the set of cookware." Thus she rationalized that she was actual y "tel ing the truth,"

even though she was tel ing part of it so quietly no one else could hear it!

The key in situations like this is probing to uncover the real reason she was not buying the cookware. In this case the reason for not buying was no desire for ownership and not a shortage of money. I deal with this probing technique throughout this book. Mrs. Funderburk bought the china because (1) she real y wanted it; (2) she trusted me as a person; and (3) I was courteously persistent in my role as probing assistant buyer and, in the process, she revealed her desire to own fine china and not the cookware.

People Buy What They Want

The minute she saw that beautiful china, she said (to herself), I've got money for that set of china because I want that set of china. Realistical y, she desperately needed the cookware and would have used it daily for life. She probably used that china only a few times each year, if that often, BUT

SHE WANTED THAT CHINA. Critical sales point:

People buy what they want when they want it more than they want the money it costs.

Let me sum it up as we explore the best way to build a sales career. People are going to buy, in most cases, what they real y want-not necessarily what they need. It is your opportunity and responsibility to sel the legitimate benefits of your goods and services in a legitimate manner so your prospect wil want to buy from you, again and again.

It's Possible to Back Up-and Go Forward

The third reason a lot of people don't buy is this: They're just not in a hurry. It doesn't matter to them whether they buy today-or next year. In essence, they are often thinking, and sometimes asking, "What do you mean, I've got to buy today? I'm thirty-nine years old. I've lived al of my life without this earth-shattering product. You're not just passing through town, are you?" Or "I mean, you are going to be here, aren't you? You're not closing your doors, are you?

What's your hurry?" Realistical y, no hurry is one of the toughest objections to deal with. Since getting prospects interested enough to take action today is a major objective, I'l deal with this objection throughout the book.

The "Bride" Close

Here's one effective technique for getting people off dead center. Early in my sales career I learned to agree with the prospect, and it has been very productive for me. Here's the way it works. If I was making little or no progress after making a substantial effort to persuade the prospect to take action, I would smile and say, "You know, Mr. Prospect, as I review your situation and think back on my own experiences in life, I believe that perhaps you are right. Maybe you should wait. I know in my own life, when my wife and I got married, we made a financial mistake. Getting married costs money, and any time you spend money you might wel be making a mistake.

"For example, had we waited just twenty more years, we could truly have had a honeymoon to end al honeymoons! When we started our family, it was a mistake. It did-and does-cost money. Had we waited just another ten or fifteen years, we could have given the children so much more. When we bought our first house, that was a mistake. Had we waited another twenty or thirty years, we truly could have built a much nicer home. The only problem, Mr. Prospect, with waiting until everything is just right before you take action is that you might wind up like the two people in this poem": From Timid Salesmen Have Skinny Kids by Judge Ziglar

After the poem I would pause and quietly say, "Mr. Prospect, there is seldom àperfect' time to do anything, and if you wait until al the lights are on green before you head for town, you're going to stay at home the rest of your life! The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. You and I both know that ownership of this product begins with the decision to own it. Actual y, the only decision you need to make at this moment is whether or not you can handle this first payment, and you've already indicated the first payment is no problem. Since you want it, can you think of any reason you should not, at this moment, treat you and your family as wel as you deserve to be treated?"

The "Alternate of Choice" Close

In direct sales, smile and ask, "Shal I ask the company to ship it as soon as possible, or would two weeks be better?" In store or service-center sales, smile and ask, "Would you like to take it with you, or should we send it out?" (That's

"Alternate of Choice." Never give the prospect a choice between something and nothing. Let him choose between something and something else. This close is used under many circumstances, as you wil see.)

used under many circumstances, as you wil see.) They Buy-If They Really Want It

Then there's the fourth reason a lot of people don't buy from you: They do not real y want what you are sel ing. Most salespeople-and that certainly includes me-find it inconceivable that anybody would not want what they're sel ing. And that's good! If you did not feel that way, I can assure you that with few exceptions you would not be a successful salesperson. (If you're sel ing caskets, we're going to "need" one eventual y but most people wil not "want" one at that moment.)

Your belief in your product should be so strong it would be impossible for you to understand how anybody could possibly not want what you're sel ing!

Realistical y, however, some people don't. When we deal with refusal and rejection, you wil be given the details on how to handle this so you wil understand that the prospect has refused your offer and has not rejected you personal y.

The "Now or Never" Close

When I think of desire, I think of an incident which happened to me early in my sales career. I had demonstrated a set of cookware for a widow living in the little town of Elgin, South Carolina. After I finished the demonstration, she asked the price. When I told her, she acted as if she were going to have a heart attack! She loudly moaned, "Oh, I could never buy that cookware! Why, Mr. Ziglar," she said, "I'm a widow. I live by myself. Every morning I eat breakfast with my son and his wife who live in the little house next door. I have lunch at the mil and I don't eat any dinner. I work six days a week. The only time I would real y use that set of cookware would be on Sunday." She continued, "I'm getting close to retirement age. The only thing I'm going to have is Social Security, which is not much. It would be the most foolish thing in the world for me to even consider buying that set of cookware!"

She gave me every reason in the world for not buying. Then she looked at me and, giving me one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen, said,

"But you know, Mr. Ziglar, al of my life I've wanted a nice set of pots. And if I don't order now I know I'l never have them. I'l take them!"

She had given me every reason for not buying. Then she bought because she had

She had given me every reason for not buying. Then she bought because she had that lifetime desire to own a real y nice, matched set of cookware. Coupled with that desire for ownership was the very real fear that if she didn't "buy now" she would never have the cookware, which meant she would have missed or "lost"

something very important to her. It's a psychological fact that "the fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain." (I emphasize this fact several times in this book.)

The only part I played in this scenario was to be in the right place at the right time with the right product. In addition, I kept quiet while she was voicing her objections. This made her feel better and helped her "talk herself" into buying.

Until that moment I thought I believed in the set of cookware I was sel ing. My meeting with this widow who had dreamed of ownership made it crystal clear to me how important belief and the desire for ownership real y are. How sad it would be for you and the prospect to miss a sale because your own belief and desire to help the prospect own your product is not at least as intense and deep as that of the prospect.

They Buy-If They Trust

The fifth reason the prospect does not buy is the most significant: no trust. This one is very difficult to pinpoint and identify with certainty because very few people are going to say specifical y, "Look, friend, you know you're lying to me.

Why don't you go ahead and admit it? You know your product won't do al the things you're claiming."

It's highly unlikely that the prospect wil cal you a liar, but if he thinks or feels you are lying, the results wil be the same. He won't buy. In most cases that feeling of distrust is slight-very slight, but if it's there at al , it could-and probably wil -cost you the sale.

According to a study conducted by the New York Sales and Marketing Club, 71

percent of the people who buy from you do so because they like you, trust you, and respect you. The word trust includes "us." A bond must be formed between you and the prospect before anything significant wil be bought or sold.

Point: You've got to establish that trust and respect with your prospects if you expect to be a sales professional. This should be obvious, but in case it's not, I'l spel it out. Again, you cannot be one kind of person and another kind of salesperson. You must be consistent in al areas of li fe i f you are going to achieve maximum results in building your sales career. That's one of the major

achieve maximum results in building your sales career. That's one of the major reasons we deal with the entire person rather than just the salesperson throughout this book. This is one of the "not-so-little" things that make the buying difference in the prospect's mind.

Based on overwhelming evidence (the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance study; the Harvard University study by Dr. Robert Coles; Corporate Bigamy by Mortimer Feinberg and Richard Dempewolff; The Forum Corporation Report; The Cox Report; and others) the feeling is strong that corporate America wil progressively and quickly move toward giving preferential treatment to those job applicants who have a solid moral integrity base on which to build a career.

That's any kind of legitimate career, but especial y a sales career.

A persuasive but immoral salesperson can smooth-talk a lot of people into wanting and buying cheap or useless merchandise or services at inflated prices.

When that happens, we have not one, not two, but three losers.

The customer loses money and a certain amount of faith in mankind. The salesman loses self-respect and sacrifices any possibility of a truly successful sales career for temporary financial gain. The profession of sel ing loses prestige and the confidence of the general public when any of its members betray public trust by using professional persuasion skil s in the deceitful practice of sel ing inferior merchandise at inflated prices to gul ible, uninformed, or misinformed buyers.

It is my strong conviction that your sales career, or for that matter your career in anything, started when you reached the age of accountability. If integrity is as much a part of you as your head, then success in sel ing wil be much easier and faster, and it wil be solid and long lasting. That's the reason I wil repeatedly emphasize that the most important part of the sales process is the salesperson.3

3

Credibility: The Key

to a Sales Career

Our Tastes and Wants Are Similar. Salespeople the world over are inclined to say, "Yeah, but my situation is different, my prospects are different, my product is different." That may be true, but there are a tremendous number of similarities and I believe you wil convince yourself of that fact by playing a little game and

and I believe you wil convince yourself of that fact by playing a little game and answering these questions as I ask them:

1. Stop reading and hold up three fingers of your writing hand.

2. Think of a flower and don't change your mind.

3. Now think of -a piece of furniture.

4. Think of a color.

5. Think of a number between one and ten.

Answers

1. The odds are overwhelming that you held up al but your thumb and little finger (96 percent do).

2. Chances are nearly even that you thought of a rose.

3. Chances are one in three that you thought of a chair.

4. With dozens to choose from, chances are over 60 percent that you selected red.

5. Chances are nearly one in four that you thought of seven.

What I am saying is this: There are a tremendous number of similarities in our habits and our way of thinking as people. There are also many similarities in what al our prospects-regardless of what they do or where they live-want out of life. One thrust of this book is to deal with, and take advantage of, those similarities so we can persuade other people to act in their own best interests.

My good friend and fel ow sales trainer John Hammond teaches salespeople to stand up, put their hands on their shoulders, and sweep away that little sales-kil ing devil who is whispering in their ears, "Your situation is different so this doesn't apply to you."

I encourage you to do literal y the same thing. These methods and techniques are not on trial. They work when you master them and use them.

The "Law of Averages"

Unlike most sales trainers, I wil have very little to say about the "law of averages." Chances are excel ent you have been told by your sales manager almost from the beginning that if you see enough people you wil make some sales. "Yes, sir" you were told, "thèlaw of averages' wil take care of you! You make those cal s and you wil make those sales." I was even told that you could take an order pad, tie it to a dog's tail, and if he ran around town long enough somebody would stop him and sign the order! I'm certain the author of that statement knew it was an exaggeration, but it makes the point that cal s produce sales and no cal s produce no sales. So far I agree.

Overal , the law of averages is dependable, but on occasion it is misleading. For example, if you put one foot in a bucket of ice water and one foot in a bucket of boiling water, on the average you wil not be comfortable. And obviously, you can drown in a lake which has an "average" depth of six inches.

My good friend and col eague Mike Frank, who has made, by actual count, over 19,000 "warm" cal s (negative folks cal them "cold" cal s), points out that the key to dealing successful y with averages is to (1) make enough cal s or presentations; (2) be as effective as possible on every cal ; and (3) make mental and/or written notes on every cal as to what you did right, what you could have done better, and how you can make your next presentation even more effective.

The "Next One" Close

I'm convinced that salespeople al over the world-including you -are not interested in the law of averages. Question: What would you like to have happen on your next sales interview? You would like to make a sale, wouldn't you?

What about the one after that? And the one after that?

The point is clear, isn't it? You don't care a thing about the law of averages! You are just like this old farmer down home. He did not want al the land-but he did want the land that was next to his! You probably don't want al the sales, but you do want the next one. This book was written to help you make that next sale, and to make it in such a way that your new customer is wil ing and even anxious to help you build your sales career.

How do you make the sale to the person you deal with next? In my judgment, you start and finish with trust on most sales you make and on al the cliff-hangers (the tough ones). While I wil also deal with no need, no money, no hurry, and no

(the tough ones). While I wil also deal with no need, no money, no hurry, and no desire, trust and credibility wil get a considerable amount of space in this book.

Credibility Is Critical

Here's an example of why I said we would be dealing with the kind of person you are as wel as the kind of salesperson you are. I don't mean to upset or offend you, but I can teach the average twelve-year-old many of the techniques and procedures you know and use in sales interviews.

However, at this stage of the game, he would not be very effective in sel ing most of the products you sel .

Here's why: Can you imagine a twelve-year-old saying to a prospect, "Now, Mr.

and Mrs. Anderson, our market analysis reveals that the average sales price of the homes in this area for the past twelve months is $196,500. However, our projections convince me that the current trend of the market as wel as the movement of the city wil give us an average increase in value of 11 percent in this area for the next nine years, which simply..."?

Can you imagine a twelve-year-old spouting that kind of stuff and having a prospect sitting there saying, "Yeah, that's right, young man, I believe I'l buy that $196,500 house you showed me yesterday"? It's not that the prospect wouldn't believe him, but there's an area of credibility which leaves something to be desired, is there not?

Now an even more serious credibility gap exists if you, an adult, are not the right kind of person. In a nutshel , if you have a character defect, if your integrity is deficient, you wil miss a lot of the close ones. (The prospect's fear of loss is greater than his desire for gain, and most prospects know that you can't make a good deal with a bad guy.) Your product or service has to have overwhelming advantages in order for you to sel successful y with a shortage of integrity. Even then the success is temporary, because a company smart enough to acquire product advantage is too smart to throw that advantage away with characterdefective salespeople.

What Is the Commission?

Now before we go any further, you need to answer this question: In your trade area, what is your average commission on the sales you almost make? Now when I say "almost," I mean if you real y get close with the prospect actual y

when I say "almost," I mean if you real y get close with the prospect actual y having his pen in his hand to sign. What's the commission?

I'l bet it's the same in your area as it is in mine-and that's a big, fat nothing! In other words, close doesn't count except in horseshoes and grenades.

You've got to make the sale, regardless of where you live, if you're going to get the commission. Of course, that's fair, because when you just barely make the sale, the company is not going to pay you part of the commission because you barely made the sale.

Interestingly enough, the word close, as in horseshoes, is spel ed the same way as "close the sale," but the difference between being "close to the sale" and

"closing the sale" is dramatic. Undoubtedly the most frustrating thing a salesperson experiences is to get so close to a sale he can taste it but stil end up missing it. Personal y, I'd rather have him say, "No, I don't want to buy it and that's final," and almost run me off than to get close and miss. Getting close can have you climbing the wal s if it happens very often.

Psychology (Common Sense) Is Involved

This is not a book on psychology, but I can absolutely guarantee you that you're going to have to know some psychology (or common sense) if you're going to be a truly professional salesperson. One theme which wil repeatedly be emphasized is this: You can have everything in life you want if you wil just help enough other people get what they want.

Let me emphasize that if you have ever closed even one sale, I'm not going to be teaching you how to close. You already know how to do that. What I would like to do is improve your percentage of closes in the interviews, presentations, or demonstrations you conduct. You can improve your closing percentage by understanding three very important things. Number one, good closing comes from good sel ing and good sel ing comes from good people. (Question: Are you a "good people"?) Number two, this book is designed to help you develop what I cal a "closing instinct." Number three, you wil learn many specific new closes.

This instinct or intuition, which women have developed to a much finer point than men, is important in sel ing and can be developed by men and women.

When your prospect gives you those buying signals indicating he is on the verge of making that yes decision, you need to move in instinctively and become the

"assistant buyer" we wil be talking about. You need to assist him in solving his

"assistant buyer" we wil be talking about. You need to assist him in solving his problem, which he can do by buying your products, goods, or services.

If you could improve your closing percentage by 10 percent (and I'm confident that if your closing percentage is less that 60 percent, 10 percent is a realistic figure), your additional volume would be substantial, or your time for other pursuits would be dramatical y increased.

For example, if you are in direct sales and talk with twenty people each week or one thousand people each year, an increase of 10 percent would be one hundred more sales. The additional volume and earnings would make a real difference in your lifestyle, and your cost of doing business would be almost the same. A 10

percent increase in your closing percentage could increase your net income 20

percent if you currently close 50

percent of your interviews and 100 percent if you are closing only 10 percent of your interviews.

If you improve your effectiveness 10 percent, the other one hundred sales would represent five solid weeks of work without spending any additional time on the job. This could mean that you would have five extra weeks to do the things you enjoy doing or to prepare yourself professional y to move higher up the ladder with your company. It obviously could also mean additional time with your family, which in our society today is needed more and more and is a must if you expect to achieve total success.

There's More to It Than Closing

As we talk about closes, I would like to emphasize something which I consider tremendously important. For some reason, the close has gotten to be the

"glamour" part of the sales process. Many people labor under the il usion that if they can just master the right closing technique they can dramatical y improve their productivity. Obviously, it would help sales to know how to close and to use those techniques. However, I would like to say that the close is no more, or no less, important than any other phase of the sales process.

If you don't have a prospect, how are you going to close? If you don't know how to make an appointment, how are you going to close? If your qualification process or presentation is weak, regardless of how many closes you use, in our

process or presentation is weak, regardless of how many closes you use, in our sophisticated society you're not going to be able to

"pressure" many people into buying. If you do, you wil have a cancel ation, or even worse, a disgruntled customer. So, in reality, the close is once part of the process. Since it is the final part, it has been given a disproportionate burden to carry as far as the sale is concerned. My saying this might puzzle you a bit because of the title and structure of this book. But I simply want to keep things in perspective; you must be effective in al phases of the sales process if you're going to build a rewarding sales career.

I have frequently had salespeople say they could get prospects, secure appointments, and tel a good story, but couldn't close the sale.

Interpretation: They can't sel . As John M. Wilson of National Cash Register fame would say, "There is no such thing as a good salesman who is a poor closer." Another trainer put it this way: "Sel ing without closing is like lathering without shaving." Friend, if you can't close, you can't sel . Period.

When you get a qualified prospect, you're on first base. When you make the appointment, you're on second base. When you make an effective presentation, you're on third base. If you go no further, al you've done is waste the time of the prospect as wel as your own. Until you move to home plate with the close, you haven't done anything constructive for anyone.

In sel ing, as in basebal , you must touch al the bases. Even if the batter knocks the bal out of the park, if he doesn't touch every base, he won't score.

The close, to continue the analogy, is the score, and it is important because it converts invested time to profitable time. I insist that the close is no more important than any other phase of the sales process; however, without the close the rest of the process is wasted.

Closing is largely an attitude firmly grounded in solid sales technique. That's the reason so much space is given to the psychology involved, as wel as to your own mental attitude.

"Little" Things Determine Sales Results

In sel ing it's the little things that make the big difference in making or missing the sale, just as the "little" things make the big difference in al areas of life. Cal a girl a kitten and she'l love you. Cal her a cat and you've got a problem! Tel your

girl a kitten and she'l love you. Cal her a cat and you've got a problem! Tel your wife she looks like the first day of spring and you score al kinds of points. Tel her she looks like the last day of a long, hard winter and you're in big trouble!

There is a difference in results when you have those "little" things working for you. Things like a good shine on your shoes; the wel -pressed suit, skirt, or dress; the neatness of your hair; the way your tie blends and is tied; whether you are neat and clean-shaven; whether your makeup is fresh and properly applied; whether you are overdressed or underdressed; whether you're smiling and courteous, on time, thoughtful, and considerate of your prospect's time; whether you are smoking or chewing gum; whether you are organized and practice good human relations with fol ow-up reminders and thank-you notes-and countless other "little" things that wil determine whether you miss or make the sale.

The list is endless, but in the final analysis, more often than not, one or more of the little things communicate to your prospect that you do believe in what you're doing, that you are interested in serving him, and that you do feel you're offering the best product or service at the best price which wil do the most for him and his needs. When al of these things are going for you, the question is not, "Wil you succeed?" but rather, "When and how big wil that success be?"

When Should You Close?

Many times salespeople ask the question "When should you close?" From the beginning I've heard salespeople and sales trainers say: "Close early, close often, close late." If you've been sel ing for three days, chances are good you've also heard this phrase. In many cases that advice is sound, but there is one glaring exception. You can close or attempt to close too early and lose any real chance of making the sale later. Question: What or when is "too early"? Answer: Too early is when you attempt to close before you have established in the prospect's mind significant value for what you are sel ing.

Prospects, regardless of the product you sel , always buy the benefits your product has for them. In short, when you convince the prospect that your product scratches where he itches, he wil buy. When you make him "itch" for ownership, he wil "scratch" around until he comes up with the money.

If you try to close before you establish value, you come across as a high-pressure salesman who wants to make the sale and get on to the next prospect without any real regard for what your present prospect's needs and desires might be. You wil

real regard for what your present prospect's needs and desires might be. You wil appear to be interested only in what you want and this wil build a wal between you and the prospect. You must climb this wal before you make the sale, because the prospect sees you in that "high-pressure" light. That's a tough wal to climb, but if you don't climb it, your career sales register wil frequently ring up

"no sale."

It is perfectly permissible to inform the prospect early in the interview that you are going to ask for an order. Here's a specific example: When I was in the life insurance business we fol owed a two-appointment sales process. The first appointment involved getting background information on the prospect and exploring his projected future needs as far as retirement and protection for his family were concerned (that's qualify ing the prospect).

When I went back for the second appointment (with the proposal), I made the complete presentation, established value, and then attempted to close the sale.

I started the second interview by taking out the rather elaborate proposal along with a clean sheet of paper. I would hold the blank sheet of paper, look at the prospect, and say, "Mr. Prospect, as you can plainly see, this is a blank sheet of paper. Because there is nothing written on it, there is nothing to understand or to misunderstand. I also have your proposal, which is quite elaborate. This proposal was prepared exclusively for you, and frankly, it is quite detailed. However, Mr. Prospect, I would like to make you a promise.

"I'm going to keep the explanation of the proposal just as simple and clear as this blank sheet of paper. If I fail to do so, I will understand if you are reluctant to make a decision concerning the proposal. For this reason, I promise you that when I finish the explanation, the proposal will be just as clear and just as simple as the blank sheet of paper. At that point, I am going to ask you to make a decision. If you see that it is in your best interests to say yes to the proposal, I'm going to ask you to say yes. If, however, you think it is in your best interests to say no, then I am simply going to ask you to say no. Is that fair enough, Mr. Prospect?"

An interesting thing happened on the way to the bank. My closing percentage improved approximately 10 percent, but my volume of business increased even more because I eliminated, or dramatically reduced, the number of repeat calls, giving me more time to see new prospects.

4

Commonsense Selling

Prospects Won't "Change" Their Minds. Think about this. When the customer says no, the odds are at least a hundred to one you're never going to be able to get him to change his mind. Now I know what you're thinking, but I'l say it again. When a prospect says no, the odds are at least a hundred to one you're not going to be able to get him to change his mind.

At this point you're thinking, "Now, Ziglar, up until now I've felt you were pretty much on target, but we're going to part company on this one, because most of the business I get comes after the prospect says, `No, no, no, no."' I don't doubt for a moment that you are right.

The "New Decision" Close

I asked that Redhead of mine (she is a "decided" redhead, meaning that one day she just decided to be a redhead!) to marry me and she said no. I asked her the second time; she said no. Third time, no. Fourth time, no. Fifth time, no. Sixth time, yes. No, she did not change her mind. What she did was very simple. She made a new decision based on new information which produced a new feeling.

Before you can get a prospect to change his mind, you've first got to get him to admit he was wrong, that he made a mistake when he said no. Wel , friend, let me ask you a question. How many times in the last twelve months have you admitted that you were wrong, that you made a mistake?

Another question: If it's tough for you to admit you were wrong, how are you going to get your prospect to admit he or she was wrong, that he made a mistake? That wil be even tougher, won't it?

When a prospect says no, and you say in one form or another, "Awwwww, go ahead, you know you're going to buy it sooner or later-sign here," al you're doing-in the prospect's mind-is trying to high-pressure him into saying he was wrong, that he was foolish to say no to begin with. Getting a prospect to admit his "mistake" borders on the impossible. Al you'l do is irritate or antagonize your prospect. That is not the way to persuade him to buy from you.

No Often Means They Don't Know

No, the prospect won't change his mind, but he wil be delighted to make a new decision, based on new information. Example: "Why didn't you tel me the property was outside the city limits and I won't have to pay city taxes?" He's in the process of making a new decision based on new information. "Why didn't you tel me we could print on both sides of the paper? Even though it's a little more expensive per sheet, it saves us money because we double the usage." He's making a new decision based on new information. "You should have explained that this model comes with

`four on the floor.' My teenager would not want any other model." He's making that new decision based on new information. Since prospects wil make new decisions based on new information, the sales process demands that you try for the close as soon as you have established value or aroused desire for ownership, but before you give al the information.

If you wait until you've given al the information before you try to close, that would be an even more serious mistake. Some prospects automatical y say no on the first attempt to close so that they won't feel they were "easy"-and that they didn't careful y investigate before they bought. More importantly, they fear they wil look foolish if they make a fast decision which turns out to be wrong. Many times these prospects who initial y say no are actual y saying, "Tel me more.

Give me more information. Make me feel secure that a yes decision is the right decision. In short, make it easier for me to buy." Your job as a salesperson is to do exactly that-make it easier for the prospect to buy.

How Much You Pay

As a buyer, my reading friend, let me ask you a question. Would you give a salesman one hundred dol ars for a product or service that in your mind you knew was worth no more than fifty dol ars? Yes No Obviously, the answer is no, isn't it? Second question: When you negotiate with a prospect, do you honestly believe he wil give you one hundred dol ars for something which he definitely feels is worth only fifty dol ars? Yes No Third question.

Back to you: Suppose the salesman uses ten of his best, most effective, most powerful sales closes on you. Under those circumstances, would you give him one hundred dol ars for a product you positively felt was worth only fifty dol ars? Yes __-_ No I'l bet the answer is stil no. Actual y, that's a ridiculous question, isn't it?

Fourth question: Suppose the salesman got emotional about it, sent you on a guilt trip, and insisted that you ought to buy to help him, his family, or someone else? Then would you give him a hundred dol ars for a product which you knew was worth only fifty dol ars? The answer is stil no, isn't it?

Why the Prospect Says No

When a prospect says no, either he is saying that he does not have the money-and al the sales expertise in the world wil not generate that-or he is saying, "I am not about to give you more for the product or service than I feel the product or service is worth."

The point is simple. When you use pressure on a prospect and persist in your efforts to get him to buy, al you're doing is antagonizing him or turning the prospect off. When a prospect says no, chances are excel ent that in his mind he simply does not feel the product for him-is worth the price you're asking.

Now in most cases you can't significantly change or lower the price, but you can dramatical y change the value. But to change that value, you have to give additional information about your goods or services. This general y involves trust and good communication between the prospect and salesperson. With this in mind, a truly professional and effective procedure must include showing how you can raise the value of the product in the mind of the prospect. That's one of the purposes of Secrets of Closing the Sale.

Closes Should Be Educational

Each close you use should be an educational process by which you are able to raise the value of the product or service in the prospect's mind.

The minute the value equals the price, you have a prospect. Until the value equals or exceeds the price, in the prospect's mind you do not have a legitimate prospect. Al the technique, persuasion, and pressure are going to be to no avail.

Once the value of the product or service, in the prospect's mind, exceeds the price, you have a "hot" prospect whom you stil must close.

Please remember that you stil have to deal with the fear factor in the prospect's mind-the fear he wil be making a mistake if he goes ahead and says yes, even though he can see that the value of your offer exceeds the price you ask. This is the reason I constantly stress that the salesperson and his personal integrity wil

the reason I constantly stress that the salesperson and his personal integrity wil be the determining factor in closing many, many sales. What I'm real y saying is that if you are the right kind of person, sel ing the right product, using the right technique on the prospect with the right motive, then your chances of sel ing your product or service are dramatical y increased.

Don't Oversell

One real danger we encounter as salespeople is that sometimes in our exuberance in the presentation, or in our frustration, we attempt close after close with no results. The tendency to oversel on these occasions simply overwhelms some of the weaker salespeople whose integrity is suspect or whose interest is primarily in immediate profit rather than in building a long-term sales career.

When you oversel you wil invariably lose. The story of the Roman Catholic girl who dated the Southern Baptist boy says it wel . After about the fourth date the girl returned home one evening in a highly motivated, ecstatic, lovesick frame of mind. Her mother instantly saw that she was "fal ing fast," so she had a little talk with her.

Mom pointed out in no uncertain terms that the daughter should terminate the relationship, that Catholics didn't marry Baptists and Baptists didn't marry Catholics, so she should stop dating the boy. The girl tearful y explained that she was in love with the boy and couldn't Mom "do something"?

Mom responded to the tears of her daughter and devised a plan. They would "sel

" the boy on taking instruction so he could become a good Catholic, which would make the wedding acceptable and desirable. Together Mom and daughter went to work on making that sale. Actual y, it was easy because the boy was already sold on the "product." He started taking instructions and the date was set, the church was reserved, the invitations were sent out, and the gifts started coming in.

About a week before the wedding, the girl came home one night, shedding those crocodile tears, instructing her mother between sobs to cal off the wedding, tel the priest, send back the gifts, cancel the church. Final y, Mom got a word in and asked, "Wel , daughter, what in the world happened?

I thought we had sold him on being a good Catholic." To this the girl tearful y responded, "That's the problem, Mom. He's going to be a priest!"

Lesson: Don't oversel .

Overselling by Omission

Back in 1974 I completed one of my dreams, which was to have a real y nice office at home for my research and writing. Part of my dream included a genuine leather sofa.

I had vivid memories of trips as a smal boy in Yazoo City, Mississippi, to Dr. C.

L. Wal ace's dental office. In his outer office was an old, leather sofa. I stil recal sitting on that sofa, squeezing the armrest and getting quite a charge out of the

"squish." There is nothing that "squishes" quite like real leather, and I wanted that squish in my new office.

The Redhead and I went shopping at a major store in town with an enormous inventory. The salesman pleasantly approached us, we conveyed our wishes, and he led us to the sofa department. When we saw the first leather sofa that appealed to me, I asked the price. He told me, and I was pleasantly shocked because it was only about half as much as I had anticipated. When I expressed my shock and delight that a genuine leather sofa could be bought at that price, the salesman assured me that it was indeed a remarkable buy and that was one of the reasons they sold so many of them.

I sat down on the sofa and leaned back. It felt real y good. I squeezed the armrest and the "squish" was there. I stood up and walked around the sofa, admiring it. It was truly beautiful and again I expressed my delight in finding a leather sofa at such a bargain price. Once again the salesman commented that yes, it was a real bargain and a big sel er for them. At this point I told the salesman I would take it.

Next I told the salesman we needed a nice coffee table to set in front of the sofa, so we headed for the coffee table department. On the way we passed another leather sofa, very similar to the one I had just agreed to buy. If anything, I liked this one slightly better, so I walked over, looked it over careful y, sat down, leaned back, and was a little undecided as to which one I truly liked the best. So I asked the price. The salesman told me and again I was shocked, because this one was nearly twice the price of the one I had just ordered. I asked the obvious question: "Why does this one cost almost twice as much?" He explained it in one simple sentence: "This one is al leather."

Zig: "Wel , friend, what is that one I just ordered made of? I was under the

Zig: "Wel , friend, what is that one I just ordered made of? I was under the impression it was al leather." Salesman: "It is al leather-where the human body comes in contact with the sofa. The tops of the cushions, the armrests, and the part you lean back against are al genuine leather. However, underneath the armrest, underneath the sofa, and the entire back of the sofa are naugahyde." He quickly assured me, however, that no one would ever know the difference, pointing out that even I had not detected the difference. He also assured me that the naugahyde would last just as long as the leather and look just as good.

Zig: "Friend, why didn't you tel me to begin with that the one I ordered is not al leather?" Salesman: "I intended to, but somehow the conversation always changed-but I was going to tel you before you left, because I'm not the kind of salesman who would mislead anyone."

Question to you, dear reader: Which one of the sofas do you think I bought, or do you figure I walked out without buying anything? If you figured I walked out without buying anything, you hit the nail on the head. Not only did I not buy anything that day but I have never been back in the store.

You might reasonably ask: If he had told me the ful story to begin with, would I have bought the sofa? The answer is no, I would not have bought the one which was part naugahyde. Al my life I wanted a real leather sofa, and I had just completed a beautiful office exactly like I wanted. Under no circumstances would I have compromised on that sofa. Would I have bought the more expensive leather one? Probably not on the first visit, because it was quite expensive. However, I would have shopped around and, based on what I found in the marketplace, I probably would have bought the more expensive one. At any rate, I can assure you I would have been back in the store long before now looking for other items.

The point is a very simple one: By omission, the salesman lied to me. It was abundantly clear that I thought the first sofa was al leather. When he did not set the record straight, he misled me. When I saw the real leather sofa and expressed interest in it, perhaps he visualized doubling his sale, but greed or dishonesty cost him a substantial immediate sale and eliminated any chance for future sales.

It's a trite statement, but it's more true than trite that honesty is not just the best policy-it's the only policy for those salespeople who expect to build a solid sales career.

Lesson: Don't lie or mislead by omission.

Closing Is Not Natural

Of al the skil s we acquire, perhaps none is less natural than the skil of the closer. This is especial y true for those of us who are part of another generation, and to a degree this is stil true today. Almost from birth we have been told not to ask for everything we see or want. As children we were told that asking wasn't nice and indicated concern only for self. We were conditioned to wait until things were offered.

However, when we entered the world of sel ing, we were repeatedly told to ask for the order, to encourage the prospect to buy. Since the salesperson obviously benefits from the sale, it appeared to be a selfish move on our part. That's one reason I included the persuasion analogy, using Aristotle and Galileo as an example. This example, along with countless others, makes the point that you are being selfish, or at least unconcerned, when you don't ask for the order, because, as previously stated, the customer is the biggest winner in an ethical sales transaction.

Again, closing is a learned skil and not a natural one. Fortunately, once your thinking is sound and clear on the matter, a high degree of skil can be acquired, provided you're wil ing to make the effort.

Miss the Sale and You Both Lose

Actual y, salespeople are problem solvers. If you've got the solution to the prospect's problem and he doesn't buy from you, then he, far more than you, is the loser. Once you've accepted that fact and understand that sel ing is an educational process for the buyer and closing represents graduate school for you, your career wil move into high gear. Your personal benefits wil be greater because your customers are benefiting greatly.

As a salesperson you need to understand that every close you learn and use should give the prospect a reason to buy, an excuse for buying, or information so that he can act intel igently in his own best interests. Once you understand and accept this premise, it helps you to move closing from being selfish on your part to being helpful to the prospect.

This important-even critical-adjustment in your thinking wil enable you to start closing more of the close ones. This is important in your career because a high

closing more of the close ones. This is important in your career because a high percentage of sales hinges on a series of minor things. Your attitude toward that customer is not minor, and I can assure you it wil make a great deal of difference in the bottom line of your financial statement at the end of the month. If you do not have that ability to transfer your feelings of belief and conviction to the prospect, you are not going to close those close ones, which means you wil not reach your ful potential.

As my late good friend, sales training and motivational expert Cavett Robert, said:

"The prospect is persuaded more by the depth of your conviction than he is by the height of your logic."

Some Commonsense Psychology from a Psychiatrist

My psychiatrist friend, the late John Kozek of Dunedin, Florida, designed his beautiful home and was the architect and contractor. He was up in the cathedral ceiling working and was covered with dust and perspiration and talking to the crew in Greek. In walked a factory representative of a window company. As the man stood on the floor far below, John cal ed a greeting to him in English. "He ignored me, thinking I was ònly a laborer,"'

he said. The salesman went over to Maria (Mrs. Kozek) and started to tel her about stained-glass windows, but she told him he would have to talk to her husband. The representative said he would be glad to. She responded that he'd already missed his chance, and the salesman looked puzzled. Then Maria pointed up at the scaffold where John was working.

John suggested that I warn al salespeople to "be nice to everyone, because you don't always know who you're talking to." That's good advice from Dr. Kozek.

Cindy Took the Advice

While making a cosmetics sale in Sakowitz Department Store, Cindy Oates (who just happens to be my daughter) noticed a customer waiting to be served. Normal y when a customer shows up at the cosmetics counter, the salesladies immediately converge on him, but this man wasn't the standard Sakowitz customer. He was wearing run-down loafers and the holes in his socks extended wel up over his heels. His hair was greasy and his clothes were dirty and literal y hung on his bony frame. Al in al he looked (to the idle clerks standing nearby)

hung on his bony frame. Al in al he looked (to the idle clerks standing nearby) like he didn't "belong" at the cosmetics counter of a ritzy department store-especial y at the Erno Laszlo cosmetics counter-so he was ignored. (Somebody forgot that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover!) Two things prompted Cindy to quickly and courteously move over to the prospect. Number one, she is a gracious lady (that's an unbiased fact) who is truly a professional salesperson committed to giving everyone who approaches the counter a chance to get what he wants and needs. Number two, she noticed that the man had a piece of paper in his hand. To her that meant he was a husband with a list of things he was going to buy for his wife. She was right on the button. The list was short just three items-but the sale was nearly a hundred dol ars, the equivalent of nearly three hundred dol ars today. The purchase was completed in a matter of minutes and the man was extremely nice, with beautiful manners.

That book's cover (the man's appearance) wasn't very good, but his pocketbook was in excel ent shape. Later on in this book I talk a lot about the

"Assumptive" Close or attitude. For the moment I urge you to assume that everyone you approach is a good prospect with a real problem (need) which you can solve. Be nice to them. Al of them. You've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Selling Is like Playing Golf

To be most effective in a sales presentation, you should lead off with your very best shot, your Sunday punch, the one you feel has the most persuasiveness and the most power. Save your second-best shot for the final effort. General y speaking, your prospect hears the beginning and the ending but often does not hear what's in the middle. This procedure helps ensure that your prospect is going to remember the two most powerful parts of your presentation. So if you've got to choose what he hears, you certainly want to choose the most persuasive information you have.

Underneath al of this is the fact that your prospect is not going to buy cold, hard facts. He is going to buy warm people benefits. You also want to remember that sel ing is like playing golf. In golf, if you're going to score wel and win, you must make every shot so you wil be in position to make the next one. However, you must remember that if you don't make this shot (sale) it doesn't make much difference what position you're in, because you might not have a chance to make

difference what position you're in, because you might not have a chance to make the next one.

If you miss too many sales, you're going to be broke and out of business, so first things first. Concentrate on making this sale, but concentrate on making it in such a way that you'l be in position to make the next one. That's career-building sel ing.

5

Voice Training to Close Sales

Using Cassette Recorders. Beyond any reasonable doubt, if you're going to build your sales career to the ful est, you've got to do something that 95

percent of al salespeople never do. They never deliberately train themselves on how to use their voices more effectively. They don't do any work toward developing voice inflection and voice modulation, so this entire chapter is devoted to sel ing you on the importance of properly utilizing your voice and offering specific suggestions as to how you can train your voice to improve your sales effectiveness.

In order to develop your voice, let's consider the cassette player and why you must use it as a cassette recorder.

Many people get marvelous usage out of this instrument by listening to what other people have to say. But, salespeople, here's good news for you!

You've got something to say as wel ! You need to-no, you muststart utilizing a cassette recorder for the training and development of your voice and sales procedures so you can say what you say even more effectively. You should record not only your presentation but also the way you handle objections and close the sale. Then you should listen several times to what you have said and the way you said it.

You're going to be amazed to discover that, your effectiveness notwithstanding, much of what you say is superfluous (you talk too much) and you often speak in a monotone. If it is possible to record your sales cal in front of a "live" prospect, I encourage you to do so. If this is not possible, you should definitely record your presentation (role-playing with someone else) in a training-room environment. In either event, you wil be shocked at the nonanswers you give to

environment. In either event, you wil be shocked at the nonanswers you give to questions and objections, and the number of times you heard what the prospect said but missed what he was saying.

You can correct most of this by utilizing your cassette player/recorder.

Would You Buy from You? Record your presentation, listen to it, and then ask yourself: "If I were cal ing on me and made that presentation, would I be able to persuade me to take action on the offer?" Many times when I talk to people about recording their presentation, they say, "Yeah, but, Zig, I don't sound that way. That person on that recorder, that's not me!" Wel , friend, I've got news for you-it is you! Admittedly, there wil be some distortion, especial y if you use an inexpensive recorder with a poor microphone, but the distortion is not nearly as much as you think.

The reason for the apparent distortion is simple. To begin with, when you talk and listen to the sound of your own voice, the primary source of sound is coming through vibrations of the bone. When you make a recording and listen to it, the sound comes into your eardrums through the air. So record your presentation with the confidence that the way you sound to you is the way you sound to your prospects. In order to develop the most effective methods of dealing with your prospects, you must know how you sound to your prospects. Recording your presentation enables you to do exactly that.

Voice Inflection Changes Meaning

To demonstrate what you can do with your voice, I'm going to take one sentence which has eight words in it and make those eight words mean eight different things. (I'l admit, this is clearer and more dramatic in a cassette recording.) Take the sentence (1) "I did not say he stole the money."

That's a simple, factual statement. (2) "I did not say he stole the money" implies that it was said, but by someone else. (3) "I DID NOT say he stole the money" is a vigorous denial that you said it. (4) "I did not SAY he stole the money" hints that you might have implied it, but you didn't say it. (5) "I did not say HE stole the money" implies that someone other than the accused stole the money.

You could also make it say, (6) "I did not say he STOLE the money." Here you hint that the accused might have "borrowed" the money but didn't actual y steal it. (7) "I did not say he stole THE money" implies that he might have stolen some money but not THE money. (8) "I did not say he stole the MONEY"

some money but not THE money. (8) "I did not say he stole the MONEY"

suggests that he might have stolen something, but certainly not the money. They are the same words, but with an educated change in your voice inflection, you can make those eight words say eight different things.

The "Voice Inflection" Close

The exciting thing is the fact that voice inflection is a skil you can learn. It's not as easy as it might appear, but in just fifteen minutes a day for ten days you wil have mastered the fundamentals. In my judgment, voice inflection is the most important single undeveloped skil you need to concentrate on in your pursuit of professional sales excel ence.

You start to learn voice inflection by taking your cassette recorder and practicing that one sentence. Once you have recorded it the first time, listen and see if you accomplished your objective. If not, try it again and again until you have recorded it exactly as you want. Go through the entire sequence until you can make those eight words say eight different things. Don't be disappointed or discouraged if it takes you two, three, four, or a dozen times to get it right.

Once you are satisfied that it is right, give it the acid test. Record the eight words with the voice inflection covering the eight different areas. Let your mate or an associate listen and see if they can pick out what you are communicating. Keep practicing until someone else understands clearly what you are saying. Now the groundwork is solidly laid for you to re-record your sales presentation and procedures. Be certain to save the first recording, because you wil see a definite improvement in the recording-and more importantly, in the sales results.

I wil return to voice inflection several times, and later I'l tel you about a cassette recording which is a must for your sales library. I hope and believe that by the time we are finished, the proper use of your voice wil be one of the skil s you wil be committed to acquire.

Remember-you bought this book to become more professional, so if you're serious, you wil fol ow the suggestions we are making. You are not trying something. You are using something that has been tried and proven by thousands of people who have learned the technique in seminars or by using our recordings on the subject.

Final thought. Using voice inflection and change of pace helps to hold your prospect's attention. That's important, because if he isn't listening, he won't get

prospect's attention. That's important, because if he isn't listening, he won't get the message and the information necessary to make the yes decision. Under these circumstances, he wil be compel ed to say no and both of you wil lose.

Dealing with the Price Objection

Now let's cover one major objection that can be more effectively handled by properly using your voice. This objection is encountered by virtual y every salesperson many times during the course of his sales career. Al of us encounter, on a regular basis, the prospect who suggests directly or indirectly that the price is a little out of line or that the product is ridiculously and unreasonably overpriced.

One prospect might bel igerently and dogmatical y say, "THAT PRICE IS

RIDICULOUS!" Another prospect might gently, even smilingly, say, "Wel , it seems to me that the price is a little [pause] out of line." I've even had folks put it in exquisite col oquial terms: "You folks kinda proud of that stuff you sel , ain't cha?"

You Justify or He Defends

To the one who is dogmatic and says, "THAT PRICE IS RIDICULOUS!" you repeat, almost verbatim, what he said: "The price [pause] is ridiculous?" (Your voice inflection should make it sound like a question.) Inflection is important because in this example you are, as one of my mentors, the late Charlie Cul en, would have said, "audaciously" chal enging the prospect. You're creating a situation that forces him to defend his statement instead of you justifying the price. There's quite a difference. One puts you on the defense and the other puts you on the offense. The difference in results is substantial.

It's simple but not easy. I chal enge you to get your cassette recorder, use the same words, and careful y listen to what you've said. Chances are excel ent you're going to have to repeat the process a dozen, maybe even twenty, times to get your voice inflection just right. Trouble? Yes. Work?

Yes. Worth it? You betcha!

Suppose the prospect says, "It seems to me the price is a little out of line." The first thing you've got to determine is whether the price real y is the problem or there is another issue. You make that determination by asking questions. Sales trainer John Hammond has successful y handled thousands of objections by

trainer John Hammond has successful y handled thousands of objections by asking: "If there were a way I could show you that the price is more than fair and the product is worth every dime we're asking, would you go ahead and take advantage of our offer today?"

This forces the prospect to make a commitment based on price when his real objection is color, size, style, neighborhood, or something else you could and should identify. If this is the situation, his response is going to be, "Wel , no, not real y." Then the salesman can say, "Then there must be some other reason you are hesitating. Would you mind if I ask what the reason is?" This is a superb procedure for smoking out the real objection.

If price is the objection, you continue in this way. You: "Let me ask you, Mr.

Prospect, do you like the product?" Many times he'l respond, "Yes, I like the product, but it seems to me that the price is ... a little out of line." You (softly and gently): "Mr. Prospect, wouldn't you agree that it's difficult to pay too much for something you real y like?" (Now the bal is back in his court.) Many times, if it's a relatively inexpensive item, your prospect might go ahead and invest, since that question, which forces him to think, could also lead him to make a yes decision. In most cases, if it's a highticket item, he wil probably think for a moment and say, "Wel , I do like it. But yes, I think you can pay too much regardless of how much you might like it. I know I wouldn't give you seventy thousand dol ars for a Cadil ac, even though I might real y enjoy having one."

The "Fear of Loss" Close

Now you're dealing with something which is very basic, so let me repeat. The fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain. You need to establish in that prospect's mind the fact that he's safe in dealing with you, that he won't lose (either money or "face") by buying from you, but that he wil lose (product benefits) if he doesn't buy from you.

One effective way to do this is to say to the prospect, "Mr. Prospect, you're going to be concerned about price one time. That's the day you buy.

You're going to be concerned with quality for the life of the product itself. With this in mind, let me urge you to think along these lines: Wouldn't you agree that it's better to invest a little more than you expected than a little less than you should? (Wait for answer.) The reason is simple. If you invest a little more than expected, we are talking about pennies. If you invest less than you should and

expected, we are talking about pennies. If you invest less than you should and the product won't do the job which you expected it to do, then you wil lose al you have invested."

John Ruskin made an astute observation concerning price: "It is unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money, that is al .

When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing what it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot ... it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is wel to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that then you wil have enough to pay for something better." That makes sense, doesn't it?

Wait-They're Not Worthless-Yet. Let's look at an example that cements this point. If you are a woman or have a wife, sister, or mother, you wil relate to this.

Question: Do you know anyone who has some unused cosmetics at home in a drawer? Yes No (Betcha you said yes!) Chances are excel ent the cosmetics are in perfectly good condition-and nothing is real y wrong with them-but they've been in the drawer for several months. They are not being used and they are not going to be used, but these cosmetics are not dried out quite enough yet to throw away. So what happens? The owner decides to keep them another six months and at that point, since the cosmetics wil be total y worthless to anybody, the owner can economical y justify throwing them away.

Question: Wouldn't it have been better to have invested a little more than you expected instead of less than you should have to get exactly what you wanted and needed? The extra investment would have been measured in pennies. As it is, you've lost every penny you invested in the cosmetics. If you count satisfaction and personal pride (and you ladies know how much better you feel when you're al dol ed up!), then you real y are getting a bargain when you invest in quality, aren't you?

This Is a Bargain?

I believe it would be safe to say that al of us (and that certainly includes yours truly) have been guilty of buying "bargains" in the past. You saw the big sale advertisement on ladies' shoes. There they were-Bruno Magli $250 shoes, special, one-time-only, closeout, inventory reduction, supergigantic, colossal.

Never before in the history of woman has such a bargain been offered!

It's obviously more than a woman can resist. Down you go to the store, slip on those magnificent Bruno Magli shoes, and while it is true that you wear a 6-1/2B

and these are 6AAs, you begin to rationalize. They wil stretch as you wear them, and though they are most uncomfortable as you struggle to take those five or six convincing steps in the store, and even though you know they real y are too tight, the lure of getting such a bargain, saving over one hundred dol ars, just overwhelms you. Besides, they are exactly the right color to go with your new dress and purse. (Logical y you know you should not buy the wrong size, but emotional y the lure of such a "bargain" overwhelms you.) The sale is made.

You pay $119.95, and you walk out with a $250 pair of shoes-carrying them, of course. Since they are so beautiful you save them for church on Sunday. As you slip them on and your feet start to scream, your better judgment tel s you not to wear them, but you determine to tough it out because, after al , they're so beautiful and such a bargain.

So you do tough it out and you do survive the sermon, though you can't remember a word the preacher said. That's the one and only time you wear those shoes. Almost $120 to wear them one time is a pretty steep price. Question: Wouldn't it have been better to have paid the regular price and gotten your size and worn them for months to come?

Me, Too

As the old saying goes, I know how you feel because I've done exactly the same thing. The suit was regularly priced (several years ago) at $279.95, marked down to just $149.95. Though at the time I wore a 44 Regular and this was a 42

Regular, I felt confident I was "going to lose the weight,"

and in the meantime I could suffer a little for such a beautiful suit. You can finish the story, can't you? That's right. I wore it one time and the moths got to the suit before I lost the weight.

Yep. It would have been better had I invested a little more than expected instead of a little less than I did. On the former a few dol ars would have been invested; on the latter I lost the entire purchase price (one wearing cost me $149.95 plus tax!).

The same line of thinking can be applied when you persuade your prospects to have their teeth crowned or buy a nicer suit, a better dress, a more powerful truck, a better-built lawn mower, or whatever you are sel ing. Just remember that

truck, a better-built lawn mower, or whatever you are sel ing. Just remember that when you are attempting to move that prospect into a better product, it must be in the prospect's best interests. Otherwise you both wil end up losing.

As the late Dick Gardner often said, "Why settle for thèget by' when in the long run the good costs less?"

The "Cost" Close

Here's a question you ask when your prospect talks about price: "Mr. Prospect, if you could convince yourself [don't ever say, 'If I could convince you,' because he's not interested in you convincing him of anything] that the price is more than fair, would you be wil ing to go ahead with ayes decision today?"

If that question gets a yes answer, then you ask the next question, which is a very significant one. You eyebal the prospect and say, "Mr. Prospect, since you are obviously concerned about price, let me make certain we're communicating. Are you real y that interested in price, or is it cost you're concerned with?" The odds are great that your prospect is going to respond with, "What do you mean, am I talking about price or cost? What is the difference?"

Seeing Is Believing

You: "Wel , Mr. Prospect, let me explain it this way." (Now get your "talking pad"4 ready for use. Prospects are inclined to believe what they see. If you write it down, not only are they more likely to believe it, but chances are great they wil understand it better as wel .) When I talk about price and cost, here's the example I use. (You should get your own example, one that's appropriate and fits your situation.)

"Mr. Prospect, back in 1971 my six-year-old son and I went out to buy a bicycle.

We went to the Schwinn Bicycle Shop and were shocked at the $64.95 price tag.

Certainly no prudent parent in 1971, when $64.95 represented a lot of money, could justify spending that much money on a bicycle for a six-year-old boy.

"We headed for the discount store. Àfter al ,' I reasoned, `he's just going to tear it up learning how to ride, and a cheaper bicycle wil be good enough for that.' We invested $34.95 in a bicycle. Much betterprice-wise.

"About six weeks later we went back to get a new pair of handlebars. The cost normal y would have been $4.50, but the bike was stil in warranty so it didn't cost us anything. Sixty days later, when we went back for more handlebars, the

cost us anything. Sixty days later, when we went back for more handlebars, the bicycle was no longer in warranty, so we had to invest the $4.50. About six weeks later we were back in the bicycle shop because the entire sprocket arrangement had completely col apsed. I've forgotten the exact cost, but it came to $15 and change. A few weeks later we were back in the shop because the wheel bearings were shot, and they wanted another $5 or $6. At that point I decided there was no way out, so I threw in the towel. Then we bought the Schwinn bicycle at $64.95.

"Cheap" Costs More

"Now let's look at the difference between price and cost. The price of the èconomy' bicycle was $34.95. The price of the Schwinn bicycle was $64.95. Now let's look at cost. The cost of the economy bicycle was $34.95 plus $4.50 plus $15 for a total of $ 54.45. My son rode that bicycle for six months-not counting the down time.

"The cost of the Schwinn bicycle was $64.95 and he rode it for ten years. It

`cost' us $9 a month for my son to ride the èconomy' bicycle. It `cost' us $6.50 a year for him to ride the Schwinn-and it was stil a good bicycle when we passed it on to a smal er child. The only money we had to spend on it was for a couple of tires, and that had nothing to do with the durability or the quality of the bicycle."

Note: As you talk you diagram it on your talking pad. This one looks like this:

"Now, Mr. Prospect, let me point this out. The price of the economy bicycle was considerably less ($34.95 vs. $64.95), but the cost difference was even more ($9

a month vs. $6.50 a year). So, Mr. Prospect, may I ask you again, is it price you're concerned with, or is it cost? Price is a one-time thing; cost is something you are going to be concerned about for as long as you've got the product. [If this next sentence is true, you can and should close with it.] Some companies can beat us on price, but, Mr. Prospect, when it comes to cost, we win that battle.

Since you are obviously cost-conscious, doesn't it make good sense to immediately start enjoying the lowest possible cost?"

P.S. It goes without saying that you wil use an example involving your own product to make this point.

Does This Technique Work?

Bil Egan, a Buick-Datsun dealer in Bradley, Il inois, said yes.

After returning from a business meeting, Bil was told by his management team that an elderly couple was in a closing office and had been for some time. This was their third trip into the dealership, so they were definitely interested in buying, but they were stil hesitating and the salesman was making no progress.

Two other salespeople had also tried for the close with no results. Bil had been listening on his cassette recorder to this particular close on price and cost, so he decided to give it a try himself. The fol owing dialogue took place after the introduction and smal talk.

Bil : "It wil take $9,600 for the exchange." Couple: "The price is too high." (In this particular case the woman was the one who made the statement.) Bil (lowering his voice and adding inflection so the statement became a question):

"Ma'am, the price is too high?" Lady: "Yes, the price is too high." Bil : "Let me ask you, ma'am, are you talking about price or cost?" Husband and wife both looked at Bil with blank stares. Lady: "What do you mean?" (At this point Bil says he knew he had at least made some progress.)

Bil : "Ma'am, do you mind if I tel you a story to emphasize the point?" Lady:

"No. Go right ahead." Bil : "Several months ago, I contracted for a large amount of asphalt to be put down on my property. While making the preliminary investigation, just as you are doing now, I wanted to make certain I got the best buy for my money. I believe al of us want that, wouldn't you agree?" (The lady agreed.) Bil continued: "I don't know much about asphalt, blacktop, and construction, but I had learned that the number of inches of gravel you put underneath as a base determines how much the price is going to be. Like a lot of other people, I went with the best price.

"To make a long story short, it wasn't two months before I started noticing cracks and upheavals in the surface of the asphalt. Walking around the property I discovered it was happening everywhere. In about a year the asphalt was breaking up and I spent an additional six thousand dol ars repairing the job I had original y paid for. Here's my point, ma'am. Price is a one-time thing. Cost can go on forever and ever, as long as you have the particular product. Question: Wouldn't it be better to pay a fair price one time and be through with it than to go on paying those little costs you get from a product which is probably not as good as what you're looking at right now?" - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - -

good as what you're looking at right now?" - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - -

At this point Bil paused. The husband looked at her as she looked at him.

Without further ado she said, "I'l take it." Bil continues by saying that not only did he close the sale but it was for a product that was several hundred dol ars more than she was going to pay for another car somewhere else.

The only thing Bil had done was convince her of the difference between price and cost.

Several factors are involved in this sale. Number one, the couple obviously wanted this particular car, or they would not have made the third trip into the dealership. Number two, Bil used voice inflection, a solid business reputation, and a talking pad in the transaction. Number three, he used a simple analogy to make his point and hold the prospect's interest. Number four, he asked a question which led the prospects to come to their own conclusion. Another story with a happy ending because the right man was using the right techniques, sel ing the right product under the right circumstances to people who were legitimate prospects.

The next point is very simple. Wouldn't it have been doubly unfortunate for everyone concerned had this couple, who obviously wanted the car, and Bil Egan, who obviously wanted the sale, been unable to get together because of the absence of sales skil s and persuasion?

The Price Is Too High

Later on in Secrets, I deal at length with the statement that no salesman is

"normal" if he is real y outstanding. I now extend that to include the buyers, because they are not "normal" either at the time they get ready to sign the agreement. There is demonstrable proof that when a person signs an order for a significant amount of money, in almost every case there is a measurable increase in his pulse rate. A change is taking place and he's going through a process that affects him emotional y. When we become completely aware of the extent of the effect, we wil be able to deal more empathetical y with the prospect and consequently be more effective as salespeople.

In dealing with a price objection, you must remember that many people wil automatical y say the price is too high, whether they feel that way or not.

This is a method many people use because they think that by using it they'l be

This is a method many people use because they think that by using it they'l be able to negotiate a better price.

Here is yet another approach to handling the "price is too high" objection: "I'm glad you're concerned about price, Mr. Prospect, because that's one of our most attractive advantages. Would you agree that, as a practical matter, a product is worth what it can do for you and not what you have to pay for it?" (Wait for answer.) "Starting with that premise, let's take a look at what our product wil do for you."

Objection: The price is too high. You: "Mr. Prospect, our company had to make a choice between building our product as cheaply as possible and sel ing it as a get-by product, or building quality into the product for service, durability, and your long-lasting enjoyment. In short, for long-range value and benefit. With this decision facing us, we tried to put ourselves in your shoes. We felt you would prefer to deal with a company that puts everything possible into its product to make it the best and most useful, rather than a company that uses cheap materials and cheap labor to turn out a get-by product. Most people, Mr.

Prospect, and I'l bet that includes you, clearly understand that good things are not cheap and cheap things are seldom good. You do want something you can depend on for good service over the long haul, don't you, Mr. Prospect?"

Prospect Forgets Price-but Remembers Quality

As we explore cost and offer suggestions and instructions on the most effective way to use your voice and deal with price in this chapter, it's almost like kil ing a fly with a sledgehammer, since we give you so many details on this one point.

However, it is important and wil become even more important in the future, so the objective is to cover al the bases.

From your perspective, I think it's important to remember that the customer is likely to forget the price-especial y if he likes the product. Example: You probably have several suits or dresses which you real y enjoy wearing. Chances are good that if you've had them very long you have forgotten the exact price of those suits or dresses.

People forget price but they'l never forget poor quality or a poor choice. They general y give the salesperson a generous portion of the blame.

Some of that goes with the territory, but too much blame means you won't have the territory for long.

The "Quality" Close

In sel ing low-ticket items (brushes, soap, cosmetics), your time investment would be too great to cover al the foregoing information on deal ing with price, so let's look at a power-packed quick response which is enormously effective.

You can also use this one to convince the hesitant buyer who says the price is too high in an over-the-counter transaction in a retail outlet.

Lower your voice, look your prospect in the eye, and say, "You know, Mr.

Prospect, many years ago our company made a basic decision. We decided that it would be easier to explain price one time than it would be to apologize for quality forever. [Slight pause.] And I'l bet you're glad we made that decision, aren't you?"

If you are sel ing that low-ticket item, this last one might be the only one you wil use. In situations involving considerable sums of money, it can be the icing on the cake that moves the prospect into the buyer's chair.

State Farm agent Ab Jackson from Tucson, Arizona, was dealing with a prospect and making no progress. As a matter of fact, Ab was in somewhat of a sales slump and this prospect was mildly antagonistic. After Ab had made his presentation and handled several questions, the prospect was fairly emphatic in his statement that the price was too high.

Just as he has learned from the recording which covers this close, Ab looked at the prospect, lowered his voice, and said, "Mr. Prospect, at State Farm we decided many years ago that it would be easier to explain price one time than to apologize for poor quality or poor service forever-[pause]

and I'l bet you are glad we made that decision, aren't you?" The prospect said nothing for a few seconds, then firmly said, "I'l take it." The sale was almost exactly twice as big as the biggest contract Ab had ever written.

I urge you to do what Ab Jackson did. Practice, dril , and rehearse until the words and the right voice inflection become a part of you. Do this and you wil have developed a powerful tool for persuading your prospect to take the action which wil benefit you and him.

Chances are excellent, especially if you are in direct sales, that you have

been in a selling situation in which you've answered one objection after another. Regardless of what has come up you've handled it effectively.

Finally, the prospect (in a husband/wife situation) turns to his wife and says,

"Oh, Martha, it doesn't make any difference what you say; he's got an answer for everything!"

Or, in a more sophisticated environment, he might say to you, "Well, you've certainly done your homework. It doesn't make any difference what I ask; you've got an answer for it!"

Feed Your Ego-or Make the Sale

If that ever happens (I should say, when that happens), you're faced with a major decision. You can either decide to feed your ego or decide to make the sale. You can't do both. When he says, "You've got an answer for everything," you can either grin and say, "Wel , as a matter of fact, last month I was number one in the office, and the month before. .. "-Or you can take a different approach and make the sale.

If you give the preceding response, you've just fed your ego and that's al you'l feed. When your prospect makes the statement "You've got an answer for everything," if you want to further your career, you need to lower your voice, look him in the eye, and slowly, softly say, "Mr. Prospect, I real y appreciate that comment and I'm going to take it as a compliment. But actual y I don't have an answer for many of the questions and objections people bring to me. That's the reason I'm excited about sel ing the product which is the answer to your problem. And that's what you real y want, isn't it [nodding your head as you talk]?"

That procedure, my sel ing friend, is stronger than dirt! It wil get results, if you are sincere and believe what you are saying!

Let's elaborate on that last sentence by saying you can take the biggest crook in town and teach him the words, procedures, and techniques that professional salespeople al over the world successful y use. However, the effectiveness of those words and techniques would be seriously limited by the credibility of the person using them. It is true-the most important part-of the sales process is the salesperson.

The study by DeMarco and Maginn of The Forum Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts (page 118), contains much valuable information and supports this

Massachusetts (page 118), contains much valuable information and supports this credibility contention completely. As a matter of fact, this one factor consistently appeared throughout the report. High performers in the world of sel ing establish trust with customers by one-on-one, eye-to-eye communication skil s. They maintain trust by personal y assuming responsibility for completing the sale, which means servicing the account on an ongoing basis and utilizing their company support people in the most effective manner. High performers demonstrated great integrity with their fol ow-through and belief that the sale is not complete until the product is instal ed and functioning, and the customer is satisfied.

6

The Professional Sells and Delivers

My First "Sale." When I'd been in the sales world about three months, in 1947, I used psychology in what I consider my first real sales strategy.

Many things were stil fairly difficult to get, including good heavy-duty waterless cookware. We were taking as many orders as we could get, but delivery was sometimes delayed for one to three months. World War I had not been over very long, and for about four years no heavyduty cookware had been available. So there was a backlog of demand. Experienced salesmen were having a field day, but I was a novice and, frankly, I was struggling.

One day I was in Winnsboro, South Carolina, knocking on doors, attempting to sel . I knocked on the door of Mr. Anderson, a highway patrolman whose wife came to the door. She let me in, explaining that her husband and Mr. Boulware from next door were out in the backyard, but that she and Mrs. Boulware would be glad to look at the cookware. Once I got inside, I persuaded the ladies to invite their husbands in, assuring them that they, too, would enjoy the demonstration. The ladies "coerced" their husbands into coming in.

No amount of persuasion, however, could convince the men to take the demonstration seriously. I put on an enthusiastic cooking presentation, cooking apples without water and on low heat in my set of cookware and some by the old-fashioned way with water in the cookware they had. The difference was dramatic, and as I set the apples cooked by two different methods in front of them, both couples were by now impressed with the difference. The men, however, apparently feared they were about to be sold something, so they acted

however, apparently feared they were about to be sold something, so they acted as if they had no interest.

The "Reverse" Close

At that point, I knew the sale was lost, so I decided to use a little reverse sel ing.

I cleaned my cookware, packed it back in the sample case, and said to the couples, "Wel , I real y appreciate your letting me demonstrate. I only wish I could offer you the cookware today. Perhaps it wil be available in the future."

Immediately both husbands became vital y interested in our set of cookware. Mr.

Anderson and Mr. Boulware both came out of their seats and demanded to know when it would be available. I assured them I did not know exactly, but I would keep them in mind when it was. They persisted,

"Wel , suppose you forget us, how wil we know?" I responded, "Wel , I suppose-to be on the safe side-it would be al right for you to go ahead and make a deposit on a set which the company would ship when it's available. It might be a month or it could even be three months." Both of them eagerly reached into their pockets and came up with the down payment. About six weeks later the merchandise was shipped. (It's important to note that throughout the presentation I dealt strictly with the facts.)

There is something about human nature that seems to want whatever is unavailable or difficult to obtain. In this case, I was simply using a little sales psychology to capitalize on this facet of human nature.

Two important points: Number one, reverse sel ing is a very effective method of persuasion, but number two, you must be scrupulously honest and very careful that you always play the game straight. Otherwise it is deceitful and you'l get caught and your prospects wil lose confidence in you.

More importantly, you wil lose respect for yourself and your self-image wil suffer, which means your sales wil go down. (Part 2 of Secrets of Closing the Sale explains why.)

Selling a Shoe Shine

I believe everyone sel s and everything is sel ing. Here's a story which demonstrates voice inflection and some sales techniques we've been talking about. In the late winter of 1976 I stopped in the St. Louis airport to change planes. A quick glance at my shoes told me 1 needed a shine, and my watch told

planes. A quick glance at my shoes told me 1 needed a shine, and my watch told me I had time. That pleased me, because in my opinion the best shoe shiners in the whole world are in that St. Louis airport.

I walked into the little cubicle, and as I stood there the gentleman in the third chair was stepping down. The young shoe shiner said to me, "Come on in, you're next." I climbed up in the chair, and while he completed the cash transaction with his customer, I looked over his prices. The prices at that time (they've changed since then) were, "Regular Shine, 750. Wax Shine, $1.00. Spit Shine, $2.00." I decided to get the Regular Shine, tip him a quarter, and be on my way.

When Johnny (he had a name tag) came to me after finishing with his other customer, he asked, "What kind?" I responded, "Regular." He took a short step backward, looked up at me, and said, "Regular?!" (His inflection had both a question and a you've-gotta-be-kidding tone.) I knew then I was headed for an unusual shoe shine, but I wasn't about to let that dude get the best of me. I said,

"Yeah, just give me the regular. You guys do such a fantastic job, I know it's going to be super good!" He never grunted, never changed expression, never said anything. He reached for the saddle soap and started cleaning my shoes by liberal y applying it to both of them. Next he got his cloth to wipe the shoes dry.

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When he finished wiping the first one, he rubbed the shoe leather and made it squeak so loudly you could have heard it a block away. He half asked, half commented, "These are Bal ys, aren't they?" Zig: "Wel , as a matter of fact, they are." Johnny: "Man, they are real y nice shoes!" Zig:

"They ought to be!" Johnny: "They cost a lot of money, don't they?" Zig: "Yeah, they real y do, but I'm not complaining, because these are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn." Johnny: "They are nice shoes."

The "Shame" Close

By then he had finished wiping the other shoe, so he picked up the shoe polish.

Before applying the polish he reached up, grabbed a pant leg, and said, "This is one of the most unusual pieces of cloth I've ever felt." He was right. That particular suit was most unusual. Doyle Hoyer, the owner of Glasgow Clothiers in Fort Madison, Iowa, sold me that suit, and he told me that particular piece of cloth was from Ireland and would last me at least five years. It was a marvelous,

cloth was from Ireland and would last me at least five years. It was a marvelous, marvelous suit.

As I was tel ing Johnny al these things, he asked, "What kind of suit is it?" I told him it was a Hickey-Freeman. "Man!" he said. "That is a nice suit!

They cost a lot of money, don't they?" I replied that Hickey-Freeman is a relatively expensive suit, but this one was especial y expensive because of the cloth. As a matter of fact, I spent over two hundred dol ars more for that suit than any suit I'd ever bought, but I was very happy with the purchase.

By now he had the polish on the shoes and was real y giving it that old cloth-popping job. As a shoe shiner of considerable experience (two years in the U.S.

Navy), I know something about shining shoes. One thing I do know is that if the guy doing the shining starts popping the cloth, he is not shining the shoes any better but he is doing two things. First, as the late Elmer Wheeler would say, he is "sel ing the sizzle," and sizzle does sel , and keeps the prospect sold, if it's backed with substance. Second, he's letting the folks outside the shine booth know something exciting is going on inside. He's prospecting for that next customer, which is something al professional salespeople regularly do.

Just as he finished one of the pops, he stopped, looked me in the eye, and said,

"You know, it just seems like a shame! [Pause.] A man wil spend over a hundred dol ars for a pair of shoes; he'l spend several hundred dol ars for a suit of clothes, and al he's trying to do is look his best. [Pause.]

And then he won't spend another dol ar to get the best shine in the whole world to top everything off!" [Pause.] Zig: "Spit on 'em, man, spit on 'em!"

(In a pleasant, humorous way he had shamed me into buying a better shine. He put the other dol ar into perspective by bringing the price of the shoes and suit into focus.)

Sell It-Then Deliver

He finished the shine and it was a beauty! I don't know how you are, but I personal y feel that when I get a seventy-five-cent shine, a two-bit tip is fine.

But whoever heard of a two-bit tip on a two-dol ar shine? People with any class just don't do things like that! I gave Johnny a buck to go with the other two and started walking out (strutting would be more accurate), feeling like the king of

started walking out (strutting would be more accurate), feeling like the king of the walk while thinking to myself, What in the world is this guy doing shining shoes?

Then I looked up at the clock as it flipped to straight up and down, ten o'clock.

Now that's very important, because when I sat down in the chair it showed exactly three minutes to ten. I was in Johnny's chair three minutes. I gave him three dol ars. You don't have to be a Phi Beta Kappa out of M.I.T. to know that a dol ar a minute comes to sixty dol ars an hour. Do you realize that's what some psychiatrists made at that time?

Now I'm not a mind reader, but I know what you're thinking. Sixty dol ars an hour is $480 a day, and I know he's not going to make that much, so cut that in half. That's $240. Cut that in half, and it's $120. Cut that in half (I'l guarantee that you don't have to cut it that last time) and that's $60 a day.

Even if you did, that would stil leave him over $18,000 a year shining shoes, and as we'd say down home, if he isn't making over $20,000 a year (lots more than that today), there ain't a dog in Georgia!

But hold the phone! There are two things you need to understand thoroughly.

Number one, he is a professional salesman. As a matter of fact, his name tag also includes his title, "Shoeologist." To the best of my knowledge, he is the only one in the U.S. He is good.

Number two, he delivers everything he sel s. (I'm personal y convinced our divorce rate would be reduced 90 percent if men and women delivered in marriage what they sold while courting. I'm also convinced your sales career wil be even more rewarding if you deliver what you sel .) In short, Johnny does a fantastic job of shining shoes. Fortunately, this story has not one but two sequels.

The "Extra" Close

I was back in the St. Louis airport about a year after the first incident, so I returned to the shoe-shine booth. I had my overnight bag with me, so I hung it up before I sat down. By now they'd changed the price structure a little. "Regular Shine" was a dol ar, the wax shine had been eliminated, and the name of the spit shine was "Best Shine." The price was stil $2.00. As I sat down, Johnny asked me what kind of shine I wanted. I didn't want to go through the routine again, so I said, "Just give me the best!" He smiled, said, "Okay," and went to work.

I found out a long time ago that people do better when you treat them like a good farmer treats his cows. I don't know how much you personal y know about cows, so I'd like to share two things with you. Number one, I can tel you from my experience, dating back to the time I was eight years old, cows don't "give" milk.

You have to fight for every drop. Number two, I can tel you the quality and quantity of the cow's milk is directly related to the way she is treated.

Walk into the barn and slap the old cow a couple of times, tel her that her production is down, that her butterfat is lower than ever, and that you feel she's doing a lousy job. Kick her in the side and tel her she's got to get production up or she's headed for the hamburger gril , and two things wil probably happen.

Number one, she might kick you back. Whether she does or not, I can tel you with absolute certainty that you wil not get nearly as much milk, and the milk you do get wil probably be unfit for human consumption. The old cow would get so upset that a chemical change would literal y take place in her body and the milk would be sour or so bitter you could not drink it.

On the other hand, walk into the barn and pleasantly greet the cowno, I don't necessarily think you have to kiss her, but it wouldn't hurt you to kind of rub her a little bit, maybe even put your arm around her. Tel her she's got to be the best-looking cow you've seen al morning, stroke her a couple of times, and tel her what a nice, soft coat she has. Brag on her and tel her you're mighty proud of the production she's given you in the past and you just have a good feeling it's going to get better and better. If no one's around, you might even tel her you love her.

Not only wil this approach improve production but it wil also improve the quality of the milk.

Compliments Improve Competence

As a boy I saw it happen time after time. My mother loved al animals, but she especial y loved cows. When she bought a cow she would name her, pet her, and treat her like a member of the family. I have seen her buy a three-gal on-a-day producer (average for the 1930s and '40s) on many occasions and in a matter of weeks have the same cow producing four or five gal ons of milk per day.

Now in case you're wondering what this has to do with shining shoes and sel ing more merchandise, just read on. I knew Johnny would do a better job of shining my shoes-despite the fact that I already felt he was the best I'd ever seen-if I gave him a little encouragement. With this in mind I started bragging on him. I told

him a little encouragement. With this in mind I started bragging on him. I told him he was doing a marvelous job and the shine looked great. He shined my shoes to a standstil ! As a matter of fact, since I was the only customer and I was bragging on him so much, he just kept shining my shoes. I final y told him I had to go, so he finished the job.

As I stepped down out of the chair, I made the observation to Johnny that he obviously enjoyed shining shoes. His response to this was very positive. He explained that he got a lot of pleasure in watching a person come in with grubby-looking shoes and dragging bottom. He said that after a real y good shine many times the guys actual y seemed to pick up their feet with a new look of pride and enthusiasm.

"Yes," he said, "I do like to shine shoes, but mainly I enjoy people. I meet al kinds and most of them are nice folks so I real y enjoy talking with them." To this I commented, "Wel , you certainly do a beautiful job, not only as a sales and public-relations man but also as a fantastic professional at shining shoes."

Johnny was beaming al the way through this, but as I stepped down out of his chair, he said, "Could I ask you a question?" Zig: "Sure." Johnny:

"Didn't I see you with an overnight bag when you sat down?" Zig: "You sure did." Johnny: "Are you spending the night in St. Louis?" Zig: "Yes, I am."

Johnny: "Do you by any chance have another pair of shoes in that bag?" Zig:

"As a matter of fact, I do." Johnny: "You know, it'd real y be a shame-

[pause] to have the most beautiful shine in St. Louis tonight and then look like just one of the crowd tomorrow. It won't take me but a minute and you'l be on your way!"

Deliver What You Sell

I left Johnny with five dol ars that time! But again let me emphasize something I stated earlier. Johnny is a professional salesman and he delivers what he sel s.

For some strange reason a certain segment of our population seems to believe the professional salesperson must have on a three-piece suit, carry a fancy briefcase, and sel investments, computers, or some specialized product like real estate trusts or mutual funds.

I've seen many people in those industries who were highly professional, and I've seen some who had only the three-piece suit and the fancy briefcase. By the

seen some who had only the three-piece suit and the fancy briefcase. By the same token, you can be a highly skil ed professional salesperson, as Johnny is, and sel shoe shines. The route salesman who services bread racks or soft-drink racks in rural areas can be a truck driver and delivery boy or he can become a wel -paid professional salesman.

Ditto for the clerk in the discount store or the butcher behind the meat counter.

The professional learns his product, his job, and his clientele. He learns how to use the right words and body language to persuade people to take action. Then he makes absolutely certain he delivers everything he sel s and then some.

The "Add On" Close

Of even more importance is the fact that Johnny was not content to make just the one sale. He saw a chance for the second and took advantage of the opportunity.

I think you already know I was not the least bit offended that he wanted to sel me the second shoe shine. Actual y, once you've gained the confidence of your customers with the first sale, you are in a position to be of real service to them.

The first order is an indication of trust.

If you have companion products which your customers regularly use, you render a service by saving them time, bookkeeping entries, and inventory problems by helping them reduce the number of suppliers they deal with.

I'm not suggesting that if you have a multiple line you should try to sel the entire line on every sales cal . I am suggesting that if you believe in what you sel and your customer is using similar products, you wil do both of you a favor by offering the other products, especial y on the second and subsequent sales cal s.

Incredibly, the story has yet another sequel. One rainy day I was back in the St. Louis airport changing planes again. This time Johnny was not there. As I stepped into the chair, the shoe shiner (soon to be known as "Gloomy Gus") came to me and said, "Well, I suppose you want the Regular Shine?"

I looked at him with disbelief and said, "I can't believe you said that! Why would you offer me the Regular instead of the Best?" Gloomy Gus: "In rainy weather people don't want to spend two dollars for a shine and just get it all messed up." Zig: "Won't the Best Shine give my shoes the best protection?" Gloomy Gus: "Yes, it will." Zig: "Well, why didn't you offer me the Best?" Gloomy Gus (or should it now be "Broken Record"?):

"People just don't want to spend two dollars for a shine on a rainy day."

Zig: "It seems to me that if the Best Shine gives the best protection and your business is down on rainy days, you would work awfully hard to increase the sales of your Best Shine." Gloomy Gus: "Well, I suppose so." (He's hard-core negative.) Zig: "How would you like for me to give you a few words which would double the number of Best Shines you sell?" Gloomy Gus (with the first sign of a pulse beat): "Man, I would really like that!

What are they?" Zig: "The next time a customer comes in and sits down, the first thing you do is look at his shoes. Then you look at his eyes, smile, and say to him, "Unless I miss my guess, you're the kind of guy who is going to want the best shine we've got." When he heard those words they apparently struck a responsive chord, because he actually showed some enthusiasm as he said, "Man, give me that one more time!" So 1 repeated the words.

Changing the Status Quo

I haven't seen this guy again so I don't know the rest of the story, but I do know this: You can change everything about your business by changing your thinking about your business. In short, if you don't like the status quo, change the status of your thinking and old "quo" is gonna be al right!

Regardless of what you're sel ing, a little optimistic addition and positive expectation to your presentation wil increase your volume and hence your profitability. I repeat, if what you're sel ing is good, why would you hesitate to offer it to the public in an optimistic manner?

Remember in dealing with your prospects that most people simply do not like to make decisions. They're somewhat like this old boy down home who went to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist stated, "I understand you have trouble making decisions. Is that true?" The old boy looked at him somewhat puzzled for a moment and said, "Wel , yes and no." That's pretty much the way many of our prospects are. They just don't like to make decisions. That's the reason you are a salesperson. You are there to give them information so they can be confident they are making the right decision.

Yes, psychology is involved in everything we do. As we conclude this segment on "The Psychology of Closing," I encourage you to develop your sales skil s and techniques. I especial y urge you-via the use of the cassette recorder-to learn how to effectively use that voice of yours. Get emotional y involved in persuading people to take action, real y stay motivated, hone your skil s to a fine

persuading people to take action, real y stay motivated, hone your skil s to a fine point, and I wil SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

PART 2

The Heart of Your Sales Career

OBJECTIVES

To get the person ready to be a better, more productive salesperson.

To explain sel ing as a transference of feeling.

To differentiate between sympathy and empathy and help you to think as a buyer and as a sel er.

To sel sel ing and professional preparation for professional results.

To explain the necessity of building a physical, mental, and spiritual reserve.

To introduce love as the dominant factor in a successful sales career.

To explore the importance of honesty, conviction, and integrity as absolute musts for an outstanding sales career.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "Believer's" Close

The "Ownership" Close Revisited

The "Get'Em Smiling" Close

The "Empathy" Close

The "Physical Action" Close

The "Can't Afford It" Close

The "Go Giver" Close

The "Go Giver" Close

The "Columbus" Close

The "Courtship" Close

The "Testimonial" Close

The "Love" Close

7

The Critical Step in Selling

From the beginning we stated that the critical part of the sales process is the honesty and integrity of the salesperson. When I speak of honesty I'm not talking about paying your bil s or writing good checks. In today's computerized age, when you give a hot check it's discovered almost immediately. If you don't pay your bil s, it becomes common knowledge through the credit bureaus. It's good business to write good checks and to pay your bil s.

When I speak of honesty in the world of sel ing, I go one step beyond that-and that step is significant. The fol owing two stories wil spel out exactly what I mean.

Ya Gotta Believe

Years ago (1963), I was the number one cookware salesman in America for the Saladmaster Corporation of Dal as, Texas. We lived in Columbia, South Carolina, and business was fantastic. An associate of mine, sel ing the same product in the same town, was "starving to death." Once, while visiting in his home, we were in the kitchen having a cup of coffee, talking about his sales decline, when the fol owing dialogue took place: Zig: "Bil , I know exactly what your problem is." Bil : "What's my problem, Zig?" Zig: "Your problem is simple. You're attempting the psychological y impossible." Bil : "What are you talking about?" Zig: "You're trying to sel a product you don't enthusiastical y believe in." Bil : "Zig, that's crazy! Man, we've got the greatest set of cookware on the American market! It's absolutely fantastic! As a matter of fact, Zig, I left the company I'd been with for four years and came with Saladmaster because of the superiority of the product. In addition to that, I was a manager with the other company and started here as a salesman because of my belief in this product."

Zig: "Aw, come on, Bil . Peddle that baloney to other people! I know you and I know you don't believe what you're saying." Bil (a little hot under the col ar):

"You can say what you want to, but I know I believe in our product." Zig: "Bil , I can prove beyond any doubt that you do not real y believe in the product you sel ." And with that, I nodded toward the stove.

Bil : "Awwwww, you mean the fact that I'm cooking in a competitive set of cookware?" Zig: "Bil , that's exactly right." Bil : "Zig, don't give it a thought.

Man, that's got nothing to do with it. I'm going to buy a set of our cookware, but you know I've had my problems. We wrecked our car and for a couple of months we had to depend on borrowed transportation, buses, and taxis. Now, Zig, you know you can't get the job done in the sales world unless you have transportation you can depend on twenty-four hours a day.

"On top of that, my wife spent a couple of weeks in the hospital and I lost a lot of time from work and spent a lot of money because we don't have hospitalization insurance. Now add the worry and concern I've had and surely you can understand why it knocked us for a loop! And it's not over, because it looks like we're going to have to put the boys in the hospital to get their tonsils out and, Zig, we stil don't have any insurance! You're right when you say we should have a set of the cookware, and we are definitely going to get a set, but the timing is just not right!"

Selling Is a Transference of Feeling

Zig: "Bil , let me ask you a question. How long have you been with this company?" Bil : "Oh, about five years." Zig: "Bil , what was your excuse last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that? [Pause.] Let me tel you exactly what happens when you get down to thèshort rows' [that's Southern for decision-making time], when you ask your prospect that obligating question and he's `thinking it over.' The decision bal is up in the air; yes is ful commission, no is no commission.

"I can see the scene now, Bil , so let me paint the picture for you. The customer is thinking out loud as he says, 'I don't know, Bil . Boy, we sure need a good set of pots. I don't know how my wife cooks in that stuff she has, but it just doesn't seem like the right time to get 'em now. My wife's been in the hospital, we just wrecked the family car, it looks as if the boys are going to have to have their tonsils taken out, and we don't even have any insurance!'

tonsils taken out, and we don't even have any insurance!'

"Now, Bil , you and I both know they're not about to give you exactly the same excuses you've been giving me. But we also know they are going to give you the same excuses you've been giving yourself for the last five years. You are wel trained, Bil , so I know exactly what you are going to do every time they give you an excuse for not buying. You're going to sit there with a forced grin on your face, saying to yourself, `Think positive now, Bil , think positive, Bil !' But al the time, deeeeeep down inside, you're going to be thinking, Yeah, I know exactly what you mead. That's the reason I don't have a set of the stuff myself.

"Let me tel you something, Bil . The smartest thing you'l ever do, even if you've got to mortgage your furniture, is to buy a set of your own cookware.

Hear me on this, Bil [and I'm going to say to al my sel ing friends as you read this book, if you stop reading right here or don't believe or fol ow through on anything else I say in this book, if you wil buy-without reservation-my next statement, you wil immediately be more effective at sel ing whatever you sel ]: Sel ing is essential y a transference of feeling.

If I (the salesman) can make you (the prospect) feel about my product the way I feel about my product, you are going to buy my product if there is any way in the world you can come up with the money.

"Now in order to transfer a feeling, you've got to have that feeling. When you're trying to persuade somebody to do something you have not done yourself, that fact comes across to the prospect. Of course, al salesmen can occasional y con a person into buying something he doesn't real y believe in, but if you're going to build an outstanding career, you've got to be committed to the product yourself.

You've got to believe, because as Bernie Lofchick from Winnipeg, Canada, the greatest sales manager I know, says, `Believers are closers."'

The very word close starts with a c. That c stands for conviction. Take the c out of close and you have lose, which is what you and the prospect do when your lack of conviction and belief influences the prospect in a no decision.

You've Seen It Yourself

How many times have you seen a new and untrained person come into your organization? He doesn't know any of the "bear trap" closes and doesn't real y know scientifical y, psychological y, or technical y how to deal with al of the fancy objections, but oh, brother, does he ever believe in the product he's sel ing!

He believes it would be the most serious mistake in a lifetime if a person didn't go ahead and buy immediately and put that product to use. Net result: He sel s rings around some of the established pros. In my mind this proves that a green but convicted salesman is better than a blue unconvicted one.

The epitome of this feeling is Wil a Dorsey, the great Black spiritual singer.

Until you've heard her sing "Peace in My Soul," you have missed one of life's most beautiful experiences. Wil a says something al salespeople can learn from when she talks about belief. She says, "If you're going to be convincing, brother, you've gotta be convinced!"

Buy It-and You Can Sell It

What about you? Are you convinced of the merits of your merchandise? If you're sel ing Fords and driving a Chevrolet, then, my friend, it's costing you a great deal of money. Believe in what you sel -or do yourself, your company, your friends, your "victims," and the profession of sel ing a favor.

Change products or get out of the profession. Your failure is predestined, so why prolong the death rattle? The sooner you make the change into something you can honestly and enthusiastical y pursue, the sooner you wil start climbing the ladder to success. Obviously, there wil be some exceptions in buying or using what you sel . For example, if you sel locomotives, mil ion-dol ar computers, or 747s, I don't necessarily believe you have to buy one to prove you believe in it!

To emphasize that point I make the fol owing statement without reservation: If you don't believe the customers are the losers when they don't buy, you are sel ing the wrong product. If you don't feel a sense of loss for them, you are not going to be as effective and persuasive as you could be.

Sel ing is a transference of feeling, and your prospects are persuaded more by your pride and belief in your product than by any "proof" you submit regarding your product's performance.

Until and unless you truly feel that nobody sel s a better product value, you real y are not completely honest and your performance wil not be at the level you are capable of attaining. In that event you are obviously the biggest loser because

capable of attaining. In that event you are obviously the biggest loser because you wil miss too many of the close ones.

The late Charles Roth said that many people feel if they utter the three magic words Business is business they have license to lie, cheat, steal, and in general

"con" their fel ow man. The fear that those things wil happen often exists in the mind of the prospect. Roth pointed out that a calm, confident, positive, reassuring salesperson working from a base of honesty and integrity is the most effective tool to calm the fears of the prospect and get the sale. Yes, honesty is more than a moral issue. It is practical.

The "Believer's" Close

To make a long story short, I sold Bil a set of the cookware. Don't misunderstand; he wrote his own order and bought it from himself. The exciting

"rest of the story" is that the additional sales Bil made that week paid for his own set of cookware! The reason is simple. Every time someone brought up the "can't afford it" objection, Bil could handle it with his head and his heart. Bil knew that he had dug in and bought his own product when it hurt to do so. He understood how those prospects felt, but now he was able to deal with them with empathy and not sympathy. (We cover the difference in considerable detail in the next chapter.)

Bil understood how the prospects felt, but he did not feel the same way, because he had bought his own set of cookware. He had made the sacrifice so he could look them in the eye and say, "I know how you feel, but I know from experience it's worth the sacrifice. You'l never regret it."

Results were dramatic. His sales skyrocketed because he was sel ing from abelief base tied directly to his heart.

You've gotta believe. I personal y feel that honesty means we believe so deeply, so completely, so fervently in what we are sel ing that we can't understand why other people don't buy. When our belief is that deep, our prospect picks it up.

Chances are excel ent you've had somebody say to you, "I don't know why I'm listing this home with you, or giving you my business. There have been half a dozen people by here this week and I turned them down." Many times they real y don't know, but it gets down to the basic fact that they trust you because of your conviction. They "feel" they can depend on your integrity and fairness.

Many times this trust is because of the reputation you have built over a period of

Many times this trust is because of the reputation you have built over a period of years and because of that deep belief and feeling you have in and for your product which is transferred to your prospect.

One of the major points-if not the major point-revealed in The Forum Corporation study was the fact that high-performing salespeople are trusted by their customers. They are trusted, over the long haul, for a very good reason.

They are trustworthy. Like I say, being honest is practical.

"Closers" Own What They Sell

Life insurance companies wil tel you they can take a hundred salespeople with at least one year's experience and without looking at their sales records predict within five percentage points what these salespeople, as a group, are going to sel for the year. They make their predictions based solely on the amount of insurance these people carry on their own lives. You see, sel ing is a transference of feeling. The critical step in the world of sel ing is this step of honesty which is your total conviction, your complete belief that the product or service you sel is truly the best buy for the prospect.

When I entered the world of sales training on a professional level, I shared my experience with Bil (own what you sel ) in a series of recordings. An enthusiastic young fire-alarm salesman listened to the story and realized he apparently did not believe in his product because he did not own the alarm system himself. His conscience was prodded and he instal ed the alarms in his own home. Later he wrote me and said, "You know, Zig, the first month I had that set of alarms in my own home I made enough extra sales to completely pay for them."

The "Ownership" Close Revisited

Countless other salespeople, sel ing everything from cars and cosmetics to insurance and soap, have shared the same experience. Once you've made that emotional and financial commitment which says, "I believe in my product so strongly that I bought it myself," then you can transfer that feeling to the other individual. In a nutshel , closers own what they sel .

When the prospect brings up a "can't afford it" objection, you can with considerable conviction point out that your product is so good it's worth sweating and sacrificing for. Obviously, you wil be hypocritical and hence not very convincing if you have not invested in your own product.

very convincing if you have not invested in your own product.

To repeat myself, if you are sel ing Fords, you should be driving a Ford. If you sel 747s, locomotives, steamships, or multimil ion-dol ar computers, you don't need to buy one. But general y speaking, if it's feasible, you should believe in what you sel so much that you are wil ing, even anxious, to sacrifice-if necessary-to own it.

By way of emphasizing this even further, if you do not honestly feel the prospect is the loser if he doesn't buy, then you're not going to be nearly as effective in the world of sel ing. How can you honestly feel the prospect is going to "lose" if you are not "winning" by owning the product? Whatever you're sel ing should be much in evidence in your home, car, business, or wherever it is used. By its presence you're saying, "I believe." Again: Closers own what they sel . - - -- - - -

- -- - -

Not only should you believe in the product you sel , but you should also believe in and be loyal to the company you represent. Your effectiveness and productivity wil be affected by your feelings toward your management and your company. I urge you to read Russel Conwel 's Acres of Diamonds, which beautiful y il ustrates the fact that opportunity and "gold mines" are everywhere-including right where you are. You can and wil find exactly what you look for in your life.

As a sales procedure it's smart and professional to praise and build your company everywhere you go. After al , how much confidence do you have in someone who bad-mouths his mate, his city, his company, or any of the people associated with the company?

Believe in your product and your company. Transfer that belief to the prospect and not only wil you sel more, you wil sel it more easily, and those customers wil get you other customers. That's career-building sel ing.

8

The Big "E" in Selling

Psychologist H. M. Greenberg did a psychological evaluation on 186,000 people and discovered that one out of five could be trained to be a successful salesperson. He also discovered that if anyone is going to be outstanding as a salesperson, he has to have a special kind of ego. This special ego requires the

salesperson, he has to have a special kind of ego. This special ego requires the

"food" of acceptance by the prospects he deals with.

When a salesman cal s on a prospect and is granted an appointment, the prospect is real y saying, "I buy you, so come on in and tel me the story."

When the prospect becomes a customer, he is saying to the salesman, "I trust you. I believe you're tel ing me the truth, so go ahead and write the order."

Dr. Greenberg says the top salesman needs to make the sale primarily because each sale is a reaffirmation of his own power, of his own ability, and because failure to close threatens his self-esteem. He likes the conflict; he likes to win; he likes to sel .

To be a truly outstanding salesman, you've got to have an ego, but according to Dr. Greenberg, you'd better watch that salesman if al he has is ego, because he wil do just about anything to make the sale. The result is disaster, for both customer and salesman. The customer is often abused and the salesman wil never build the sales career he's capable of building. In many cases he does wel on a temporary basis, but his shortcuts, misrepresentations, and exaggerations wil eventual y catch up and he wil have to move on to another city or another product line. Dr. Greenberg emphasizes if you're going to build a sales career, in addition to ego you've got to have empathy.

Empathy vs. Sympathy. Despite the general use of the word empathy, many people stil do not recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy and their application in the world of sel ing. This understanding is important, because if we tie empathy to ego, there's little danger we're going to oversel , which is sometimes a problem in the sales world.

Sympathy means you feel like another person feels. Empathy means you understand how the other person feels, though you do not feel the same way.

Example: When you observe a passenger leaning over the rail of a ship, suffering from seasickness, sympathy is perfectly demonstrated when you join him at the rail. Empathy is when you understand how the passenger feels, so you get him a cold towel and some seasickness pil s to help him solve the problem.

With empathy you understand and are sensitive to the feedback from the other person. You're not part of the problem, so you can back away and become part of the solution.

A marriage counselor with sympathy can get so involved in the other person's problems that eventual y he might need counseling himself. An arrested alcoholic with sympathy in trying to counsel a practicing alcoholic wil often tragical y get back on the bottle. A sales manager with sympathy wil end up broke and, in some cases, lose his effectiveness. He wil lend his salespeople money and on occasion wil end up doing their work for them.

Parents with too much sympathy wil let their kids do and have everything they could not do or have as kids, so they often raise spoiled, undisciplined, and unproductive children.

The reason most doctors and lawyers don't treat members of their own families or take them as clients is they are so involved in the problem they can't back away and objectively look at the solution.

Empathy is different. You understand the problem, and you know exactly how the prospect feels, but because you don't feel that way, you can back away from the problem and offer some solutions. In this part of the book my objective is to get you to think both as a buyer and as a sel er. To be truly professional you must be able to move comfortably from the sel er's side of the table to the buyer's side. If you know how your prospect thinks and feels, you're definitely going to sel more of what you're sel ing because you wil communicate more effectively.

With empathy the fol owing little dissertation on business (author unknown) takes on significant meaning.

When we separate the word business into its component letters, B-U-S-I-N-E-S-S, we find that U and I are both in it. In fact, if U and I were not in business, it would not be business. Furthermore, we discover that U comes before I in business and the 1 is silent-it is to be seen, not heard. Also, the U in business has the sound of I, which indicates it is an amalgamation of the interests of U and I.

When they are properly amalgamated, business becomes harmonious, profitable, and pleasant.

Don't Confuse Situations

Much of this is just common sense. Realistical y, a certain percentage of this is

"old stuff." Now before you discount anything for that reason, let me remind you that the procedure or information is old because it is good. If the results weren't good, the techniques would not be old-they would be dead. We weave the "old

good, the techniques would not be old-they would be dead. We weave the "old stuff" into much of the new material because you personal y might not be familiar with al the information, and if you are it's stil true that we may not need to be told-but we do need to be reminded.

As a salesperson it should be obvious to you that you never confuse your situation with your prospect's situation. You must remember that your wants, needs, desires, tastes, and capacity to pay have no bearing on your prospect's needs, wants, desires, and ability to pay.

As an example, you might be a clothing salesperson with personal tastes that are flashy. If a conservatively dressed businessman comes in for a suit, you obviously want to take note of what he's wearing. Then think in terms of what he wants and needs. If he looks at an expensive suit or sports coat which you could not afford, it doesn't mean you should try to talk him down to a less expensive item. Far from it.

If, on the other hand, you could afford something nicer but your prospect cannot, you should not try to sel him something which is completely out of his price range. Be very careful not to turn up your nose at a bargain-basement suit since you would not wear such a thing. Remember, for him that suit might be the epitome of luxury.

The same principle applies whether you're sel ing cars, houses, life insurance, or investments. In short, don't confuse your situation with his. Look at the goods, products, or services you sel through his eyes. That's empathy-and that's the professional way.

Eager He Was-Professional and Empathetic He Wasn't Good technique at the wrong time can be disastrous, because there is such a thing as the 100 percent wrong time to try to sel even a superb product.

Undoubtedly the worst bit of timing 1 have ever encountered occurred not long after we moved to Dal as. Our son, Tom, was a little less than four years old.

Late one afternoon we suddenly missed him. We immediately went to the homes on either side of our house. We looked up and down the street and in the back al ey. Then I quickly hopped in my car and drove up to the intersection and through the parking lot of the smal shopping center. In the meantime, my wife was busy cal ing the neighbors and our girls were out scouring the neighborhood and cal ing at the tops of their voices for Tom. There was no response.

ing at the tops of their voices for Tom. There was no response.

We looked fast and furiously for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality it was probably no more than twenty minutes; by then we were getting scared. I cal ed the Dal as police and told them our problem, and in a matter of minutes they responded and joined the search. In the meantime, I made another trip to the shopping center, circled the block, and went up and down the al eys, rol ing down my windows and cal ing for Tom everywhere I went. In the process I aroused the concern and interest of several neighbors who also joined in the search.

Natural y, I checked back by the house every few minutes. During one of these check-ins I encountered a salesman for one of the local patrol organizations which are very much in evidence in our society today.

I blurted out that my son was missing and asked if he would help us find him.

Incredibly enough, the man started trying to sel me his patrol service.

As he started his presentation I was in some shock, and when he continued it for a few more seconds, I stopped and-partial y in disbelief, partial y in frustration, partial y in anger-explained rather heatedly that if he would help me find my son, then we would talk about his services.

His Empathy Was Nonexistent

His timing could not have been worse. Surely no one with enough intel igence to get out of a phone booth without written directions on the side would ever make such a mistake. I use the example only to point out that timing combined with empathy is prerequisite to sales success. Sensitivity to the other person's needs and interests is of paramount importance. For example, had the patrol salesman joined in the search, in just twenty minutes he would have made the easiest sale in his career. You guessed it-we found our son.

Asa rule of thumb, when I cal someone on the phone, whether it's for a social or a business cal , after the initial greeting I always ask a question in this manner:

"Did I catch you at a busy time, or do you have four [or seven, nine, etc.-al other salesmen ask for five, ten, etc.] minutes to talk?" Not only is this a courteous move, but in my judgment it's good sel ing. If my prospect's mind is somewhere else, my chances of a sale are greatly reduced.

In personal contacts, if your prospect is obviously not with you, I urge you to stop your presentation and say, "Mr. Prospect, apparently I've caught you at a

stop your presentation and say, "Mr. Prospect, apparently I've caught you at a bad time. Would you be freer to discuss this proposal at a later time, or would you prefer that I continue?" It's tough to sel when he's not paying attention. A move like this wil bring his mind back to the presentation if he was just thoughtlessly drifting. If he is preoccupied, chances are good he wil appreciate your consideration and give you an appointment for a later time. This wil partial y obligate him to you to the degree that he wil probably give you his undivided attention when you return.

As you have undoubtedly discovered a few dozen times in this book, common sense and good sales techniques are interwoven so completely it's impossible to separate them.

The "Get 'Em Smiling" Close

As a sales trainer, I'm going to suggest that if you can get your prospects smiling and agreeing with you as you go into the body of your presentation, your chances of making a sale are considerably greater. The reason is simple: They must buy you before they wil buy your ideas or services. A friendly smile or a laugh is a reasonably good indication they are buying you as a person and wil therefore be more likely to buy what you are sel ing. And it is unlikely your prospect is going to have negative feelings about your product or services with a big smile on his face or after a good laugh.

As a salesman, I'm convinced it is impossible to be completely wrapped up in what you are doing and not in rare instances get a rise out of a prospect who is offended by your zeal and commitment. This could and should happen, but (now read this careful y) it should happen so rarely that you know, and you know that you know, it's the prospect who has the problem. On pages 332-36 I cover the procedure you should use to calm the prospect and make the sale.

Now let's look at two examples which clearly demonstrate that sympathy costs you and the prospect while empathy pays you and the prospect.

Sympathy Costs

Many years ago, not long after I started my career in the cookware business, I cal ed on a farmer and his wife who had attended my dem onstration the night before. We were back in the kitchen when I made my presentation-which I'l never forget.

When I finished he just held up his hand and said, "Mr. Ziglar, this probably won't mean much to you because I know you've got a bathroom inside your house. But me and my wife have been married over twenty years, and for twenty years I've been promising her, `Next year, honey, we're going to build a bathroom.' Every year it's always `next year,' because one year we would have a bad crop, another year the baby would get sick, or we had to buy a new tractor."

He continued, "For over twenty years I've been struggling to build that bathroom, and I've final y got that money right here, right now." (As he said this he patted his money pocket, which was at the top center of the overal s.) "But,"

he said, "ain't you or nobody else going to get one dime of my money until we build that bathroom."

Who Sells Whom?

I emphasize this: A sale is made on every presentation. The prospect either sel s you that he can't or won't buy or you sel him that he can and should buy. In this case and at that time of my career, I was badly overmatched. That old boy was a super salesman and he had a fantastic prospect (me) who was far too wil ing to buy what he was sel ing. In short, I was sympathetic-and here's why.

When I was a boy we had "running water" at our house, which means that we had to "run and get it," if you know what I mean. When he hinted about those cold, wet trips which you associate with outdoor bathrooms, even though it was August I shivered three times! I had so much sympathy for his situation I wouldn't have done anything to jeopardize that old boy's bathroom, so I folded my tent and "stole away like a thief in the night!"

I left graciously and pleasantly because my friend and first sales trainer, Bil Cranford, had taught me when you miss a sale you should always terminate the interview in such a way that the next salesperson can easily gain admission to that prospect's mind. In show business they tel you to

"leave'em laughing." In sales the professional terminates the interview with the prospect in at least a friendly frame of mind. In this case, I was confident we had parted on friendly terms because he even invited me back for a cup of coffee if I was ever in the neighborhood again.

Two days later I bumped into his sister on the streets of the little town of Lancaster, South Carolina. Even though this was in 1948, I stil remember the conversation. (Incidental y, she had a vested interest in the sale, because if her

conversation. (Incidental y, she had a vested interest in the sale, because if her brother had bought she would have gotten a premium.) Sister: "What in the world happened to you and my brother?" Zig: "What do you mean, `What happened?"' Sister: "He's so mad at you I think he'l whip you if he ever sees you again!" Zig: "Him-mad at me? A nice guy like me?" Sister: "He sure is!" Zig:

"Wel , why is he mad at me?" Sister:

"Very simple. He wanted to buy a set of pots and you wouldn't even sel 'em to him!" Zig: "Wel , I'l go back out there right now!" Sister: "It's too late.

He doesn't trust you anymore!"

Hear What the Prospect Is Saying-Not Just What He Says For a long time I could not conceive of the difficulty. I won't tel you that one day it hit me like a bolt out of the blue, because it didn't. But over a period of time the basic problem became clear to me. I had heard every word the old boy said, but didn't hear a word he was saying. Let me explain.

I had demonstrated and proved beyond any reasonable doubt that our set of cookware would save money, work, and food value. The farmer and his wife had seven smal children between the ages of two and sixteen. It was obvious they had a large family, because I don't care how clever you are, you just can't hide seven smal children in -a little house.

This man had seen and heard the benefits of the cookware at the demonstration.

The next day at the presentation in his home, he said, "I've been working over twenty years to get the money to build my bathroom. I've got it right here, but neither you nor anybody else is going to get one dime of it until we build that bathroom." That's what he said, but that is not what he was saying.

He was saying, "Mr. Ziglar, for over twenty years I've been struggling, trying to raise the money to build a bathroom, but at long last I've got the problem solved." (He even patted his money pocket.) His body language and home environment were also saying, "Look, I've got seven kids and I want to feed them the best food at the lowest possible price with the most food value. My wife, bless her heart, being the mother of seven children and a farm wife, too, she's working herself to death. Mr. Ziglar, do you have anything that would save her some work, my children some food value, and me some money?"

That's what he was saying! That's what his environment was saying. But I was so

That's what he was saying! That's what his environment was saying. But I was so wrapped up in sympathy with a problem he had already solved that I lost sight of or failed to recognize his much bigger problem, namely, feeding those kids the best way and taking a work load off his wife.

Obviously, if you are not completely tuned in to your prospect's major need, you are not going to offer a solution. Sympathy cost me the sale, but of infinitely more importance, it cost the prospect the use of a product that would have been very beneficial to him. Sympathy costs the salesperson and the prospect.

Or It Could Have Been ... There are a few other possibilities in this scenario.

Number one, my demonstration had been "rigged." The cookware real y would not save food value; it would not save the farmer's wife work; it would not save the money which I had demonstrated it would. In short, I had lied to the man. Or the possibility exists that the farmer thought those things when I walked out so easily. Had my conviction about my product and my concern for the farmer been strong, he would have had to feel that I would stand my ground and plead my case more fervently for him to buy.

On the other side of that coin is the fact that the cookware was what I said it was.

It real y would save work as wel as food value, and it would save the money. But the farmer could have figured that I, as a salesman, was interested in a fast sale and an easy buck, and when I saw that I was not going to get either of them, in essence I said to him, "Just forget about it, friend. I'l go somewhere else and find an easier sale."

Now please understand. There was no way I could climb down into his mind and know what he was or was not thinking, but I do offer these as possibilities.

There's yet another possibility in the farmer's mind. When I stuck my ego out just a little and asked for the order, only to be rejected, the farmer could have thought I was overly sensitive to my own feelings and not sensitive enough to his needs. Thus when he slightly stepped on my ego, I quickly withdrew.

Farmer's interpretation: Zig's interested in himself, not in solving my problems.

If that was the case, it should be obvious that any salesman who is "wrapped up in himself" makes a mighty smal package!

As I say, there are many possibilities, but they al come out with the same result.

I missed a sale and the commission which went with it. The farmer and his family missed the benefits which would have been theirs had I been professional and competent in dealing with this prospect.

Empathy Pays

Empathy is different. Jay Martin, a friend of mine from Memphis, Tennessee, is the president of National Safety Associates, a company which sel s smoke-and-fire detectors. He tel s this story: One evening he was working with one of his young dealers. The dealer made a good, solid presentation to a prospect. When he finished he asked the obligating question. Then, Jay said, "Zig, this old boy, who probably didn't finish the first grade, reared back on the hind legs of his chair, folded his arms, and said, `Wel , son, of course you've heard about my wreck!' The young man hadn't, so the prospect proceeded to give him al the details."

This Guy Had Problems

Prospect: "Me and my wife were driving down the highway a couple of months ago and this dude who was passing on the wrong side of the road hit us head-on, tore our car al to pieces, and put us both in the hospital. As a matter of fact, I was in there nearly two weeks myself and it left my ankle kind of stiff. Since I work on a piece-good basis, I haven't been able to get around as wel and my income's down and, man, that sure hurts!

"My wife was in the hospital over six weeks and she was gone so long her company phased out her job, so she's not even working. When you've been used to two incomes and al of a sudden you've only got one, man, that sure creates a problem! The hospital bil for both of us was over twenty thousand dol ars. Now I know the insurance company's eventual y going to pay it, but they sure have us nervous in the meantime!

"On top of al of that, just last week our boy came home from the navy and the first night at home he rounded a curve too fast, went over an embankment and down into a service station, tore up our other car, and destroyed a six-thousand-dol ar oil company sign. Now I know the insurance is going to pay for the car, but I don't know about that sign. I'l tel you right now, if we have to come up with six thousand dol ars, we're real y going to be up a creek and I don't know what we'l do!

"If al of that isn't enough, just last night we checked my motherin-law into the most expensive nursing home in the county. The only other living relative is a brother and I know he won't do anything. He hasn't even been heard from in over a year and he's not worth shooting even if we did know where he was. I know

a year and he's not worth shooting even if we did know where he was. I know I'm going to have to carry the whole load."

The "Empathy" Close

As you review this old boy's problems, the chances are excel ent you feel good about your situation in life, don't you? I mean, he did have a pretty heavy load to carry. If you were the salesman on this cal and you had a lot of sympathy, you would probably say, "Oh, that's just terrible, and I'l bet it's even worse than that!

You just don't want to make me feel bad and that's the reason you're not tel ing me the rest of it! But let me ask you a question. Won't the government do something? What about the Red Cross? What about your neighbors? Won't the church make a contribution?

Can't you at least get food stamps?" Now that's sympathy, but according to Jay Martin this salesman did not have sympathy. He had empathy.

With empathy you are emotional y detached from the problem so you can offer solutions. You move from your side of the table to the prospect's side. Realistical y that is where the sale is going to be made, and the chance of that happening is greatly increased, because from his side of the table you can make your presentation from his point of view.

According to Jay, that's what the young dealer was able to do. He looked the prospect in the eye and said, "Tel me, sir, in addition to those things, would there be any other reason you could not go ahead and protect the lives of your family by instal ing these smoke-and-fire detectors in your home?"

I don't know if you know what a conniption is, but that's exactly what that old boy had. He literal y roared with laughter, slapped his leg, and said, "No, son, those are the only reasons we couldn't go ahead and buy the alarms today. Ha, ha, ha!" (At that point I believe it would be safe to say that he did not consider himself a prospect.)

The "Physical Action" Close

Strategical y the salesman had made a very wise move. You should bring out al the objections as early as possible so you can deal with them in the body of the presentation or early in the negotiating phase of sel ing.

When the salesman learned there were no other reasons for not buying, he never

When the salesman learned there were no other reasons for not buying, he never hesitated. He reached down into his sample case (Jay Martin cal s this the

"Physical Action" Close) and removed one of the smoke detectors. He held the detector up against the wal to let the prospect see how it looked and said, "Sir, as nearly as I can tel , you now owe nearly thirty thousand dol ars [pause]-and three hundred more just won't make any difference at al ." (Pause-fol owed by the statement that got the sale.) He lowered his voice, looked the man in the eye, and quietly said, "Sir, fire-underany circumstances-is devastating. But in your case, it would wipe-you-out!" The technique was professional, the logic was sound. He got the sale.

He took the reason the old boy was giving him as to why he could not buy and used that as the reason he must buy. I don't care what you sel , the odds are at least ten to one that the prospect's reason for not buying can be used as a reason he should buy. That last sentence is quite significant, so let's explore it further.

The "Can't Afford It" Close

In 1978 we had a severe hailstorm in Dal as. The winds blew, the hail fel , and rain came down in sheets. The next morning a nice little artistic design on the ceiling in our living room, den, and kitchen indicated we had a real problem. We cal ed the roofer and his estimate came to something over $5,300. Now if I had said, "Can't afford it!" the salesman, assuming he was a pro, would have said to me, "Mr. Ziglar, if you can't afford to repair your roof, won't it be even more difficult after a few more rainstorms to afford the new furniture, the paint job, and the new insulation in the attic, and stil have to afford the new roof?"

One more time: Chances are excel ent you can use the prospect's reason for not buying as the reason he ought to buy. "What do you mean, ten dol ars to balance a tire? I can't afford to pay that kind of money!" "Mr. Prospect, if you can't afford ten dol ars to balance a tire, then how wil you be able to afford the greater expense of the new tire you're going to need much sooner?"

"Premiums! Man, I can't pay any more life insurance premiums now!" You've heard it a thousand times: "I'm already insurance-poor!" To begin with, I would say, "I've never met a widow who felt that her husband carried too much life insurance." That's the first thing. And the second: "If you, working ful -time, cannot pay the premium, how wil your family pay the grocery bil and the house payment if you are not there to work at al ?"

"Al that money for storm windows? Can't afford it!" "Mr. Prospect, if you can't

"Al that money for storm windows? Can't afford it!" "Mr. Prospect, if you can't afford the bil for the storm windows, what about the everincreasing fuel bil ?"

Whatever the reason they give you for not buying, you can general y use that as the reason they ought to buy.

My salespeople (me, too) are confronted with the same objection after a presentation. "I can't afford it!" We teach our sales reps to look at the prospect and, with a smile, softly say, "Sir, if you are serious when you say you can't afford a few dol ars for this training course on closing the sale, may I gently suggest you need to take whatever steps are necessary to get this course? The reason is simple: The techniques and closes wil help you close more sales. By the way, sir, how many extra sales would you need to make in order to get your entire investment back?"

As you explore what empathy and ego are al about, you'l discover that what I'm real y saying is, "Move to the prospect's side of the table, identify the problem, get involved in the solution, and your closing percentage wil increase."

This Attache Case Looks like Brother Bern

One day several years ago I received a cal from the Redhead, who was doing her (I should say "our") Christmas shopping. She was at Neiman-Marcus and was excited about an attache case she had just seen. Her observation was, "Honey, this attache case looks exactly like Brother Bern!"

Now, rather obviously, she did not mean that they had made an attache case in the configuration of my brother Bern from Winnipeg, Canada. What she did mean was, had Bernie Lofchick been in Neiman-Marcus shopping for an attache case, after looking at al of them he would have chosen this one and said, "This one fits me. This one looks like me."

Empathy is the ability to get inside the feelings of the other person and look at his wants and needs through his eyes. The Redhead was doing that in the purchase of that particular attache case. There's an old adage which says, If you re going to sel John Jones whatJohn Jones buys, you've got to sel John Jones through John Jones' eyes. That's empathy.

Empathy is what you use-or should be using-when you buy your friend, wife, husband, children, boss, or employee a gift of any kind. You should be thinking in terms of what that person would choose or would like if he or she were making the purchase.

making the purchase.

Empathy, from the retail salesperson's point of view, can substantial y increase sales when you deal with those shoppers who are buying for someone else.

Example: Psychologist Erwin S. Weiss of Cleveland, Ohio, said that grandparents general y want to give gifts to be remembered, parents give gifts which are practical, and youngsters give gifts to please their immediate interests.

Armed with this basic information, an alert clerk can concentrate the prospect's looking time and his own sales efforts on those items which most nearly fil the bil for the shopper who is buying gifts.

Empathy Improves Teamwork

Ted Lamb is a successful Chevrolet dealer in Prescott, Arizona. In 1982 (a serious recession year for the auto industry), Lamb Chevrolet increased its unit sales by 69 percent over 1981 and its dol ar volume by 68 percent over 1981.

From a profitability point of view, 1982 was Lamb's best year as a Chevrolet dealer.

Many factors enter the picture when you start asking the why and how of such a tremendous year. To begin with, Ted is a hardworking optimist who is civic minded and family oriented. He is also a creative manager with a "go give"

spirit. And he possesses a tremendous amount of empathy.

Al successful businesses must have a spirit of oneness and teamwork among the various departments. This is especial y true in the automobile business, in which cooperation between sales and service rates at the top of the totem pole in importance. On too many occasions, communication breakdowns occur because the sales department can't understand why the service department is unable to give 100 percent instantly perfect service to al reasonable and unreasonable customers. By the same token, the service people can't understand why salespeople constantly put them on the spot with "impossible" and often "idiotic"

requests for service.

At Lamb Chevrolet those communication problems are few and far between because of a unique procedure initiated several years ago.

Periodical y the service manager and the sales manager (who incidental y enjoy the same income) swap hats, departments, and responsibilities for a few days.

This way each manager literal y does walk in the other manager's shoes. He gains considerable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, opportunities, and

gains considerable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, opportunities, and yes, even chal enges the other manager faces. In the process he develops considerable empathy for his companion manager's role. Needless to say, when each manager returns to his own stand, it is with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the role the other manager plays in the daily operation of the business.

This process produces three winners. Each manager gains a new appreciation for the familiar waters of his own job and the unfamiliar waters of the other manager's job, so he wins. The customer wins because of better service in both departments. Lamb Chevrolet wins because the team spirit in al departments enables them to serve their customers better, which means they have more customers to serve.

9

The Right Mental Attitude

As we careful y explore the building of a sales career, one area that stands near the top of the must list is the development of the right mental attitude. My book See You at the Top deals with attitude in considerable depth, so I'm not going to go into extensive detail concerning attitude as it relates to closing the sale.

However, there are four phases of attitude which I feel are critical if you're going to close the sale instead of get close to the sale.

First, we wil look at attitude in general. Second, we wil look at your attitude toward you, meaning essential y your self-image. Third, we wil explore your attitude toward the prospects you're going to be dealing with; and fourth, we wil look at your attitude toward the profession of sel ing.

Positive Thinking Can Be Frustrating

As an advocate of positive thinking, I frequently encounter people who are enormously confused about the subject. They often think we positive thinkers believe that with positive thinking we can do anything. That's ridiculous.

Positive thinking won't let you do anything, but it wil help you do everything better than negative thinking wil .

I don't care how positive I became, I could not whip the heavyweight champion of the world. As a matter of fact, I don't even believe I could take out your appendix and have you live. But this I know, if you and I were isolated on a

appendix and have you live. But this I know, if you and I were isolated on a desert island a thousand miles from everybody and you were to suffer an attack of appendicitis, I personal y believe you would prefer I approach you with a winning attitude!

Surely you would feel much better if I were to enthusiastical y say, "I'm not a doctor, but reading a lot and watching a lot of television give me reason to be positive. In the last week I watched three appendectomies and, fortunately, I have an extremely sharp knife with me and some powerful medicine that wil kil al the infection. [My optimistic nature would have me going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the tartar sauce with me!]

"Personal y I believe that despite my lack of training I can get your appendix out of there, and I just flat believe you're going to make it!" Odds are great you would prefer that approach and attitude over my looking you in the eye and saying, "Man, you're gonna die!"

As a practical matter, there isn't one doctor in a hundred who wouldn't agree that the first approach would give you a much better chance of surviving.

You Can Do It-Here's How

Realistical y there is a chance that pure positive thinking and motivation without direction can lead to frustration. For example, someone convinces you that you've got what it takes. They say, "Go for it. I know you're going to make it,"

and then send you out with no training or direction. There is a chance you wil fal flat on your face and become frustrated and dejected.

With this in mind, let me briefly identify what I believe. Positive thinking is an optimistic hope-not necessarily based on any facts-that you can move mountains.

I've seen positive thinking move some mountains. Positive believing is the same optimistic hope, based on reasons for believing you can move those mountains.

I've seen positive believing move far more mountains.

Secrets of Closing the Sale is a book of positive believing. It gives you reasons for believing you can move those mountains (make more sales). It gives you the methods, techniques, and procedures which, when applied, wil result in more sales. The game plan for Secrets is simple: I wil never make a promise-unless I give you a plan and procedure to make that promise possible.

As a practical matter, we can theoretical y teach you every situation known to

As a practical matter, we can theoretical y teach you every situation known to man in a book or in the classroom. Then guess what happens? The first day in the field the theory is shot down by some customer who hasn't read the book or attended our training classes.

He asks some question or brings up some objection which we had not considered. The only way you're ever going to be able to handle those situations is from the personal experience you have out in the field on an eyebal -to-eyebal basis with a customer. The information in this book, combined with the specifics from your company sales trainers, plus your experience in the field, wil form a powerful combination to enable you to become the professional you aspire to be.

Your Mental Attitude Makes the Difference

Your mental attitude and everything else about you is influenced or control ed by what goes into your mind. It's safe to say that you are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.

Chances are excel ent you want most of the things in life everyone else wants: good health, extra money, security, friends, peace of mind, happiness, and al the good stuff. Assuming you either don't have al these things or at least don't have them in the amount or to the extent you desire them, two possibilities exist.

First, you might be too young and simply haven't had enough time. (If you're over thirty, I hope you don't hide behind that one.) Second, and far more likely, your behavior is not producing the desired results. This being the case, it should be clear that you need to change behavior if you are going to get what you want.

What might not be so obvious is the fact that before you can change your behavior you must change your thinking. But before you can change your thinking you must change the input into your mind.

If we real y do want what we say we want-good health, extra money, security, friends, peace of mind, happiness-we must put those positive goals into our minds. This input comes from positive friends and associates. Additional input must come from reading the right kind of books, listening to the right kind of recordings, and attending educational, motivational seminars. Through these sources we plant those desirable thoughts of good health, extra money, security, friends, peace of mind, and happiness in our heads.

Buy this next thought and you wil sel more of what you sel :

Buy this next thought and you wil sel more of what you sel : Your business is never real y good or bad "out there." Your business is either good or bad right between your own two ears.

Example: At this moment you are in the best place at the best time to do the most sel ing. (Yes, that is realistic. The only time you have and are sure of is the time you have right now. Since you are where you are and nowhere else, you can sel only where you are, so you are at the right place at the right time.) Many "Gloomy Guses" and "prophets of doom" spread their gloom by periodical y announcing we're headed for a business slump. Without fail, about every four or five years they announce the coming "recession." Speaker Don Hutson of Memphis, Tennessee, points out that the media has accurately predicted eighteen of the last two recessions. (You might need to think about that one.) When they announce the next recession, you've got to make a choice to join or not to join.

I'm in favor of joining some clubs like the Rotary, the Lions, Civitan, and other outstanding service organizations, but personal y I'm not in favor of joining the recession club.

In my travels I see people in every walk of life sel ing every conceivable product, from ten-cent whatnots to multimil ion-dol ar computers. Regardless of the company, industry, or section of the country, some are doing extremely wel , some are doing fairly wel , and some are going broke. The business is there for al , but, everything else being equal, the salesperson with a good self-image and positive mental attitude wil get more than his share of business and the salesperson suffering from "stinkin' thinkin"' wil get a much smal er share.

The "Go Giver" Close

One excel ent example of the right mental attitude is the story of Calvin Hunt from Victoria, Texas. Calvin became one of the real y great professional life insurance salesmen in this country. A former Houston Oiler offensive lineman and an extremely creative, civic-minded citizen, Calvin used a lot of the little extras to produce business. His attitude was certainly one of his outstanding assets. Each year he would invite an inspirational speaker as a community service for the town. He reserved the front rows of the auditorium for his clients and invited the general public to occupy the remaining seats. There was no charge to anyone for this.

Calvin was one of those multimil ion-dol ar producers who wrote contracts

Calvin was one of those multimil ion-dol ar producers who wrote contracts involving wel over $100,000 in premiums. He had a chauffeurdriven limousine, and while he was being driven to his appointments, which were sometimes 20

miles or 120 miles away, he prepared his presentation and took care of the details of his business.

He explained to me that in 1982 roughly half the insurance people felt business was down and, consequently, they reduced their efforts. Calvin did explain that business was down a little, but half of his competition was not real y working to expand their businesses. Since there was about 90

percent as much business available and only 50 percent as much competition, Calvin figured his business had to increase substantial y. As you might suspect, his business did increase dramatical y that year. Yes, attitude does make a difference.

10

Your Attitude toward You

If you're real y interested in building your sales career, or for that matter any other kind of career, you've got to start by building a healthy self-image.

One of my early mentors, the late Dr. Emol Fails of Raleigh, North Carolina, said you don't build a business-you build people-and then people build the business.

When we talk about closing sales we've got to face the fact that many salespeople are colorful. By colorful I mean they're yel ow! They just flat don't ask for the order! They talk and talk and talk but they don't ask for the order because they have that fear of rejection. Outstanding sales trainer Chris Hegarty points out that 63 percent of al sales interviews end with no direct effort on the salesperson's part to close the sale.

The salesperson doing al the talking is desperately hoping the prospect wil interrupt the presentation and say, "OK, I'l take it." This way the salesman won't have to risk his ego by making a direct closing effort and chancing a direct refusal.

Salesperson or Professional Visitor

In my own career I've been on sales cal s and watched the salesperson drone on

In my own career I've been on sales cal s and watched the salesperson drone on and on and on and never get around to asking for the order. I've even heard prospects say, "Wel , John, you're not trying to sel me something, are you?" And the salesman would verbal y back away and say, "Oh, noooo, noo, no!" Makes you wonder who he thought he was and what he thought he was doing, doesn't it? Apparently he thought he was a professional visitor. If that's what you think you are, then this chapter wil be very important to you.

Now as I understand it, the purpose of the sales interview, whether you go to see the prospect or he comes to see you, is to get the order. Yet because of poor selfimage and this fear of rejection, 63 percent of al sales interviews wind down and drift into oblivion without a direct effort to close the sale.

So important is your self-image in improving your closing skil s and effectiveness that I want to digress for a moment and give you a sales talk on doing something about your own self-image. If you have a problem with yours, and you are the only person who real y knows whether you do or not, I urge you to get busy and do something about it.

One of the many steps you can take toward building a healthy selfimage is for you to take a good public-speaking course. The ability to express yourself on your feet is one of the greatest confidence-builders known to man. Chances are excel ent your church, community col ege, or school offers such a course. Ziglar Training Systems offers Effective Business Presentations, Born to Win, Strategies for Success, and our I CAN course, which is presently distributed by The Alexander Group.' Toastmasters and the Dale Carnegie courses are both excel ent imagebuilders.

Another surefire step in building a good self-image is to become an expert, a real pro, in your chosen profession of sel ing. A quick count wil reveal wel over one hundred closes in this book. Learn those that specifical y apply to you and your sel ing situation. Even more important than learning them, live them. Make them a part of you. Adapt them for your own use and you wil feel a surge of confidence-your image wil improve because you know that in a sales situation the odds are great you are going to come out "smel ing like a rose." With improved effectiveness your love for sel ing wil be even greater, because an important key to maintaining a good attitude is to know what you are doing.

Make Certain the Neighborhood Is Safe

Perhaps this next example wil bring to life for you the absolute necessity of

Perhaps this next example wil bring to life for you the absolute necessity of building your self-image if you real y expect to build an outstanding sales career.

In this example I use real estate, but it could apply to any product or salesperson who goes out after business.

Let's assume you have a poor self-image. You're out working your "farm" or territory one morning when you see a FOR SALE BY OWNER sign in the yard.

You circle the block three times to make absolutely certain the neighborhood is safe. (You should be careful, shouldn't you?) You final y decide the neighborhood is safe, so you knock on the door (timidly, I might add). The homeowner comes to the door and you start your presentation. After about two sentences she says, "Just a minute. Let me ask you a question. Do you sel real estate? Just answer yes or no."

You confess that you do sel real estate, so the homeowner says, "I'm just not interested. I'm going to tel you the same thing I told the last two people who came by here sel ing real estate. I'm going to sel this house myself. I planted every bush, every shrub, every tree in this yard, and I'm not going to give you thousands of dol ars for sel ing my house when I know a lot more about the house than you wil ever know. Furthermore, I don't want to hear any more about it!" And she closes the door in your face.

Poor Image Is the Problem

Now remember, you've got a poor self-image. You don't like you and that homeowner sure doesn't like you! Chances are a hundred to one you wil react with, "Poor little me! Nobody likes me!" So what do you do? You do the only thing you can. You go to the coffee shop for a cup of coffee. While you're drinking the first cup, you realize what you real y need is a second cup. As you slowly drink that second cup of coffee, you come to some

"interesting" conclusions.

"Why didn't I think about this before? It is so obvious! What I've got to do is go back to the office, make al the telephone cal s I need to make, clean up al the details on my desk, handle al the correspondence, and do al of my service work.

After al , you just can't sel with a bunch of nagging details hanging over you.

Monday morning I'l get out there with a clean mind and no nagging details so I'l knock'em dead! Besides, it's already Wednesday!"

Let me tel you something. Ninety-eight percent of the people who procrastinate

Let me tel you something. Ninety-eight percent of the people who procrastinate have image problems. They just don't want to get out and face the possible rejection every salesperson alive faces every time he makes a cal . People reject salesmen-desks don't-so it's safe to go hide behind that desk, a golf club, or for that matter, another planning session. Don't misunderstand. I believe in planning and taking care of details, but after a certain point (like eating alphabet soup in alphabetical order or proofreading the Xerox copy) planning becomes an escape from action to avoid rejection. If-you're overorganized, with more records on less business than you should have, now is the time to take action.

Good Image Is the Solution

Now let's look at this il ustration under identical circumstances, but with one important change. This time you have a good, healthy selfimage. You are in the same neighborhood and you see the FOR SALE BY OWNER sign in the yard.

So you go knock on the door. The same homeowner comes to the door, and after a brief but unpleasant dialogue she closes the door in your face.

This time, however, you respond because you have a good, healthy self-image.

You understand it's the lady who has the problem; you are not personal y incapacitated. As a result, you go down the street and find a prospect who does not have a problem!

I'm confident you've heard-maybe even made-the statement "He makes me so mad" or "She makes me so mad." Let's set the record straight on that one. As any psychologist wil tel you, "You can't stir soup unless there's soup in the pot."

Others don't put "mad" in you, but if it's there they can stir it up, if you choose to let them. It's up to you to decide whether or not you are going to invite them to come in and tel you how to think, how to act, and how to feel.

From My Sales Notebook

Let me share some personal experiences to emphasize the point that the salesman's self-image has a direct bearing on his sales success. As a young salesman, when I was out knocking on doors, I would often have a prospect in one house, another prospect next door, and yet another prospect twenty miles down the highway. I would make the cal at the first house, and if I were rejected by that prospect, I used an amazing ability I had. Let me explain. As a young salesman I could actual y look at the outside of a house and tel you if it was the

"right psychological moment" to make the cal . In my imagination I could see them eating lunch, taking a nap, having a knock-down-drag-out fight, or 101

them eating lunch, taking a nap, having a knock-down-drag-out fight, or 101

other things which I used to justify not making the cal on the prospect next door.

What would I do? Very simple. I'd get into my car and drive twenty miles down the highway to see another prospect. How could I justify that? Easy. I needed the driving time to "plan" what I was going to say when I got there. (After al , I had been rejected on the previous cal because I had not properly "planned" what I said.) I was justifying the fact that I was "working" during that twenty-mile drive.

The point is obvious and hopeful y helpful. I had a poor self-image. I had rejected myself. In my mind the prospect in the first house had rejected me, and I wasn't ready to go next door for another rejection. One more time. Improve your self-image and you wil improve your sales performance.

"They" Can't Make You Feel Inferior-without Your Permission When your self-image is solid, you can go from one prospect to the next many times, almost regardless of the reception you get. (I'l be the first to admit that everyone has a limit to the number of rejections he can handle. That's the reason I frequently make reference to building your self-image and listening to cassette recordings and CDs regularly, especial y after being refused/rejected forceful y several times.) As a salesperson it wil help you enormously from an image point of view to understand this paraphrase of what Eleanor Roosevelt said: Nobody on the face of this earth can make you feel inferior without your permission.

Once you get your image right-and that's what everything I write or record is directly or indirectly aimed at doing-then your sales world and your personal world wil improve. The late Dr. Maxwel Maltz, plastic surgeon and author of Psychocybernetics, said the purpose of al psychotherapy is to build the self-esteem, that is, the image, of the patient.

Obviously, I'm not talking about a superinflated, "I AM THE GREATEST" kind of self-image. (Actual y, that's the opposite of a healthy selfimage. The

"I AM THE GREATEST" chest thumper is, in almost every case, manifesting a poor self-image.) Most people think of that individual as being conceited, which is a disease that makes everybody sick-except the person who has it!

Al great salespeople have strong (not inflated) egos. They cease to be great when the ego has them!

I'm talking about a good, healthy self-image of self-acceptance. When you can accept yourself, with your own faults and shortcomings, it's much easier for you to understand and communicate (I didn't say agree) with other people-including your prospects. Your self-image is important, so build a good one and you wil be able to build your sales career bigger, better, and faster.

Regardless of where you are in your sales career, and regardless of what your self-image might be at this moment, I believe as far as the sales profession is concerned that I've walked in your shoes and felt your feelings. I don't believe any one of you who wil ever read this, listen to a tape, view a videotape of mine, or sit in a class I conduct has ever been "broker," "scareder," more uncertain, more apprehensive, or more doubtful about what tomorrow has to offer than I was. I don't believe you have ever been any further down in the dumps or did not like to make that initial approach any more than me when I first entered the world of sel ing. I say al of this to give you my personal assurance that there is hope for you.

11

Your Attitude toward Others

The third phase of attitude I wish to share with you is your attitude toward others. How do you real y view that person you're dealing with across the counter? Is he someone you can "make a buck" by sel ing to, or does he represent a person with a problem which you can help solve? Are you real y thoughtful and considerate of him, or is your main focus on making the sale and reaping the benefits for yourself?

In survey after survey around the country, the number one complaint from customers is that of rudeness, inefficiency, or plain indifference. Two of these obviously have to do with simple human relations, and if we do not practice those, we're not going to have any humans to relate to or sel to as far as our place of business is concerned.

Cavett Robert used to point out that nearly three-fourths of the population of the world goes to bed hungry every night. He also said that an even higher percentage of people go to bed every night hungry for recognition. Of considerable importance is the fact that every merchant and salesperson recognizes the value of every person who walks into their place of business or the importance of every prospect they deal with. Plain, simple courtesy and

the importance of every prospect they deal with. Plain, simple courtesy and thoughtfulness wil go a long way toward improving your business and building your sales career.

As a practical matter, I chal enge you to observe the personal qualities and characteristics of the top-performing men and women in the sales and business world as wel as the political and religious world. You wil discover that almost without exception they al adhere to the same philosophy: Be nice.

How do you see your relationship with your prospect? Do you think of yourself as a friend, as someone who truly can help and advise the other person, someone who looks after the interests of the prospect? Do you buy the idea that he profits most who serves best? I hope you do, because in the world of sel ing the way to build customers is to build a winning relationship with the people with whom you are dealing.

According to an Austin Business Journal article by Jil Griffin, the average company in America loses a minimum of 20 percent of its customers annual y.

Some companies, such as car dealerships and Internet service providers, experience up to a 50 percent turnover. Griffin explained that the best way to win the war on customer turnover is to ensure that the customer never leaves in the first place. I contend this is done by building winning relationships from the very first contact.

Everybody, including coaches, dentists, household executives, ministers, builders, interior designers, etc., sel s and everything is sel ing. With that in mind, it simply makes sense to become a highly productive professional. One interesting discovery by The Forum Corporation was that the high performers were just as thorough in their sales-and-service approach with members of the internal staff as they were with customers. Since salespeople-even highperformance ones-general y have no subordinates, they get their work done through others over whom they have little or no direct control. They practice good human relations and sel the support people at the home office on shipping, instal ing, servicing, and general y just helping them (the high performers) please the customers. This enables the high performer to keep his commitments to the customer and demonstrates to the customer that he, the top performer, is a person who can be trusted and is dependable.

This next little dissertation says it extremely wel : I'm Your Customer Who Never Comes Back

I'm Your Customer Who Never Comes Back I'm a nice customer. Al merchants know me. I'm the one who never complains no matter what kind of service I get.

When I go to a store to buy something I don't throw my weight around. I try to be thoughtful of the other person. If I get a snooty clerk who gets nettled because I want to look at several things before I make up my mind, I'm as polite as can be; I don't believe rudeness in return is the answer.

I never kick, complain, or criticize, and I wouldn't dream of making a scene as I've seen people doing in public places. No, I'm the nice customer, but I'm also the nice customer who never comes back.

That's my little revenge for being abused and taking whatever you hand out, because I know I'm not coming back. This way doesn't immediately relieve my feelings but in the long run it's far more satisfying than blowing my top.

In fact, a nice customer like myself, multiplied by others of my kind, can ruin a business. And there are a lot of nice people just like me. When we get pushed far enough, we go to another store where they appreciate nice customers.

He laughs best, they say, who laughs last. I laugh when I see you frantical y advertising to get me back, when you could have kept me in the first place with a few kind words and a smile.

Your business might be in a different town and your situation might be

"different," but if your business is bad, chances are good that if you wil change your attitude the word wil get around and I'l change from the nice customer who never comes back to the nice customer who always comes back-and brings his friends.

Anonymous

Making a serious effort to keep our customer makes good economic sense for two important reasons. According to Larry J. Rosenberg and John A. Czepiel, writing in the March 1984 issue of The Journal of Consumer Marketing, a lost customer reduces average company profits by $118

compared with a $20 cost to keep the customer satisfied. And those are 1984

figures! Imagine what the cost is today! Despite this fact, it is estimated that the average company spends six times as much to get a new customer as it does to

average company spends six times as much to get a new customer as it does to hold a current one.

I might also add that if a customer leaves disgruntled, he wil tel an average of eleven other people about the problem. That can real y be costly.

Incidental y, losers think in terms of "replacing" customers; winners think in terms of maintaining customers and adding new ones in order to build the business bigger and better.

Let me bluntly state if that is your attitude as you deal with your prospect, you're not going to sel or earn nearly as much. Earlier I emphasized the point that sel ing is a "transference" of feeling. I also made the point that your prospect picks up the feeling of greed and self-interest and you ring up another "no sale."

This story identifies the winning (you and the customer) attitude: Several years ago, while bowling in Omaha, Nebraska, I injured my right knee. One of my friends, whose elevator doesn't quite reach the top, made some catty reference to my age. My friend wasn't overly bright or he would have recognized that the left knee was exactly the same age as the right knee, and it was in good shape, so obviously my age had no bearing on the condition of my right knee!

Not long after I injured the knee, I was scheduled to speak in San Francisco to about twenty-five hundred people. After the introduction, as I came hobbling onstage, I could feel that audience thinking to themselves, For goodness sake!

Just look at Zig! Bless his heart, he's al crippled up, but I'l bet he's going to do the best he can. As a speaker I could feel the feeling of the audience.

To be candid, I'l have to confess that to this day I don't quite understand the therapeutic value of a microphone around the neck. Apparently there is some medicinal value, because when they put that mike around my neck, my knee quit hurting! For the next sixty-five minutes I was up and down, around and about, stooping, squatting, shouting, whooping, hol ering, and doing al the things my audiences are accustomed to seeing me do.

During the entire sixty-five minutes, I never felt a pain. I finished making the talk, stepped down off the stage, and the knee col apsed, causing me to fal .

Selling Is a Win-Win Situation

I daresay you know exactly what happened. For sixty-five minutes I was not

I daresay you know exactly what happened. For sixty-five minutes I was not thinking about Ziglar and his knee. I was thinking about my prospects and how I could help them solve their problems. I did not do this consciously, but subconsciously. When I finished making the talk, I relaxed inside. It was like I said to myself, "OK, Ziglar, you can forget about al those people. Think about yourself." When my thoughts turned inward toward self instead of outward toward helping others, I fel flat on my face.

The same thing wil happen to you. Don't misunderstand. I'm highly skeptical of people who adjust their halos and claim, "I sel my product just because I love to help people." (I notice that they always cash their commission checks!) I hasten to add that I like to help people, too, but al of us are alike in one respect. If our company quit paying us for sel ing, then financial necessity would force us to quit helping people by sel ing our products or services, regardless of the depth of our belief and regardless of our love for what we do.

When you talk to a prospect, you ought to be wrapped up in solving his problem, because in the process you wil definitely be reaching your own sales and career objectives. This attitude in sel ing definitely puts you and your customer in a win-win situation.

To develop this attitude which leads to building a winning relationship with your customer, let's take a look at what DeMarco and Maginn of The Forum Corporation discovered about how the customers of high performers see the top producer and his role.

As King Customer Sees the Salesperson (Forum Report) The customer sees the high-performing sales professional as a person who is genuinely interested in the customer's needs, even while he actively promotes his or her company's own position. This "balance" encourages clients to share confidential information trustingly, knowing the sales representative wil try to understand his concerns and be fair in his dealings. The customer sees the high performer as one who exchanges information rather than as one who simply gives sales presentations from his perspective.

The high performer is sensitive to the value of the customer's time and is able to spend more quality time in front of the customer because he spends more quality time planning strategy and preparing for the cal . Customers perceive this and value it highly. He is aware of the personal pressures and needs faced by the customer and sel s to these people, not to companies.

customer and sel s to these people, not to companies.

One myth-that a salesperson should not get involved with customer concerns other than the purpose of the sales cal -was exploded, as was the concept that price isn't important and that you should "promise them anything" to close a sale.

Customers want and expect their salespeople to be able to act as trustworthy resources who respond directly and provide them expertise, backed by effective recommendations. One significant characteristic of the high producer is his wil ingness to explain product drawbacks.

To customers, the salesperson who is enthusiastic and interested in working with them to solve problems rates as a more successful performer than one who does not. A salesperson who builds relationships and provides a valuable service, whether advice, information, or opinion, is unequivocably considered a high performer by the customer and can penetrate an organization at several levels.

Customers feel the basic sales-skil s training prevalent in industry today needs to be continued. Product knowledge, competitive knowledge, and the so-cal ed face-toface skil s (sel ing features/benefits, handling objections, etc.) are stil prerequisites for the sales job.

A word to the wise should be sufficient. If you listen to what the customers of the top producers have to say, your chances of joining the ranks of the top producers are greatly enhanced.

12

Your Attitude toward

the Sales Profession

Sel ing is the best-paying hard work and the lowest-paying easy work in the world. For those who "get in sel ing" and then let sel ing "get in them,"

the sales profession offers an exciting, rewarding, and demanding career. What the late Fred Herman titled his excel ent book on sel ing is true: Sel ing Is Simple (Not Easy). So let's take a comprehensive look at this profession which has been my life since I sold vegetables and milk door-to-door when I was eight years old.

Large numbers of salespeople are enthusiastic about the product they sel . They

Large numbers of salespeople are enthusiastic about the product they sel . They believe their company is the greatest and they're pleased to be affiliated with the people who represent the company. However, a high percentage of these salespeople are hesitant to admit they sel for a living.

I'm going to make a big deal out of this point, because your total attitude toward yourself-your prospects, your product, your company, and the profession of sel ing-wil often determine whether you make or miss the sale. This is especial y true on the close ones. Although this chapter wil not include any techniques in sel ing per se, it wil be enormously helpful in closing the close ones.

Be Proud You Sell

I'm proud to be a salesman for many reasons. I believe America is a great nation because we are a nation of salespeople. America was dis covered by a salesman.

Not by any stretch of the imagination could you accuse Christopher Columbus of being a navigator. History records that he was looking for a short route to India.

He missed it by about twelve thousand miles and stil went back home and told them he had found it. Where I come from, that's not navigation.

You might say, "Wel , that stil doesn't prove he was a salesman." True, but think about this: First of al , he was an Italian in Spain, so he was speaking a foreign language. By most territorial assignments he was way out of his sales territory.

He had only one prospect to cal on, so if he missed the sale, he would have had a long swim home. To say the least, that's pressure sel ing!

The "Columbus" Close

He cal ed on Isabel a and told his story. After listening to his presentation, Isabel a said, "That sounds like a good idea, Chris, but twelve thousand dol ars for five little ships is ridiculous!" (Til this day many people don't realize they started with five ships-but two of them did go over the side!) Columbus heard the money objection Isabel a raised, but since he heard what she said and what she was saying (page 96), he knew that money wasn't the problem.

He instantly recognized that she was not sold on al the advantages of being the one to discover the short route to India. He knew she felt the cost was greater than the benefit, and common sense dictated that neither Isabel a nor any other prospect would pay more for something than she felt it was worth. With this in mind, Chris put on his sales shoes and started painting pictures of al the good things that would happen to her nation and the recognition she would get if she

things that would happen to her nation and the recognition she would get if she were responsible for discovering that short route to India.

Columbus pointed out the colonization possibilities among the lands which were sure to be discovered. He stressed the savings in time, the possibilities of new and unknown foods, spices, gems, and furs. Undoubtedly Chris reminded her that she would be able to spread the Christian message to the "savages" beyond the horizon. I'm confident he painted the picture of Spain's getting a significant jump on France and England in their competition for world domination.

When the factual/emotional sales presentation had ended and the decision bal was in the air (a lot was at stake on this sales cal , wasn't it?), Isabel a said, "OK, Chris, I'm sold. The only problem is I don't have any money." With this, Columbus looked at her and said, "Look, Izzy," (since I was not there, I'm not sure this is verbatim) "you've got that string of beads hanging around your neck.

Let's take 'em down to the pawnshop and hock'em and we'l finance this deal."

Your history book wil tel you they did have to use unusual methods to raise the money to finance the trip. Once the voyage was under way, Columbus stil had to do a lot of sel ing. History records that the sailors daily threatened to throw him overboard and sail back home. Since Columbus was sel ing for his life, I'm confident his daily sales presentation was heavy on the conviction side. Few salesmen in history have had the need to be trusted as Columbus had. On a daily basis he had to sel in order to sail. Then one morning the cal came forth, "Land, ho!" And Christopher Columbus had "landed" the most profitable sales cal in history.

Tell Your Customers You Love Them

Then Christopher Columbus did what salespeople too often have a tendency to do, and in the process he made the biggest mistake of his sales career. He did not service the account. He apparently assumed that since it was his idea and he had been the one to open such incredible opportunity doors, he would be forever remembered-and rewarded.

If you have just started your sales career, I'd like to inform you that it doesn't work that way. If you're an experienced pro in the sales world, I hope I don't need to remind you it doesn't work that way. The reason is competition, the majority of which is legitimate. Competitors are ever present and they are going to be wooing and courting your customers (you do feel possessive, don't you?) with their best foot forward at al times.

with their best foot forward at al times.

When you make the sale you are in the enviable position of being in the driver's seat, but when you take your eye off the road (the customer) and your foot off the gas pedal (service), competition starts sel ing the idea they are better drivers and have more and better gas.

Service-The Key to a Sales Career

In Columbus's case, the "competition" was Amerigo Vespucci. He started sel ing and servicing the account. Result: We did not become the United States of Columbus; we became the United States of America, because Columbus didn't service the account.

I'm personally convinced this is often an important factor in the breakup of many marriages. The guy and the gal put a sales story on each other during the courtship (sales) process like you just flat cannot believe! All during the courtship, each one is on his or her

"best behavior" routine at all times. Each one makes and honestly strives to keep commitments and promises. Each one puts, and keeps, that best foot forward. He showers and puts on all that good, masculine cologne, and she bathes and puts on that sweet-smelling stuff. Each one is always prompt, always thoughtful and considerate-until finally they talk each other into the trip down the aisle!

Now Things Change

Then they quit courting. Oh, they don't quit the day after the honeymoon, or even the week or month after, but over a period of time they gradual y start phasing out those thoughtful, loving, considerate little actions for each other.

They begin to abandon some of their good grooming habits. They gradual y fade away from the thoughtful, considerate, loving acts for each other. They start letting other things and other activities enter into the picture. Don't misunderstand-I'm not implying that marriage can maintain the same ecstasy the honeymoon did, but I do believe that courtship and courtesy are absolute musts for the marriage not only to endure but to be exciting and meaningful for each other as wel .

We often hear of the "other man" or the "other woman." Actual y, there would be no room for the other man or the other woman if the husband and wife simply

be no room for the other man or the other woman if the husband and wife simply kept their priorities in order and continued to court each other throughout their marriage. In short, our divorce rate would drop dramatical y if men and women

"delivered" in marriage what they "sold" while courting.

By the same token, I believe in most cases when we lose a customer to competition it is not because of a better price or a better product, though obviously that can enter the picture. In most cases it is because competition came in and "courted" our customer as we had "courted" him before the "marriage"

(sale) with better service, more interest, more concern, and more attentive listening to the needs of our customer.

To tie the sales and courtship examples together, someone rhetorical y asked,

"When should you tel your wife you love her?" And the wit said,

"Before somebody else does!" When should you tel your customers you love them? The same answer-before somebody else does! Then you should demonstrate your sincerity by showing that love through service.

Columbus did not service the account, but that does not alter the fact that we were discovered by a salesman and named after a salesman. We were populated by a salesman. Sir Walter Raleigh toured the coffeehouses of London sel ing those ignorant, fearful, superstitious people on the idea they should leave the security of England and come into America where they would have religious freedom and a chance to become landowners. Many of them bought that idea, so America was at least partial y populated by that salesman.

George Was a Salesman

We were freed by a salesman. Do you ful y realize what a tremendous sales job George Washington did in gaining our independence? At that time, America was almost equal y divided into three factions. One-third of the colonists wanted their independence, one-third wanted to stay with Britain, and one-third said,

"Look, George, whichever side wins is the one we're going to go with. During the conflict we'l stay neutral, but when the danger is past and the winner is established, we wil throw in with that winner. You can depend on our doing exactly that."

George Washington had to get his recruits for the Continental army from the farmers, merchants, backwoodsmen, seamen, labor ers, and shipbuilders. He had to be candid and say, "Gentlemen, if we win, I'm probably not going to be able

to be candid and say, "Gentlemen, if we win, I'm probably not going to be able to pay you, and if we lose, you'l be hung from the highest tree as traitors." Please remember that only one-third of the colonists actual y wanted independence and al of them knew that England had the most powerful army and navy in the world. Yes, Washington's recruiting (sales) job was formidable.

I mention this again to let those of you who do any recruiting know that your job is simple by comparison. Suppose you had to tel your prospective recruits that every sales cal they made would be on a prospect who had never bought anything from anybody. Furthermore, even if they (the new recruits) did make a sale, there would be no funds to pay them, but if they missed the sale they would be shot at sunrise. Yup, George Washington was quite a salesman!

Salespeople Are Important

We became an ocean-to-ocean nation and an international power as a direct result of salespeople. Once we had won our independence, Alexander Hamilton persuaded President Washington to petition Congress for an appropriation so we could study the methods the British had used to set up colonies and "agents" to merchandise their products and services around the world. At this point, though we had been settled since 1608, in the ensuing 168 years we had made it only to the Appalachian Mountains.

With independence and the benefits of the knowledge acquired because of the appropriation, we were moved to set up trading posts manned by salesmen so that when settlers started moving westward they were able to obtain gunpowder, blankets, and supplies. Because of these tradingpost salesmen, just thirty years after we won our independence, America had made it al the way to the West Coast.

Salespeople Make the Difference

Yes, America is the greatest land on this earth because of the salespeople. We definitely are not the greatest because of our size, because Canada, Russia, and China are al larger than America. It is not because of our great natural resources, though we have certainly been abundantly blessed in this area. Realistical y Russia, China, Canada, and other nations al have tremendous natural resources.

It's not because of our technological superiority, though we are undoubtedly the number one nation in the world in that area. Stil , the Japanese, Germans, Swiss, Russians, and Israelis are our masters in some areas of technological

Russians, and Israelis are our masters in some areas of technological development. In my mind it is crystal clear. We've been able to do what we've done because of salespeople and our free enterprise structure and our freedom of religion.

Salespeople Are Secure

I suppose one of the reasons I'm so tremendously excited about the profession is because of the security it offers. Should my own son come to me and ask what I consider the most secure job in the world, I would unhesitatingly say to him that it is a sales job. He, as wel as you, might wel labor under the il usion that salespeople are the only people who work entirely on commission. This il usion would natural y provoke the question "Does this real y offer security?"

The answer is yes, it does offer real security, and al jobs are commission jobs.

My executive assistant-and for that matter, every other person in our society-is literal y on commission. The salesperson and everybody else, whether he receives a salary or is paid a commission, is working on commission.

Eventual y, regardless of what the job might be, if production is not maintained, then the security of the job is taken away. So whether you are on salary or commission, you are on commission even if you happen to be the president of the United States. As you might have heard, if he doesn't do wel , even he wil lose his job. 'Nuff said.

The sales job offers security, and I remind you of that security with this example.

You might remember that back in 1981-82 we had a recession. At that time there were literal y tens of thousands of honest, sincere, dedicated, conscientious, hardworking, productive people who lost their jobs.

They came from every walk of life-teachers and superintendents, airline pilots and flight attendants, waitpersons and secretaries, lawyers, street sweepers, and service people. They lost their jobs not because they were unwil ing to work, not because they did not have the ability, but because of the economy.

Here's my chal enge: Name one, just one, honest, sincere, dedicated, conscientious, hardworking, productive salesperson who lost his job. If a salesperson did lose his job for reasons beyond his control such as, for example, his company's going out of business, he could in most cases go down the street-or even next door-and almost immediately gain employment.

New Jobs Immediately Available

Never shal I forget an incident in Atlanta, Georgia, when I was conducting a sales seminar. Just before the seminar started, two wel -dressed young men in their late twenties came and asked if they could get a refund on their tickets.

They explained that they had just lost their sales jobs because of a personality conflict with their manager. Since they had no sales jobs, to learn additional sales techniques would be of little or no value to them (they obviously had momentarily lost perspective and did not realize that they now-more than ever-needed their sales skil s and training to sel their way into another job).

I asked the two young salesmen two questions. Number one, "Do you like to sel

?" They both replied in the affirmative. Number two, "Would you like another sales job?" They again replied in the affirmative. Then I assured the two young men that before the evening was over I would have a dozen interviews for sales jobs for them if they attended the session.

That evening when I reached this point in the presentation concerning the security of the sales job, I asked the audience two questions. Number one, "How many of you are in sales management?" Roughly one hundred of the five hundred hands went up. Question number two, "How many of you would be interested in interviewing two enthusiastic young salesmen who present an excel ent appearance and are sold on the profession of sel ing but lost their jobs because of a personality conflict with their manager?" Something like seventy-five hands went up. The two young men were able to pick and choose from a dozen solid offers as to what they wanted to do.

Yes, sel ing is a secure profession.

General Douglas MacArthur defined security as the ability to produce. As long as you can produce, my sel ing friend, you have financial and career security.

Attitude Makes the Difference

The sales profession has a different attitude about life and business. In the nonsales community, when business drops, management gener al y cal s a "pity party." (That's what Mrs. Mamie McCul ough, the lady who started the I CAN

course for schools, named them. She also says many pity parties are held on an individual basis.) To zero in on al the difficulties, management explains they are going to have to cut the lights off early and let a couple of the janitors, secretaries, and support personnel go. With a stiff upper lip they explain that

secretaries, and support personnel go. With a stiff upper lip they explain that despite the fact things are tough, "We're going to fight this-and hope for the best." - - - - - -- - -- - - -

The sales world handles recessions differently. When the media announces a recession, management gets everybody together and says, "We know you've been hearing al about the recession, but we've figured out a foolproof way to beat it. Al we've got to do is reduce our sales." Right?

Wrong!

What management does is simple. They cal a management conference to organize a sales meeting to end al sales meetings. The president, board chairman, and sales manager are primed and rarin' to go. They get the troops together, rol out the red carpet, and in a highly excited manner say, "Folks, we know al of you have been hearing the completely unfounded rumor about a recession. Wel , let me tel you what we think about recessions. We think they are definitely between your ears! Recessions are like a lot of other things. You can either join them or refuse to join. It is our current company policy not to join.

"Let me tel you what we are going to do. We're going to put on a contest like you have never seen before in your life! We're going to put up prizes like you can't believe. We're going to offer incentives to our customers and to you as salespeople which wil make everybody so ecstatical y happy and excited that they'l end up praying for any socal ed recession to continue. We're going to embark on a promotion and advertising campaign that wil absolutely blow your mind! We're going to get each one of you involved in a sales training and a motivational program which wil increase your effectiveness and productivity dramatical y. We're going to sel more and better than ever before."

Think about This

Is this approach realistic? Is it effective? I'l answer that with questions for those of you who have been in sales since 1990 or before. Did you make more money in 1991 than you did in 1990? Did you make more money in 1992 than you did in 1991 ? (Remember now, those were "recession"

years.) Are you making more money now than you've ever made before in the world of sel ing? (Author's note: I've been asking those questions in front of my live audiences since 1976, which fol owed the recessions of 1974-75 and 1980-82, and I can tel you there is always a substantial number who are doing better

82, and I can tel you there is always a substantial number who are doing better and better, regardless of the national market.)

It's true: If our thinking is stinking, our business is going to be in the same shape.

Keep your thinking right and your business wil be right.

The beautiful thing about sel ing is that it's a democracy. In most cases your company doesn't care whether you're male or female, black or white, tal or short, fat or slim, old or young, introverted or extroverted, or even educated or uneducated. The only thing the company cares about, in most cases, is your integrity and your productivity. (There wil be some exceptions in the area of education for some highly technical industries.) You're recognized, paid, and rewarded based on what you-the individual-do.

Good Morning, Mr. Chairman

When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, you're looking directly into the eyes of your chairman of the board, your president, your secretary-treasurer, and your janitor. You can now make a motivational speech to your entire staff. "You're such a nice guy," or "You're such a nice girl. You deserve a raise," and the board just met! As Cavett Robert loved to say, "The raise is going to become effective just as soon as you do!"

That's what I like about the profession of sel ing.

I'm always amused when presidential candidates debate about who is going to run this country. I say this because the salespeople of America control the economy of this country. Just in case you question the validity of that statement, read on.

Things Happen When You Sell

Have you, my sel ing friend, ever real y given any thought to what happens when you make a sale? First of al , you make a profit, your manager makes a profit, and if you're lucky, your company makes a profit. That way it can stay in business and you can keep on sel ing.

To paraphrase Samuel Gompers, one of the founders of the labor movement,

"The first responsibility of management is to make a profit, because if you don't make a profit then the company wil go out of business. If that happens, the workers not only won't get a raise, they won't even have jobs!

workers not only won't get a raise, they won't even have jobs!

Your company must make a profit because when they do, everyone benefits."

I'd like to briefly trace what happens when you make a sale. To start the process, you write the order or agreement on a piece of paper. That piece of paper started out as a tree, not as a piece of paper. Somebody had to go out in the woods and cut the tree down. You are the person who paid those people to go into the woods and cut the tree down when you made that sale.

Many people were involved in hauling that tree to the paper mil . You're the person who paid those people to haul that tree to the paper mil when you got out there and made the sale. In the paper mil there are hundreds of people involved in manufacturing that tree into paper. You're the person who paid those people to manufacture that tree into paper when you made that sale, but it goes much further than that.

Lots of People Benefit

You take part of your profits, go to the grocery store, and buy a can of beans.

The grocery man in essence says, "If you're going to buy my beans, I've got to get some more," so he goes to the wholesaler and buys more beans. The wholesaler keeps the bal rol ing by saying, "If you're going to buy my beans, I've got to get some more," so he goes to the cannery and buys more beans. The cannery needs more beans, so the manager goes to the farmer and buys more beans. This depletes the farmer's supplies, which means he's got to raise more beans. The farmer has a problem because he has worn out his tractor raising beans. Down to the tractor dealer he goes to buy that new tractor. Since the dealer only has one tractor, he has to go to the tractor factory to get more tractors.

When the dealer placed his order for more tractors, the tractor-factory manager said, "If you're going to buy more tractors, we wil have to manufacture some more, because you are taking al our inventory. In order to manufacture more tractors, we have to bring in iron, copper, plastic, steel, aluminum, zinc, lead, spark plugs, and rubber tires. We wil also have to give out over one hundred subcontracts for the parts we don't manufacture ourselves." Al those events, al those sales, and al those jobs were created because one day you, my sel ing friend, got out and made a sale!

Salespeople Make It Happen

If anybody should make a negative comment or a belittling statement about the sales profession, you should look that person in the eye and earnestly say,

"Friend, you are earning as much money as you are because I and thousands of others are in the sales profession." This is true whether that person is a postman or a postmistress, a private or a general, a teacher or a superintendent. Our standard of living is high because of the free enterprise system, and the salesperson is the heart and soul of that system.

Several years ago the secretary of commerce of the United States said that what we need in our country today is one mil ion more professional salespeople. The reason he made the statement is obvious. When the salesman sel s, the wheels of industry turn. OK, I plead guilty to being prejudiced about this magnificent profession of sel ing, but let me give you some historical data. I believe this wil encourage you in the profession and help to get you more excited about sel ing, which wil be helpful in your career. To do this, let's take a good look at the nation of Cuba.

When Castro took over, nothing was rationed, nothing was in short supply, salesmen were al over the island, and Cuba was completely self-sufficient as a nation. Today, no salesmen are there. Virtual y everything is rationed and many things cannot be bought at any price. To my observation that there are very few salesmen on the island, some people might say, "Wel , Zig, if you don't have surplus, you sure don't need salesmen." Interestingly enough, however, when they had the salesmen they had the surplus. The reason is simple. Salespeople create jobs and opportunity. They build industry and prosperity.

Salespeople Are Nice Folks

When the average person understands the role the salesperson plays, our role as salespeople wil be much easier. When you as a salesperson ful y understand the importance of the sales profession, you are going to be even more excited about your role in the profession. As a group, we truly represent the best of middle America. We have a high percentage of voters, taxpayers, and churchgoers. Our rate of divorce is one of the lowest of al professions and the rate of suicide is the lowest of any of the professions. As a salesperson you are truly privileged to be part of a noble profession.

A natural question or thought on your part at this point could be, "If those facts

A natural question or thought on your part at this point could be, "If those facts are true, then why do so many people have a negative image of the salesperson?"

In my opinion there are several reasons for this. In the early days the advent of the less-than-professional hustler known as the

"Yankee peddler" gave the profession a bad name.

From that point many people got the idea that a "good" salesperson was a person who made someone buy something he didn't want or-even worse-made him want something he real y didn't need. In the beginning, the average buyer did not understand (many of them stil do not) that a professional salesperson is a counselor who identifies the prospect's needs and then fil s those needs through his goods, products, or services.

The Abominable Monstrosity

Our problems were compounded when Arthur Mil er wrote that abominable monstrosity titled The Death of a Salesman. Not only did the play enjoy a long run on Broadway, but incredibly enough they put it on television-not once, not twice, but many, many times! Wil y Loman, the salesman and central character, was the epitome of a loser. "Professor" Harold Hil of The Music Man is the consummate "con man" and received nearly as much publicity as poor Wil y. In the minds of mil ions of Americans these two men represent the sales profession.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

As salespeople we need to be sel ing at least two items in addition to the goods or services we sel . As a way of life, we need to sel free enterprise. We also need to sel the workers and business owners who manufacture our products that it real y is in everybody's best interests to put in a ful eight-hour day producing the finest-quality products at the best possible prices so that salespeople can sel with even more confidence and solve even more problems. The American public wants-even demands-the best product at the best price so my family and yours wil get the most benefits.

Security, Longevity, and Fulfillment

Career benefits for the professional salesperson are enormous. With the possible exception of those in the ministry and symphony conductors, salespeople have the longest active career of any of the professions. I started before I was eight years old and expect to continue for many more years.

Victor Christen of South Pasadena, California, was stil going strong at age

Victor Christen of South Pasadena, California, was stil going strong at age ninety-four. He, at that point, had been sel ing automobiles for seventy-eight years and was a top salesman for Col iau Chevrolet. Since his health was good he didn't even think of slowing down, much less retiring.

The exciting thing about the sales profession is that the longer you sel the more effective you become. The mental gymnastics required in sel ing wil keep you mental y alert, and the longer you sel the more client loyalty and hence residual income you create. Since your integrity is the most important factor in building customer loyalty and career stability, the practicality of a total y honest relationship becomes even more obvious. When the salesperson establishes trust and rapport with his or her customers, some magnificently beautiful things happen to that sales career.

You Can Get an Early Start

The wonderful thing about sel ing is that you can get such an early start in the profession. Larry Hawes is a classic case. Larry got his Social Security card at age ten, but at that point he'd already been sel ing for three years. His mother had paid him off with candy to walk up and down the sidewalk wearing a sandwich board in front of the lighting store she managed. At age eleven he was getting two dol ars per hour as a stock boy at the store but couldn't resist the temptation to sneak into the showroom occasional y to sel a few lamps. During one of these ventures, he sold one shopper a three-hundred-dol ar brass lamp.

When Sandra Jennings opened her window-treatment shop cal ed "The Blind Spot," specializing in ready-made and custom-made blinds, verticals, and draperies, Larry was fourteen and his brother, Jay, was sixteen, but they were the first salespeople she hired. The Blind Spot had seven employees and sixteen-year-old Larry was the top salesperson, averaging fifty thousand dol ars a month in sales. Store manager Lois Sparks said,

"You can depend on Larry to get the job done and done right. He has the self-confidence to sel wel and very few of the customers realize Larry is only sixteen because he appears and acts much older."

Sandra Jennings is her entrepreneurial son's biggest booster. "He's plugged into business," she said of the youngest of her four children. "His sixth sense tel s him not to let a single customer get away. He's a fast learner, pays attention to everything around him, and loves people. He's incredibly curious and he's done everything-measured windows, instal ed blinds and drapes, etc."

everything-measured windows, instal ed blinds and drapes, etc."

"Sel ing isn't difficult," according to Larry. "It's real y very easy when you know your product and have a purpose. People come into the store either to price, buy, or compare brands and styles. My job is to show them everything so they'l walk away feeling confident in The Blind Spot, and in their final selection."

Larry is a young man with a very definite purpose. "I want to be rich," he says, with great seriousness. "I'd like to be a private investor, buy and sel homes for investment purposes, stocks, oil, own a string of businesses, maybe a department store and chain of restaurants. Working is an upper to me, and I feel incredible after I make a good sale. This is especial y true on a Saturday when everybody's working extra hard to reach a particular sales goal." Larry doesn't describe himself as a workaholic, but he does always want to meet or beat the goals he has set and the chal enge and excitement of sel ing are important factors in his work.

As I say, that's one of the beautiful things about sel ing-you can start with little or no investment, at a very early age, and work as long as you wish.

Because of Victor Christen, who was stil going strong at ninety-four, and Larry Hawes, who started at age seven, as wel as al the salespeople between seven and ninety-four, I'm sold on sel ing as a career.

If a young man or woman were to ask me what I would suggest as a career which offered the greatest opportunity for personal fulfil ment and security while making a significant contribution to society, I could honestly say, "I don't know of a finer profession than the profession of sel ing."

Select a product or service that solves problems and in which you completely believe. Make certain the company is moral y and financial y sound.

Become a sales professional and commit yourself to a 100 percent effort and I'l guarantee you can write your own ticket in the world of sel ing. Be proud that you sel ! The profession of sel ing is a proud profession. When your attitude reaches the point that you can look with complete pride at your product, your company, and the service you sel , as wel as the profession of sel ing, when you see the sales profession as a truly glorious one, then you wil close more of the close ones. You'l be building a career, which means you wil win big now and win bigger later on.

I Am a Salesman

I am proud to be a salesman because more than any other man I, and mil ions of others like me, built America.

The man who builds a better mousetrap-or a better anything-would starve to death if he waited for people to beat a pathway to his door. Regardless of how good, or how needed, the product or service might be, it has to be sold.

Eli Whitney was laughed at when he showed his cotton gin. Edison had to instal his electric light free of charge in an office building before anyone would even look at it. The first sewing machine was smashed to pieces by a Boston mob.

People scoffed at the idea of railroads. They thought that even traveling thirty miles an hour would stop the circulation of the blood! McCormick strived for fourteen years to get people to use his reaper.

Westinghouse was considered a fool for stating that he could stop a train with wind. Morse had to plead before ten Congresses before they would even look at his telegraph.

The public didn't go around demanding these things; they had to be sold!

They needed thousands of salesmen, trailblazers, pioneers, people who could persuade with the same effectiveness as the inventor could invent.

Salesmen took these inventions, sold the public on what these products could do, taught customers how to use them, and then taught businessmen how to make a profit from them.

As a salesman I've done more to make America what it is today than any other person you know. I was just as vital in your great-great-grandfather's day as I am in yours, and I'l be just as vital in your great-great-grandson's day. I have educated more people; created more jobs; taken more drudgery from the laborer's work; given more profits to businessmen; and have given more people a ful er and richer life than anyone in history. I've dragged prices down, pushed quality up, and made it possible for you to enjoy the comforts and luxuries of automobiles, radios, electric refrigerators, televisions, and air-conditioned homes and buildings. I've healed the sick, given security to the aged, and put thousands of young men and women through col ege. I've made it possible for inventors to invent, for factories to hum, and for ships to sail the seven seas.

How much money you find in your pay envelope next week, and whether in the future you wil enjoy the luxuries of prefabricated homes, stratospheric flying airplanes, and a new world of jet propulsion and atomic power, depends on me.

The loaf of bread that you bought today was on a baker's shelf because I made certain that a farmer's wheat got to a mil , that the mil made the wheat into flour, and that the flour was delivered to your baker.

Without me the wheels of industry would come to a grinding halt. And with that, jobs, marriages, politics, and freedom of thought would be a thing of the past. I AM A SALESMAN and I'm both proud and grateful that as such I serve my family, my fel ow man, and my country.

Author Unknown

Yes, the salesperson and the sales profession are both vital y important to the growth and stability of a free and even greater America.

Good News

Fortunately, the winds of change are blowing in the salesman's direction. Here's what Al an Cox, author of "The Cox Report on the American Corporation," had to say in a copyrighted interview in the magazine U.S. News & World Report: The loss of status of the salesman symbolizes the distance between corporations and consumers. In the early history of American business, the heads of manufacturing and sales were the twin heroes. Then the salesman lost status even though he was and remains the link between the customer and the company. I see this trend starting to change and expect a revival in status for those in marketing and sales. We are learning that we have to get back to the customer we have neglected.

Soon a different kind of chief executive officer wil rise to the head of the corporation, someone with his ear to the ground, not the exclusively financial y oriented individual who tended to be king between 1965 and 1980. The new breed wil be more marketing oriented, in touch with public sentiment and more sensitive to issues of social responsibility. As corporations begin to realize that society and the marketplace are one and the same, they wil become more idea oriented and we wil see the re-emergence of American business.

P.S.: One reason sales and marketing people wil return to the chief executive's chair is business has final y learned that sel ing is the only thing that contributes to profit. Everything else contributes to cost.

to profit. Everything else contributes to cost.

13

Building Physical "Reserves"

in Selling

To repeat what I said in an earlier chapter, the most important part of the sales process is the salesperson. For that reason, I deal with the role the salesman plays as wel as why and how you must build a physical, a spiritual, and a mental reserve. Most of the remaining space in this segment wil be devoted to the mental aspects of building a knowledge reserve, but first let's look at the physical reserve, which can be enormously helpful in your sales career.

Exercise to Build Physical Reserves

Evidence is overwhelming that you must be in good physical condition if you're going to function at your best in any profession, including sel ing. For example, psychologists tel me that when I speak an hour I burn more raw energy than a laboring man does in an eight-hour day. (I speak at about 280 words per minute with gusts up to 550.) When I do a four-hour session, I've got to be in good physical condition because the audience (my customers) expects me to be just as enthusiastic and energetic the last few minutes as I was the first few minutes.

They paid their money to come hear me and they deserve to hear me at my best for the entire session. I feel a strong moral obligation to be physical y ready to perform at my mental and emotional best. That's the only way I can "sel " them the ideas, procedures, and techniques which wil make them more effective in the sales world or in life in general.

Frankly, my sel ing friend, you have the same moral obligation to your customers. (We've already decided the customer is the big winner, so we owe it to him to be in good condition to help him win.) You need to be just as enthusiastic with the last prospect you talk to every day as you are with the first one. This is true whether you went out to see him or he came into your store to see you. Each one deserves you at your very best. The last prospect you cal on each day has the same basic needs as the first one you cal ed on. You owe it to every prospect to be in the best physical condition possible so you can serve each one best. Obviously, age and physical handicaps are important factors, but you should develop your sales "muscles" so you can give every prospect an honest shot with an energized presentation so he wil have the complete story,

honest shot with an energized presentation so he wil have the complete story, enthusiastical y presented, to make his decision.

There are many books and methods for getting in shape and then maintaining good physical condition. My favorite is The Aerobics Program for Total Wel -

Being by Dr. Kenneth Cooper. I jogged for nineteen years, but Dr. Cooper's latest research reveals that over the long haul fast walking is even better. In my case I find fast walking the most practical method for staying in shape, since I travel a great deal and can walk just about anywhere regardless of the weather.

I've walked during torrential downpours and with the temperature as much as forty degrees below zero. (Don't misunderstand-the rain and cold were outside. I was walking inside!)

Since I can't measure my walking distance when I'm traveling, I walk by the clock. I normal y walk about sixty minutes, five days each week. Until I started my jogging my basic approach to exercise was to fil the tub, take a bath, pul the plug, and fight the current! (Realistical y, that isn't much of an exercise program.)

In addition to exercise we also need to eat nutritious, wel -balanced meals and get a reasonable amount of sleep. If you had a multimil ion-dol ar racehorse, you wouldn't let him stay up half the night smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee or booze, and eating junk food, would you? You would feed him the right food and drink, and control his rest and exercise to give him a chance to perform like the Thoroughbred he is, wouldn't you?

Since you, too, are a thoroughbred with a bil ion-dol ar body who wants to be a winner, don't you think that you deserve the same treatment so you wil have a legitimate chance to win? Additional y, when you take care of your body, your mind is more alert and productive. As Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us al ."

By being in excel ent physical condition you wil have the energy and motivation to make that one more cal toward the end of the day. This is the one which makes such an enormous difference in your career. If you are physical y and mental y-as wel as emotional y-geared to give your best effort to the very end, you're far more likely to make that sale. You wil have the extra edge in enthusiastical y using one more close and making one more effort to make one more step which wil take you to the top of the sales heap and help your client in the process.

the process.

The tired salesperson at the end of the day has a tendency to rationalize away his chances for being a sales champion. If he's had a superb day, he's inclined to reason, "After al , I'm not greedy. I have had a good day. Why press my luck?

By quitting early I can get a good night's rest and be sharp for tomorrow." If he's had a lousy day and he's tired, then he's inclined to say, "The way things are going, no wonder I can't sel ! It'l be far better for me to cal it quits today and get a fresh start tomorrow so I'l be sharp."

The successful sales pro wil tel you there is nothing that wil get you ready for tomorrow like making a sale on that last cal today. Often the last sale is the one you are doubly proud of because it represents that "extra effort" you've heard so much about. Emotional y it real y gets you ready and excited about the next day, so instead of being a reluctant starter the next morning, you start the new day like a tiger.

Another factor is involved here, too. According to Dr. Wil iam James, the father of American psychology, we have not only a second wind but a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and even seventh wind. Sometimes after you think you've given it your best, as you make that last cal the excitement of the effort gets to you and you feel a renewed burst of energy, excitement, and enthusiasm, and the last cal turns out to be the most productive one.

Here's another, very practical, intel igently selfish reason for staying in good physical condition so you wil be as enthusiastical y effective the last hour of the day as you were the first hour. Insurance salesmen often say that part of what you earn should be your very own to keep and use as you see fit. You and I both agree with that statement, but as a practical matter, you probably spend the first six or seven hours every day working for everybody except yourself. You pay the grocer, the landlord, the utilities company, the service station, the insurance people, the government, the laundry, the clothier, and al the others, but not yourself. Now wouldn't it be a shame to go top speed al day until the last hour so that you can pay everybody else and then run out of steam when you start working for yourself?

From personal experience I can tel you that for every minute I invest in my exercise program, I get three to five minutes of ful -speed-ahead productivity.

Frankly, I have so much to do I don't have time not to exercise. Take care of your health and that last hour of productivity wil not only be your best hour but it wil also be yours (the money-the satisfaction-the recognition). -- - - -- - - - - --

it wil also be yours (the money-the satisfaction-the recognition). -- - - -- - - - - --

Al of that is to say, my sel ing friend, get in shape physical y, mental y, spiritual y, and emotional y so you can give it your best. That's the only way you're going to get the best-or championship-results.

Time: Manage It-or Squander It. Sales trainer Don Hutson points out that a study done by S.M.E. International revealed that the second leading cause of failure in the sales profession was the improper utilization of time. Mark Gardner, whose basis of opinion comes from his time spent as an assistant vice-president with E.

F. Hutton and Co., Inc., is of the opinion that the average securities broker spends less than two hours each day in the actual process of sel ing new or established customers. There are two, possibly three, major reasons for this. First would be a disregard for, or lack of expertise in, the field of time management.

Second could be a shortage of energy which causes the salesperson to start the day late, end it early, and go at substantial y less than ful speed during the day or week.

The third reason could be cal ed reluctance because of a shortage of confidence, a poor self-image, or a bad case of "stinkin' thinkin'." With the exception of time management, we are dealing with these problems by offering positive solutions.

Most time-management problems are caused by poor habits and lack of direction. The others are caused by lack of knowledge and expertise.

It is safe to say that the professional closer, almost without exception, is a time miser. He knows payday comes only when he is in front of a prospect, so he handles the necessary details of his profession during those times when he cannot be in front of the prospect. Acquiring the knowledge and staying in shape wil put you in front of your prospects at least one more hour every day. That hour has a huge impact on the bottom line of your financial statement.

One additional way to improve that bottom line is to have your own personal

"booster" week on a quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis. A

"booster" week is a total-effort week during which you give your maximum effort from early in the morning until late at night. You plan it for weeks in advance so that nothing interferes with a total effort on your part to spend every possible moment that week in front of prospects who can make buying decisions. Never wil I forget my first booster week after I real y got started in the cookware business. The company started promoting it casual y about six months in advance and gradual y built the tempo until it reached its peak for the

in advance and gradual y built the tempo until it reached its peak for the scheduled week with one solid "get ready" week to pick up momentum for the major thrust.

For the big week we booked our dinner demonstrations three weeks in advance.

We gave extra incentives to our hostesses for having extra couples at their dinners. We booked pancake cal s for breakfast starting at 6:00 A.M. It was a busy week. That week I conducted ful demonstrations for thirty-nine couples and sold thirty-one sets of cookware. That week had a solid impact on my sales career. My confidence increased substantial y as I revised my goals upward.

Total-effort weeks require tremendous physical effort, so again your physical condition is important. You might also consider involving the family in your booster week and the week after. Ask your family to do everything possible to remove al your normal responsibilities that week so you can concentrate on sel ing. Then for the next week plan something extra for the whole family, maybe a short vacation together so you can spend al of your time with them. Personal booster weeks can be good for you, good for your company, and good for your family.

Smoking on Calls Is a No-No!

Since smoking and drinking are both detrimental to our health and are enormously expensive, I personal y don't participate in either, but since this book's primary purpose is to help you close more sales, I'l confine my comments to the fact that if you want to sel more merchandise, you wil neither smoke nor drink on sales cal s.

First, let's look at smoking. Even if your prospect is smoking and offers you one, you should turn it down. The reason is simple. It takes time to light the cigarette, a place to put the ashes, and then time to put out the cigarette. Sometime between January 1 and December 31, smoking wil cost you some sales. I don't know which ones, nor do I know how many, but based on conversations with hundreds of customers, smoking costs you a lot more than the price of the cigarette. The word is, if you are serious about building your career as fast and solidly as possible, don't smoke and sel at the same time.

What about Drinking with a Prospect?

Many times I'm directly chal enged with, "Don't you think it's al right to have a cocktail with your prospects while you talk shop?" My answer is always the

cocktail with your prospects while you talk shop?" My answer is always the same: "Hope, sure don't." Question: Suppose the prospect offers you one? The answer is stil no. The questioner often persists, "So what do you say?" (For some reason the inquirer doesn't seem to understand that no is an answer! And that

"No, thank you" is a courteous answer when the prospect insists that you join him in a cocktail.)

On November 26, 1972, I took my last drink, and since that day less than a dozen people have insisted or offered it the second time. On the second offer, I quietly say, "No, I real y don't drink." Would you believe that about half of them reply, "Boy, I wish I didn't!"?

I did not lose a friend or a sale and I don't think they respected me any less. As a matter of fact, I believe in most cases they were possibly a little envious and even wished they, too, did not drink. I believe, although this was not my primary objective, that my standing actual y improved with most of the individuals. I'm completely convinced that any sales it might have cost me were far more than replaced by the sales I gained.

Your question: "Zig, what am I going to do? Have a Coke?" Not necessarily.

From time to time I think you ought to have Pepsi, 7-Up, Dr Pepper, or any of a number of other soft drinks.

Does a Cocktail Really "Sharpen You Up"?

Many times salesmen tel me, "I take a drink to be sociable and because the drink

`sharpens me up.' I real y feel I gain a mental pickup." My comment: "If a cocktail sharpens you up, you've got to face the fact that it does the same thing for your prospect, so you stil haven't gained any advantage." Unfortunately, many times the salesmen who say a drink sharpens them up actual y think they believe what they say.

I say they think they believe the drink sharpens them up because they've never real y thought about it. An honest answer to this next question wil remove that thought from your mind. Here's the situation: If you think a drink sharpens you up, you obviously believe it does the same thing for others. You're facing a major operation and you want the surgeon to be at his sharpest best. Question: Are you going to insist that he take a little nip just before he opens you up?

The point is clear. Don't take a drink when you're trying to persuade someone to take action. You're likely to get complacent, lose the mental sharpness, and lose

take action. You're likely to get complacent, lose the mental sharpness, and lose the sale. Liquor is a depressant, not a stimulant.

Build a Spiritual Reserve

To enjoy a balanced success in sel ing and in life, we need to build a spiritual reserve. I say this without apology or hesitation despite the fact some people feel you shouldn't talk about religion and politics in business. I've weighed my position and that advice many times and have come to the same conclusion which evangelist James Robison clearly states, namely, that religion and politics are the two most important things in our lives, and if we don't choose to talk about them, the day wil come when we wil no longer have that choice. I'm not going to go into any theological discussion, nor wil I devote more than a couple of paragraphs to the subject (I elaborate in my book Confessions of a Happy Christian), but I do feel that it's important for you to know where I'm coming from.

If I had never read the Bible or heard a preacher preach, and had only been dealing with young people on drugs, I would have a deep and total faith.

I've seen hundreds of youngsters come into drug-rehabilitation programs so strung out on drugs they did not know one day from the next. They had been to psychiatrists and psychologists; they'd been in group therapy and under the care of competent professionals, with minimal results. Once these young addicts enter a program which fol ows the basic concept of Alcoholics Anonymous, good things start to happen.

This Way Out

In simple terms, here is the concept the addicts fol ow: First, recognize you've got a problem. Second, understand there's nothing you can do about it yourself.

Third, accept the fact that you've got to have a Source of help greater than any human being can provide-God, as you understand Him. (In my own case, I'm privileged to say Jesus Christ as I know Him.) The addicts are forced to accept the fact there is something greater than man, and they need to look to that greater force.

I don't know who you are as a reader, but whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever you do, I can say this to you. If it hasn't already happened in the past, it wil in the future. You're going to have difficulty of some kind which neither you nor any other human being can handle. That's why a spiritual reserve is so

nor any other human being can handle. That's why a spiritual reserve is so marvelous and helpful in sel ing and even more marvelous in life.

What does this have to do with closing sales? Everything, friend. If you are in trouble and have deep personal problems, whether they are of a physical, family, mental, social, financial, spiritual, or career nature, you are going to be primarily thinking about solving your own problems and not solving your prospect's problems. One more time, the most important part of the sales process is the salesperson. And the most effective salesperson is the one who is balanced physical y, mental y, and spiritual y.

The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company conducted a comprehensive study involving thousands of people and in excess of 1,500,000

pieces of information. They uncovered some interesting and exciting things, including the fact that the three groups in America with the highest moral values were (1) the clergy, (2) businessmen, and (3) the general public.

As a businessman, that information pleased me a great deal, but there is more.

The study revealed that people with deep religious convictions are the most productive employees. Here's why. Ninety-seven percent of those who had made strong spiritual commitments carried that feeling of conviction, commitment, and loyalty to their employers with highly productive results. Not surprisingly, this paral els a study involving over 22,000

students who qualified for "Who's Who in American Schools and Col eges."

Over 85 percent of these honor students said their faith in God was extremely important to them.

Not only that but a study by The Heritage Foundation found that regular worship service attendance reduces suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, out-of-wedlock births, and divorce. People who attended worship services regularly were far happier and healthier, had a lower rate of depression, higher self-esteem, longer and happier marriages, and better sex. It also helps inner-city youth escape poverty. The family income difference of those who attend worship services and those who don't is $37,021 vs. $24,361.

Question: Why are these workers and students more productive and why wil you, as a salesperson, be more productive if you have deep spiritual beliefs and strong religious values? Answer: Humans are physical, mental, and spiritual beings-and if you neglect any one of these facets, you wil not be a complete

beings-and if you neglect any one of these facets, you wil not be a complete person. If you are hurting or empty in one aspect of your life, it's much tougher to be productive in the other areas. On the flip side, if you have taken care of the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of your life, you can concentrate on the job at hand, which-in the world of sel ing-is sel ing.

14

Building a Mental Reserve

in Selling

The third kind of reserve is mental reserve. I'm a fight fan and even fought a couple of years in the ring. I fought just long enough to know that if I ever have any disagreements with anybody, I guarantee you that al I'm going to do is just talk about that disagreement.

I love the story of Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. When Gene Tunney retained the heavyweight championship in his fight with Jack Dempsey, he did so because he had trained by running backwards. Gene Tunney was anything but a coward, but he knew when he got back into the ring with Dempsey he was going to be hit and probably hurt.

Backing Up to Go Forward

Since Gene Tunney knew he would get hit and hurt in the rematch with Jack Dempsey, he decided to prepare for it. He did this by running backwards while doing his roadwork. When his sparring partner clobbered him, he diligently trained himself to back away. He did this many, many times. In my own limited ring experience I learned that when a fighter is hit and hurt, he instinctively tries to "git'im!" (his opponent). At that specific moment he's less capable of "gittin'

him" than at any other time. That's when he gets his platter cleaned and is often knocked out.

Tunney knew that when he got hit by Dempsey he could be stunned, go on the attack, and possibly get knocked out, so he conditioned himself to avoid this by running backwards. You fight fans probably remember that in the second fight Dempsey knocked Tunney down for that famous long count. Later, Tunney said his head was perfectly clear and he could have gotten up and gone back to war, but instead of doing that he remembered his training.

Every fighter who has ever been hurt always says, "I'm OK, I'm OK, lemme

Every fighter who has ever been hurt always says, "I'm OK, I'm OK, lemme at'im!" I've seen guys who were so out of it they couldn't tel you what city they were in, but they were tel ing the referee they were OK! Tunney "responded" to his training instead of "reacting" when Dempsey knocked him down. He backed away and fought a holding/delaying action until his head cleared. In the next round he knocked Dempsey down and won the fight going away.

You Will Be Rejected

What does this have to do with you and building your sales career? A lot. Every day you go out to see prospects or prospects come in to see you.

On occasion you can anticipate or expect to be "stunned" by firm rejections and caustic comments from prospects. It is an occupational hazard.

Question: Why not build up a mental reserve so when you are rebuffed in any way by your prospect you are mental y prepared to handle the incident? Positive mental preparation in advance wil help absorb the impact of dealing with negative experiences.

Positive Steps to Overcome Negative Input

By the same token, I'm going to tel you this as a positive fact: You're going to have negative poison dumped into your mind and emotions every day of your sales life. Events, people, radio, newspapers, and television al participate in the process. Combine this with the fact that in the world of sel ing, whether you go out to see prospects or the prospects come in to see you, a certain percentage of them wil deal with you in a negative manner.

To be at your most effective best in the sales profession, you need to build a substantial mental reserve. This mental reserve of knowledge and right attitude wil make a real difference in virtual y every sales encounter. The difference wil be especial y significant to your sales career when you are dealing with the close or borderline cases in which the slightest variation in your attitude and knowledge reserve wil gain or lose the sale. General y speaking, al things being equal, the prospect wil buy from the salesperson he likes. However, as John M.

Wilson points out in his book Open the Mind and Close the Sale, things are not equal when one salesperson has more knowledge and enthusiasm about the product he sel s than a competing salesperson has about the product he sel s.

You build your mental reserve by reading good books, by listening to

You build your mental reserve by reading good books, by listening to motivational and sales training recordings, and by attending professional training sessions and your own company meetings. This real y boils down to daily feeding your mind with good, clean, pure, positive input.

I also urge you to join and actively support your SMEI Club (Sales and Marketing Executives International) for sales managers and marketing managers (mailing address, P.O. Box 1390, Sumas, WA 98295-1390; phone, 312-893-0751).

For Professionals the CD Player/Cassette Player Is a Must In chapter 5, we discussed the value of recording your presentation on a cassette recorder to make certain you are saying the right words and using the right voice inflection. Now I would like to emphasize the value of a cassette or CD player for you to use in your home and in your car. If you are in the world of sel ing and do not have your own cassette or CD player, you are not real y serious about sel ing. I'm completely convinced, based on literal y thousands of letters and individual discussions, that the use of a cassette or CD player can increase your sales effectiveness to the degree that it wil be worth many thousands of dol ars each year in additional income.

The beautiful thing about listening to training and inspirational recordings is the fact that your time investment is almost zero. Ideal y, you can listen to recordings as you begin the day, ironing, making the bed, shaving, applying makeup, and dressing, and your mind is not otherwise engaged.

You can listen to the recordings in the evening as you are preparing for bed. You can listen as you go from one cal to the next. Between those cal s you can often pick up an idea or a motivational lift which further prepares you for the next cal .

Over the years I have had thousands of salespeople tel me this procedure was the most important process they fol owed in order to stay mental y ready to sel . In appliance, furniture, luggage, and other specialty shops you can listen during slow times and keep your attitude right while depositing sales information and inspiration in your knowledge bank.

According to the University of Southern California, if you live in a metropolitan area and drive twelve thousand miles each year, in three years' time you can acquire the equivalent of two years of col ege education. You can learn every phase of the sales profession from building the right mental attitude to prospecting and handling objections, negotiations, closings, and so on. By

prospecting and handling objections, negotiations, closings, and so on. By constantly feeding your mind via those cassette/CD

recordings, you can acquire considerable sales information plus a good feel for the proper voice inflections, pauses, and procedures as demonstrated on the recordings by the independent professional as wel as company sales trainers.

Most of the alternatives, as John Hammond suggests, offer one or more negatives. You could listen to the news but much of that is negative. You could listen to music but some of that is profane and violent or some sad tale by a cowboy about how his best friend ran off with his horse, his girlfriend, or his saddle. You could listen to cal -in talk shows but much of that is idle chatter.

Even if the alternatives were not negative, while you are in your car on the way to making a cal , there is nothing as productive as preparing mental y and emotional y for that cal by listening to those motivational/educational recordings.

Fringe Benefits Are Enormous

There are some fringe benefits from listening each day before you start your day.

Psychologists maintain the first person you meet or deal with every day (of any significant nature) wil have more emotional impact on your attitude that day than the next five people you encounter. Every day you should select a recording from a motivational speaker, sales trainer, minister, or anyone who gives you a positive lift. Since the whole family is involved in your success, get them together and listen to a few minutes of positive material before you start the day.

In my mind, the most motivating single message you can listen to is exciting music with positive lyrics. I don't believe you could start a day with songs like

"God Bless the USA," "Because He Lives," "How Great Thou Art," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," the sound track to Rocky or Chariots of Fire, or any truly great inspirational song, and not feel better for the day.

If you did nothing more than place the CD player or cassette recorder in the center of your house and turn it on, you would notice that every member of your family would start "picking 'em up and putting 'em down" in a happier, more excited way. Not only is inspiring motivational music tremendously moving, but it very definitely affects your attitude. I firmly believe if you wil start the day by listening to a few inspirational songs, you wil be emotional y ready to deal with your prospects on a one-on-one basis.

Incidental y, the wrong kind of music is tremendously demotivating and can have a definite negative impact on you. I urge you to read Behavioral Kinesiology by Dr. John Diamond to find out which music is good for you, which is bad for you, and why.

Plant Good Seeds-Reap Positive Crops. To repeat myself, your mental attitude is influenced tremendously by what goes into your mind. If you want good

"output," you've got to have good "input." If your thinking is good, your business wil be good. If you've got "B.O. of the brain," better known as

"stinkin' thinkin'," your business is going to be in the same shape. It's true-if you're going to build an outstanding career in the world of sel ing, you've got to build your mental reserves so that, as Kipling said, you can meet success and failure and treat both these "imposters" the same.

With Mental and Physical Reserves You Can Score

You've got to be able to score in the last few seconds of the first half and the last few seconds of the bal game. The National Footbal League did a study on scoring and discovered that in the last two minutes of the first half and the final two minutes of the game, more points are scored than in any other twenty minutes of the footbal game!

Why? I believe there are three reasons. Number one, the teams realize that in most cases they need to score to get back in the game, to win, or to secure a shaky lead. Number two, they practice the "two-minute dril " more than any other phase of the game, so they are loaded with mental, physical, and emotional reserve. Number three, their objectives are clearly defined. They know what they've got to do, and because they have thoroughly prepared, their confidence is high that they can reach the objective, which is to score. This results in a fantastic finish of the half or of the game.

The same principles and procedures apply to you in your sales career. Build your reserves, get your thinking right, get your spiritual values in order, get your body in good physical condition, and you wil have taken the key steps toward building an exciting and successful sales career. The most exciting thing is the knowledge that every individual can do something about these areas.

Building Customer Reserve

There is yet another reserve which truly outstanding salespeople wil build, and

There is yet another reserve which truly outstanding salespeople wil build, and that is customer reserve in the form of testimonials from customers. I remember the first real testimonial I saw not long after I entered the world of sel ing. I lived in Columbia, South Carolina, and a big divisional meeting was scheduled in Charlotte, North Carolina, for al the salespeople in the Carolinas. One of the speakers that day was an old pro named Ralph Beaver of Greensboro, North Carolina. Ralph was an extraordinary showman who specialized in the spectacular.

At the conclusion of his talk that day, Ralph pulled out a roll of addingmachine paper four inches wide. He held it up so we could see that something had been typed on the paper. At this point Ralph dramatically said, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, even after a spectacular demonstration

[he wasn't overly modest] and a strong series of closes, I still occasionally have prospects who say no.

"When that happens, I pull out this roll and say, `Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, since there seems to be a little hesitancy on your part to go ahead and reserve a set of our cookware, let me ask you a question. [With that he held the end of the adding-machine roll as high as he could reach and let one end go. As the roll of paper unwound the entire length of the room, Ralph Beaver continued.] The names on that roll of paper are your friends and neighbors who own the set of cookware you are looking at right now [he had neatly typed the name and address of every customer he had sold during his twenty years in the business.] Why don't you see if you know any of them?"

(As the prospects got down on their knees to look, they always recognized a number of names.) Ralph: "Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, do you think all of those people made a mistake by investing in a set of cookware which saves time, money, and food value?" Prospect: "Probably not." Ralph: "As you can see, there are three lines at the bottom of the list. Will it be all right if I go ahead and put your name and address on those lines to indicate you took action to get something you've repeatedly said you really wanted?"

Prospect: "Yes, go ahead."

The most effective testimonials, with the most dramatic results, are those obtained by Bernie Lofchick from Winnipeg, Canada. Bernie is a Maytag distributor and has achieved the highest level of market penetration of any Maytag distributor in their worldwide network, including over fifty countries. Interestingly enough, Bernie's retail outlet, which is not only a

successful profit center but a learning and training center for the other outlets as well, is located next door to a large discount store featuring washing machines, many of which are priced at less than half as much as the Maytag. Bernie considers the competitive store an asset to his business.

He and Maytag sell quality, durability, performance, and service. Recently he sold a new Maytag to a customer who reluctantly traded in her old wringer model, which was still doing a superb job after over forty years of service. She traded it in only because her arthritis had gotten so painful she could no longer operate it.

One of the most effective closes Bernie and his staff use involves telephone calls to satisfied customers who have been using their Maytags five, ten, fifteen, even twenty or twenty-five years. When these customers give their testimonials about service, performance, and durability, somehow the price objection completely disappears and a new Maytag customer joins the ranks.

These two approaches fit special situations, but satisfied customers can be, should be, and in many cases want to be helpful to you in selling additional prospects. Let's look at what sales pro Mike Frank has to say about the importance of customer testimonials, how to get them, and how to use them.

Why Use Testimonials?

Whether you and I personal y like television, radio, newspaper, and magazine advertising which uses man- or woman-on-the-street "testimonials,"

recommendations, or endorsements, it is apparent the major corporations feel they are effective or they wouldn't spend mil ions of dol ars per year on

"testimonial" advertising. Think of just a few which come to your mind, past or present: American Express, beer companies, paper products, dental products, securities companies, Dale Carnegie courses, Charmin, 7-Up, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. (Think further. Do you real y think major corporations would continue to pay mil ions for celebrities to endorse their products if those endorsements did not pay off?) Most salespeople who have been sel ing successful y for any length of time often receive testimonial letters on an unsolicited basis. These endorsements wil usual y compliment the salesperson on his effectiveness, fol ow-up, or attitude. They express appreciation for the salesperson's extra effort, how happy they are with the product, or how pleased they were with the

how happy they are with the product, or how pleased they were with the company's handling of a service problem. Any letters you may have already received serve as a base for your "col ection." (Many salespeople who have received such letters appreciate them but don't realize what a valuable sales tool they can be. As a result, they do a lot of verbal sel ing when these letters have more credibility than any thing the salesperson can say.) Remember: People believe more of what they see than what they hear. This is especial y true in this case, because the prospect always considers the salesperson at least partly biased and often feels that a satisfied customer is just being honest.

Getting Those Testimonials

Testimonials are easy to get. Example: Let's suppose you went to a fine, newly opened restaurant last night in your hometown. You loved the food, atmosphere, and service, and they topped it off by bringing you the check at the proper time.

As you left, you indicated your pleasure to the manager, owner, or maitre d'. He thanked you and asked you some of the things we discussed in the previous paragraphs. Would you write him a letter based on his request? Ninety percent of you would say you would and 50 percent of you actual y would write. You would be happy to help and even flattered that your opinion and approval were respected so highly. The request for the testimonial was a testament to your sincerity.

If you have been sel ing for a few years, think about those customers you have who have verbal y told you how appreciative they are of your product, service, or idea ... or of you as their salesperson ... or of your company for any reason.

Question: Doesn't it make sense to capitalize on these satisfied customers to find more satisfied customers? Do this. Make a list of al of those who fal into this category, or those whom you think might feel this way but haven't verbalized it to you. Now either cal them or go see them. (Your list might have five or fifty names on it. Make contact with al of them.) Your presentation to them is similar to the fol owing:

"Hi, . How is everything going with your ?" (If they have a problem, assure them you wil get the problem remedied and do so. If al is wel , which it wil be about 90 percent of the time, then proceed.) "I'm cal ing [or I'm here] to ask you an important question and a favor which could help me immensely in my sel ing career, without my asking you to buy a thing. Is that fair enough?" Smile and pause. (The response is usual y positive or encouraging.) "Remember when you told me a few weeks ago how pleased you were with our company [service or me]?" Wait for a response.

me]?" Wait for a response.

"Wel , believe it or not, we stil have a lot of nonbelievers out there. It would mean a lot to me if you would share those feelings in a letter on one of your letterheads, at your convenience, and send it to me. Would you do that for me?"

About 90 percent wil say yes. About half of them wil do it.

Don't ask them again. The 50 percent is sufficient to build your letter file. (If the customer is one who has not verbalized his feelings to you, then of course don't mention that he has told you of his pleasure in the past. Merely ask him his feelings about the company, service, you, etc., and if the response is positive, then ask him to do you the favor by writing you a letter regarding whatever praise he has.) If the letter is in praise of the product and/or company, that's fine; it doesn't have to be to you or about you. You can use letters from fel ow salespeople, and if you work with others and al of you do this as a team effort, many of the letters can be mutual y used.

The next step is to get them copied on a top-quality copying machine. Place them in nice plastic pages and then enter the pages into your presentation manual. If you don't use a presentation manual (and we suggest that 95 percent of al top salespeople do have some type of manual with company information, prices, testimonial letters, guarantees, etc.), then we suggest you get a smal three-ring binder for the letters.

Learn the letters. Testimonial letters don't do you any good if you are not completely familiar with them. Use a yel ow highlighting pen to emphasize the key points of the letter, which is the message you want delivered anyway. Take this manual with you on al presentations.

Use Testimonials This Way

To use customer testimonials effectively, you must be able to turn to the right one without delay, because in most cases you wil use only one or two in any presentation. Sometimes they can be used to get in to see the prospect. As a general rule they are used in the conviction step or to answer an objection.

Example: The prospect might say to you, "I'm real y concerned about service."

Your response is, "Mr. Prospect, I can appreciate your concern.

Jones Johns at XYZ Company initial y felt the same way, but after he had a service need, here is what he said." (Now you show him the letter that answers

service need, here is what he said." (Now you show him the letter that answers the question or objection.) After he has read it, you continue with your presentation. Example: The prospect might say, "I'm concerned we won't get the tax break you mention." (Now show him a letter that answers his objection.) You may not have a letter which answers al questions or objections, but if you keep working on building your col ection of letters, eventual y you wil get one to answer almost any question or objection which might arise. Caution: While it is rare that you can have too many letters, I have seen it happen. Replace old letters with better ones and with ones from more credible prospects as time goes on. If you have as many as fifty letters, that isn't too many if you know them and can readily turn to the right one(s). Have them filed in some semblance of order-by industry or location, or alphabetical y, or by type of question/objection, etc.

(Don't put them in file folders unless they are just extra copies which you feel compel ed to leave with the prospect on rare occasions.) I know some of the top auto salespeople leave their letter manual with the prospect to read while the salesman has to go into the manager's office for approval. Many of the top real estate salespeople use such letters diligently.

Industrial salespeople use them, but in most cases not to the degree they could and should. Insurance salespeople could be using them much more effectively.

Professional speakers use them as their number one referral source and tool.

I believe a testimonial can be used effectively in almost every presentation or demonstration-to answer a question or objection, to get in to see the prospect, or as credibility when things are going wel or not so wel in the interview. Big-ticket retail salespeople should use them far more than they do. Testimonial letters from salespeople who may not be with the company anymore may be used in recruitment interviews. If the letter indicates that while the salesperson isn't with the company now, his years with your company were valuable and rewarding, such a good testimonial can sel a prospective recruit.

The uses are unlimited, but the realities of using them are like anything else.

Additional effort is required to get them, learn them, highlight them, organize them, and use them effectively as an additional sales tool. Please be assured that the results and rewards are worth the effort-and then some.

15

Ya Gotta Have Love

You Need to Be Tough. If you are going to make it big in the world of sel ing, you've got to be tough, and easily the toughest, most irresistible force on earth is love. You need to love life, the profession of sel ing, the prospects you deal with, your fel ow man, your God, your country, and your family.

A Love Story

I close this segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale with a love story which I believe wil be meaningful to you in your personal, family, and sales lives.

This love story is about the game of golf. If you're going to make it big in the world of sel ing, you've got to have real love and concern for your prospects.

This love story demonstrates what I mean.

Playing golf is something I love to do. Several years ago, because of my travels, I didn't get to play very often, so when I did I'd get out there and get after it! I teed that bal up and flat let the string al the way out! I busted that bal , and on those occasions when I could find it, I hit it again.

As much as I love to play golf, I love my family infinitely more. And I discovered a long time ago that regardless of the course I play, it stil takes about five hours. Since I was away from my family much of the time, I wasn't about to come in from a trip, grab my clubs, kiss my wife and son good-bye, and go play golf.

So I came up with a very creative solution to my "problem." I bought my son, Tom, and the Redhead a set of clubs. Now golf could become a family affair!

Wel , my wife and son tagged along with me for a few games, but one day my wife said to me, "I know you love to play golf, honey. But I just don't enjoy it.

It's not my game." And she quit. So much for golf buddy number one.

Then, toward summer's end, Tom said, "I hate to tel you this, Dad. I real y like to be with you whenever it's possible, but I just don't enjoy playing golf." So much for golf buddy number two. For the next two or three years, I didn't play much golf.

My Son the Salesman

Then one evening we were out for a ride and drove past a driving range. Tom

Then one evening we were out for a ride and drove past a driving range. Tom pleasantly surprised me and said, "Dad, let's hit some golf bal s." My sticks were in the trunk of the car and he knew it would be an "easy sale" to get me to stop and hit a few golf bal s-and he was right.

After we had hit a few, he said to me, "Dad, can I borrow one of your woods?" I handed him the club I was using. He choked up on it and hit that golf bal farther than I had ever seen him hit one before. Then he grinned at me and said, "Dad, when do we head for the golf course?"

The "Bird" Hunter

A few days later, Tom and I were playing on one of the par-four holes at the country club where we had been members for several years. He took one of my woods and teed off. This time he must have hit it perfectly, because that bal took off straight down the fairway just like the pros hit them.

When it hit the ground it rol ed a long way and stopped in perfect position, right in the middle of the fairway. From there he used a five-iron for his second shot and hit the bal onto the green. Just like on TV! The bal landed softly some forty feet from the hole. Now he was in position to get his

"bird."

For the nongolfer, this simply means he would be one under par if he sank his putt. (One under par on any hole is cal ed a birdie.) Now I helped him line up the putt and showed him how to stroke the bal . When he hit that bal it headed straight for the hole. 1 knew it was good the minute he hit it.

And when his bal hit the bottom of the cup, my boy grinned and leaped into the air. You talk about excitement! I grabbed my son and hugged him as we did a victory dance for a minute or two.

A "Tainted" Win Is Actually a Loss

Then it dawned on me. I had a problem. My putt was coming up also and I too was hunting my bird. And my bal was on the green much closer to the cup. I knew that if I missed the putt Tom would think I had missed it on purpose to let him win the hole. But that would have given him a tainted victory, and as far as I'm concerned, that's quite a loss.

With this in mind, I decided to do my very best. Then if I missed it, I could face my son and say, "That's great, son, you beat of Dad fair and square."

Then the win would not be tainted.

My best effort always includes a measure of providential help-which, I hasten to add, is theological y sound, even on the golf course. I lined up the bal and stroked it into the cup as wel as I've ever stroked a putt in my life.

Before I picked up my bal , I turned to look at Tom and said, "Now tel me the truth, son, were you pul in' for your dad?"

The "Love" Close

I think you know what it would have meant to him if I'd missed. He was only eleven years old and had never beaten his dad on a hole of golf. It would have meant a great deal, and yet quietly, but without hesitation, and very firmly, my son looked at me and said, "Dad, I always pul for you."

That, my friends, is love. That's pure love. That's what we need more of in Dal as, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Chicago, Il inois; and St. Petersburg, Florida. That's what we need more of in every home and every county in every state in this great land of ours. It's the answer to your personal, family, and business problems, and for that matter, the world's problems.

It's certainly what we need in the wonderful world of sel ing. When you are on a sales interview, whether you are sel ing a product or a business opportunity, you must believe deeply, firmly, and sincerely that what you offer is in the best interests of the person you are trying to persuade to take action. If you believe this way, you can sincerely pul for your prospect to buy for his benefit.

At that precise instant you become infinitely more effective, infinitely more professional, infinitely more productive, and infinitely more. It's true, as a wise man said: "People don't real y care how much you know-until they know how much you care about them."

I guess if I were to sum it up, I would say despite al the information we've been giving you which I'm confident is valid, in the final analysis you tel people from your head, but you persuade-you sel -from your heart.

In this segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale, we discovered that:

In this segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale, we discovered that: H in the heart of your sales career is honesty.

E is ego and empathy.

A is your attitude toward you, your prospects, and your profession.

R is for physical, mental, and spiritual reserve.

T is for tough, and the toughest thing is love.

Now put those beginning letters together and they form an acrostic: HEART, because you see, the heart of your sales career is your very own, and if your heart is right, your sales career wil be right.

PART 3

The Sales Professional

OBJECTIVES

To learn how to respond, which is positive, and not react, which is negative.

To spel out the differences between the professional salesperson and the nonprofessional salesperson, the high performer and the moderate performer.

To meet some real sales professionals from every walk of life and learn firsthand some of their characteristics, methods, and procedures.

To clearly establish the fact that dentists, builders, waiters, interior designers, schoolteachers, service station operators, children, etc., are al salespeople.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "Stood Up" Close

The "Impossible Child" Close

The "Complimentary" Close

The "Abraham Lincoln" Close

The "Previous Purchase" Close

The "Feel Good" Close

The "Tie Down" Close

The "Rainy Weather" Close

The "Spare" Close

The "Puppy Dog" Close

The "Soft Service Sel " Close

The "Accessory" Close

16

Learning and Using Professional

Techniques

Do You Respond or React? I hope you answered this question by saying you respond, because "respond" is positive and "react" is negative.

Example: You get sick and go to the doctor. The doctor gives you a prescription and tel s you to come in the next day so he can check on you.

When you walk in the next day, the doctor takes one look, shakes his head, and says, "We're going to have to change your prescription because your body is reacting to the drugs." Nobody is happy with the negative results.

On the other hand, you go back the next day and the doctor takes one look and says, "Looks like we've got the right prescription. Your body is responding to the treatment." Everybody is happy with those positive results.

Here's What the Judge Does

In the world of sel ing-or for that matter, just in the world-everything we encounter is not going to be positive. For example, it would be safe to say that 99 percent of al the salespeople who ever sold-with the possible exception of those who strictly sel behind counters in a retail outlet-have been

"stood up" as far as appointments are concerned. This is particularly true in direct sales, life insurance, real estate, and automobile sales. It would be almost as safe to say that most of those who are stood up react with anger, frustration, disappointment, or a combination of al three.

My late brother, Judge Ziglar, who broke the national sales record for the Saladmaster Corporation in 1964 by sel ing over $104,000 (today that would be over $800,000) worth of cookware, had a most unique response to broken

over $800,000) worth of cookware, had a most unique response to broken appointments. He conducted cookware demonstrations, which meant he cooked large meals for several couples whom the hostesses had invited to attend. After demonstrating, he made appointments to see the couples in the privacy of their own homes the next day.

On occasion, when he arrived at the appointed time, no one would be at home.

Instead of reacting with dismay, despair, frustration, or anger, Judge responded by saying, "Oh, boy! That's a sure sale!"

The next day, at precisely the appointed hour for the day before, he would again appear at the door. When the husband or wife came to the door, Judge would immediately start with an apology. "I'm so sorry I missed you yesterday. I did everything in my power to see you, but it just wasn't possible." (He was being 100 percent honest. He had done everything in his power to see them. He had been there at the appointed time.) Judge said that you would be astonished at the number of grown people who would let him take the blame for their discourtesy. At that point, as he expressed it, he knew the sale was his. Here's why. If they did not have the courage to face him and say no at the appointed time, then they were not psychologically equipped to deal with a highly motivated, enthusiastic, well-trained professional salesman like him. By responding with that attitude, it's not difficult to understand why he broke the record.

I need to explain that the prime reason Judge was so motivated was he believed with all his heart that the family he was calling on desperately needed-even had to have-his set of cookware. He knew it would save them money, work, and precious food value for their children. He truly had a missionary zeal in selling his product. He also understood human nature and the real reason they stood him up. I elaborated on this in the very first segment, but basically the couple wanted the cookware but didn't think they could afford it and feared they were too weak to say no to their desires.

Solution: Stand up the salesman. Reminder: That's the reason you, my selling friend, need to develop the empathy I covered in chapter 8.

That's not all. Most direct salespeople react with frustration and dismay when a small child disrupts the demonstration by climbing into the briefcase or sample case and scattering papers and samples from side to side. Frequently the parents will, in a weak, somewhat pathetic tone of

voice, say, "Now, son, you shouldn't bother the salesman's papers."

On occasion the husband will turn to his wife and say, "Honey, that child is impossible! Can't you do something with him?" To this the wife frequently gets up, takes the youngster out, and tells him to stay in his room. Three minutes later the youngster is back in the briefcase or samples, wreaking havoc. Now in despair the father and mother pull their hair, wring their hands, scream at the child, and beg him to behave himself.

It's at this point Judge Ziglar said he knew he had made the sale. Again, if they could not say no to a three-year-old, how could they say no to a highly motivated, well-trained professional salesman like him? Judge pointed out it was obvious to him the parents did not love their child enough to discipline him. He (Judge) loved children, all children, but especially the neglected ones. As he expressed it, "Since it is obvious this 'impossible' child will never have the advantage of loving discipline, I feel even more strongly the child must have the best possible chance at good, nutritious food for a healthy body."

We're dealing with an attitude in selling, but it also involves some knowledge of human nature and just good, common sense. If you think about it, that's what the highly motivated, well-trained professional salesperson uses most often. And he certainly works on his thought processes and attitude until he can look at his sales situations and respond instead of react.

17

Characteristics of the

Professional Salesperson

Since I constantly make reference to the fact that the salesperson is the most important part of the sales process, let's take a look at the sales professional. First of al , he clearly understands that logic makes people think, but it is emotion that makes them act. He knows if he uses al logic in a sales presentation, chances are excel ent he wil end up with the best-educated prospect in town who wil buy from someone else. If he uses al emotion in a sales presentation, chances are excel ent he wil make the sale but, unfortunately, chances are also good the prospect wil cancel the order. However, he knows that when he uses emotion and logic in the presentation, chances are excel ent he wil end up with a sale

and logic in the presentation, chances are excel ent he wil end up with a sale today and a happy customer for the future.

The professional understands that logic is aimed at and appeals to the eye.

Emotion is aimed at and appeals to the ear. This is why, when humanly possible, we not only tel people what our merchandise or goods wil do but we demonstrate at the same time.

We've been conditioned to believe what we see instead of what we hear. The eyes have truly been cal ed the "windows of the soul"-the mind's eye believes what it sees. The eyes are the only one of our sense organs which connect directly to the brain. For this reason, logical y we accept more readily what we see than what we hear. However, we are moved into action by what we hear.

Remember, our "feeling" brain is ten times as large as our "thinking" brain, so

"tel 'em" and "show'em" and your chances of sel ing them are greatly multiplied.

Extrovert or Introvert

There are probably a thousand different opinions regarding the professional salesperson. The man on the street thinks he is a happy-golucky, storytel ing, backslapping, extroverted, hail-fel ow-wel -met type of an individual. The truth is the professional salesperson is far more likely to be introverted than he is extroverted. Not painful y so, but by nature he is quieter and more serious.

Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule. But let's look at the extrovert versus the introvert.

The extrovert is a person who is more likely to make a good first impression. He is easy to like and establishes rapport fairly wel . In too many instances, however, he depends on the force of his personality to get the sale. On a one-cal

, one-shot item when he's passing through town, that's fine. However, if he's going to build a career, that's a different matter. If he's sel ing on a continuing basis to the same buyer, that, too, is a different matter.

The introvert is more likely to be thorough in his studies, precise in his presentation, and knowledgeable about the goods, products, or services his company has to offer. He is better organized. He knows where he's going to be at a given time. He's far more likely to plan his schedule and then work that schedule. He is in most cases a better listener and is a better student at uncovering the prospect's needs.

Of course, the ideal professional salesperson is an extrovert who is so serious

Of course, the ideal professional salesperson is an extrovert who is so serious about his profession he works to develop some of the introvert's characteristics so he can more effectively serve his customers. Or he is an introvert who is so committed to his profession he develops some of the extrovert's characteristics so he can more effectively serve his customers.

High Performers vs. Moderate Performers

The study by DeMarco and Maginn of The Forum Corporation revealed that highly successful salespeople practice fundamental sales skil s, management skil s, and good human relations to get along with staff members, customers, and other salespeople. They do not abdicate responsibility for instal ation, implementation, and service to technical support people. They continue to maintain a "service" relationship which younger salespeople, interested in building a career, need to learn.

High performers-regardless of the industry-involve others by soliciting opinions, sharing information, and establishing trust relationships inside the organization.

Indications are extremely strong these highperforming salespeople could move from the sales force into a bank or manufacturing concern and perform at the same level. The revelation was that ability to sel is not what separates the moderate performer from the high performer.

The other factors-trust, relationships, etc.-were the key. The high-performing sales professionals are total, wel -balanced people with integrity who are knowledgeable and aggressively caring in their creative approach to solving problems.

A Team Player with Integrity. The high performer is an influence manager of considerable skil and serves as the liaison or connecting link between the customer in the field and the support people in the company. He works with his support people in a way that enhances their productivity and self-esteem while concentrating on issues important to building and maintaining a productive, trusting relationship with the customer.

The high performer helps with related products and services and simplifies the decision-making process for the customer by his wil ingness to identify other sources of help if the needs of the client extend beyond his expertise and the capability of his own company. Customers value integrity very highly and expect to receive hints as wel as knowledgeable responses to their questions.

High-performing salespeople represent the interests of their company and of their clients with dignity, integrity, and skil . They bring added value to the sales task with greater enthusiasm, more sensitive interpersonal skil s, and a sense of professionalism. They communicate clearly and sensitively to customers and support staff, which builds customer confidence that they know what they're doing. They also understand that the product or service itself does not build value but that salespeople build value with every visit to a customer.

Building internal relationships clearly is a key to the success of high performers.

Moreover, the high performer is a team player whose internalrelationship behavior is consistent with the behavior that makes him successful with customers. He also sees his sales managers as a resource to be cal ed upon at the appropriate moment and indicates that his manager is an effective leader who encourages initiative and provides support.

The Professional

He is so other-people conscious he never lets his ego hinder his efforts. He understands his function as a professional is not to attempt to help the prospect decide on buying or not buying, but rather to give information so the prospect wil have the facts to make an intel igent decision. He gives some inspirational or motivational input so the prospect wil be inspired to make the right decision. - - -

- - - - - - - - -- - -

The professional is thick-skinned to the degree that he is not offended easily by what the prospect has to say. This does not mean he accepts abusive language or insulting manners. It does mean he knows that many times the prospect has been abused by other salespeople and he is able to understand that the prospect is not rejecting him but is simply refusing the offer he's making.

The Professional Understands

The professional thinks in terms of service, but he also thinks in terms of his ability to make the sale on a specific cal . He expects to make the sale.

He is versatile in his sales knowledge and his approach. He works from a plan and not a can, but as a professional he knows that while there are many ways to say things, there is one best way. As a result, he includes many verbatim phrases, explanations, and expressions in every sales presentation. He feels strongly that it is his responsibility to sel so clearly that the prospect understands it is in his

it is his responsibility to sel so clearly that the prospect understands it is in his best interests to buy.

He knows when the prospect acts in an abusive manner it is often a defensive measure prompted by a sense of fear because of his own feeling of inferiority or ego inadequacy. He understands one universal rule in the world of sel ing and applies it with diligence and enthusiasm. That rule is his absolute conviction that he needs to find out what the prospect wants and then help him get it.

The dictionary defines the professional as "one who has an assured competence in a particular field or occupation." It's quality of performance. The professional has a good sense of humor. He takes his profession and his prospects' needs seriously-but not himself.

The Professional Is a Student

He clearly understands that school is never out for him. He studies his prospects, studies his company literature, and studies the art of persuasion.

He reads good books, listens to inspirational recordings, attends training sessions, and most of al , on every sales interview he studies human nature. He knows if he's going to change his status in life, he must change his performance.

To change that performance he needs to change his thinking. To change his thinking he must change the input into his mind, so he selectively chooses the

"good stuff" for his mind food. He understands very clearly that his mind is not a garbage dump-it's -a temple.

The professional "goes to school" by watching good salespeople in action, whether at the direct, wholesale, or retail level. He constantly asks himself questions like, "How can I take this procedure and translate it into my own sales situation so I can more effectively sel and service my customers?" He knows his prospects wil make their decision based on what they understand and believe, so he undersel s, keeps it simple, and makes it believable.

The Professional "Lives" Sel ing. Yes, he's sales conscious. He wakes up in the morning thinking sales. He goes to work thinking sales. He comes home thinking sales. The only difference is that when he gets home he understands that even though his sales situation is different, he wil use the same basic procedures and work from the same character base. He remembers that sel ing is a transference of feeling, and hypocrisy on these

"sales cal s" wil produce the same negative results they produce with his other

"prospects."

From his heart he must sel his children on being the best possible children. From his heart he sel s his wife on the idea that he's a good husband and then demonstrates the point he wishes to make. In short, he is other-people conscious from morning to evening. The beautiful thing is that it's so much fun for him that it gets to be-and is-second nature.

He understands that people buy for their reasons and not his. For this reason he studies a great deal about motivation and human behavior, ful y understanding that in order to influence behavior you need to understand something about it.

He understands that a good idea, procedure, or technique does not care who owns or uses it.

The professional is an optimist. He looks on the bright side of every aspect of life. He knows the average prospect experiences enough gloom and doom in his life and does not appreciate a salesman spreading additional gloom. The professional understands that he-to a very large degree-is in control of the buying climate. With that in mind he does not discuss irrelevant subject matter and does not bring in the latest national or local tragedy. He creates an atmosphere of excitement and optimism so his chances of making the sale are greatly enhanced. He has great singleness of purpose and concentration on the immediate objective, whether it is to make the sale, placate a disgruntled customer, or make a fol ow-through P.R. cal . This singleness of purpose enables the professional to zero in on the customer's dominant buying motive and concentrate his energies and attention on helping the prospect get what he wants.

He's highly motivated and transmits his excitement to his prospects, who are motivated to respond by taking action.

The Professional Is Adaptable

He is a thinker, but he clearly understands it is better to emulate genius than to create mediocrity, so he evaluates materials and procedures on the basis of results. If the techniques and methods he is using are getting desirable results, he wil stay with them. But he abandons any procedure or technique that proves to be ineffective. He does not permit himself to get comfortable in using a sales process and continuing to use it long after it has lost its effectiveness. He's aware of change in procedure, but he's even more aware of the fact that principles do not change.

not change.

The Professional Is Career Oriented

Because he is career oriented, every action is taken with the idea in mind of building a career rather than just making that individual sale. The professional ful y understands the old cliche that words alone wil often fail, so he demonstrates to make the sale. He understands that when the prospect sees the product or service demonstrated, the believability factor increases. He also clearly understands that if you hear something, you wil forget it; if you see it, you wil remember it; but if you hear it, see it, and do it, you wil understand and be far more inclined to take action. With this in mind he gets the customer involved in the presentation. He lets that customer feel the cloth as he slips on the coat. He permits him to do the driving in the demonstration. He lets that customer sit down at the keyboard and work the word processor or the computer.

He uses visuals and testimonials in his presentation.

He encourages the housewife to take her turn with the vacuum cleaner. She permits her customers to apply the makeup personal y so they wil have confidence that yes, they can do exactly the same thing. In short, the professional salesperson gets the customer involved in the use of the products, goods, or services.

The professional possesses conviction, concern, confidence, and courage. His conviction is strong that his product wil solve the prospect's problem. His concern is genuine that the prospect buy now for his own benefit. His confidence is strong that he can persuade the prospect to take action, and his courage enables him to ask the prospect to take action now for his own best interests.

The professional has an incurable curiosity! He doesn't just wonder why the grass is greener on the other side, he climbs over the fence to see how the grass is being fertilized and learns the brand they're using.

The Professional Looks and Acts Professional

The professional looks the part of a professional. He is appropriately dressed for the occasion. He knows you can't play the role of success dressed in the costume of failure. He understands that you cannot harvest this year's crop on last year's fertilizer, so he constantly plants the right thoughts and procedures in his mind.

In short, he appropriately dresses both mind and body.

The professional is a person of principle. He understands that the man or woman who won't stand for something wil fal for anything. He knows if you add one smal bit to the truth that you inevitably subtract from it. He buys the statement of Wil Rogers, who said, "I would rather be the man who bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the one who sold it." The implication is clear that he wil bend over backwards to protect his integrity and to keep from taking advantage of anyone.

He understands that, as Ann Landers says, that's an awkward position, but he knows he won't fal on his face while leaning over backwards.

The professional is a hard worker. He understands, as sales trainer Steve Brown from Atlanta, Georgia, puts it, that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly-until you learn how to do it wel . And he sticks and studies until he learns to do it professional y. He clearly knows we do not get work done through people, but we develop people through the work. In short, he knows activity precedes accomplishment and learning general y precedes activity. He does his homework and practices at sales meetings and in front of his family. He is eager to get in front of the prospect for the final examination, where he puts his learning on trial and reaches his objectives. As sales trainer Phil Lynch said, he prepares for tomorrow by performing today.

The Professional Is on the Grow

The professional builds a beautiful library containing much information about the sales profession, the sales process, and the people he sel s. He would never dream of going to a doctor who quit studying when he finished medical school, or an attorney who quit studying when he finished law school. He would be dismayed if he realized the doctor or the attorney had no resource materials to refer to and learn from. With this in mind he builds his own sales library and adds to it on a regular basis.

He understands that the average salesperson spends several hundred dol ars a year dressing the outside of his or her head-that's for shaves, haircuts, hairspray, cosmetics, cologne, and perfume-and wil spend a minimum of three thousand dol ars dressing his body, and several thousand on transportation. Now, after having spent thousands of dol ars getting ready to go sel , he clearly understands that as a professional he needs to know what to say when he gets there. With that in mind he constantly fil s his library and-more importantly-his head with the new procedures and techniques.

He is able to put his investment in books, recordings, and training seminars into

He is able to put his investment in books, recordings, and training seminars into perspective by understanding how much it costs him and/ or his company to make a sales cal -and how much more it costs to miss the sale because of inadequate, erroneous, or incomplete information. Laptop computers, cel phones, instant this and instant that provide an incredible sales opportunity advantage. Though the dol ar cost for a sales cal is high, the cost in human frustration and wrecked sales careers because of a lack of sales information, technique, and inspiration is infinitely higher.

The cost of acquiring the necessary training information is minute in comparison to the cost of not acquiring that training. Like the man said, "If you think education is expensive, just look at the cost of ignorance." Or, to make it personal, how many times have you missed a sale and later picked up some information or technique which you know would have made the difference (it hurt, didn't it)?

P.S. Congratulations for investing in Secrets and getting this involved in the learning process. Keep it up. You are growing!

The Professional Pushes Himself

The professional sets internal standards for performance. He has goals which he works on daily. General y speaking, according to an article in Psychology Today, he sets his own quotas and goals higher than the company would set them. He is far more inclined to use his spare time in sales-related tasks. For example, when things are slow he writes fol ow-up or thank-you notes to customers instead of kil ing time reading magazines, drinking coffee, or engaging in bul sessions.

As times change, the professional changes procedures and techniques but never changes the concepts and philosophy of delivering as much as possible, as enthusiastical y as possible, at the lowest fair price.

The professional knows that al the knowledge contained in the books in the Library of Congress won't work without the magic of common sense and judgment. In the final analysis he understands that his career wil depend on what he does with what he knows, not just on what he knows.

Not a Professional

The professional understands that you don't become a salesperson by answering

The professional understands that you don't become a salesperson by answering an ad in a newspaper and grabbing a briefcase with a prospectus in it any more than you become an engineer by buying a calculator or become a doctor by acquiring a stethoscope.

There's far more to being a salesman than simply smiling, dressing neatly, tel ing some good stories, and learning a few good lines.

When I speak of the professional, I'm obviously not talking about the guy or gal who is a dropout from some other profession or the ones who simply drifted into sel ing because it was "easy." ("Al you've got to do is talk"-they think-"and since I'm a good talker, I'l be a good salesperson." One of the myths exploded by The Forum Corporation study is that a salesperson has to be a glib fast-talker.) Nor am I talking about the part-time clerk who went to work six weeks before Christmas to pick up some extra money.

The Professional Gets with it

The professional has chosen the profession of sel ing and stays in school throughout his entire career, consistently working to earn the title

"salesman." He works as hard on his attitude, self-image, relationships, and goals as he does on procedures and techniques. He clearly understands that he must get the person ready before he can get the salesperson ready.

The professional understands that he needs to stay "green and growing," because a green salesman is always better than a blue one. He knows as long as he's green he's growing, but when he gets ripe he wil rot.

The professional salesman is the story of the high jumper who broke the world's record. Somebody asked him how he did it and he responded, "I threw my heart over the bar and the rest of me fol owed."

When you real y get your heart into the profession of sel ing and with the company you're representing, you wil acquire the skil s, procedures, and technique necessary for success. As Dr. Robert Schul er, author of Move Ahead with Possibility Thinking, says:

"Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation."

The professional's attitude is such that he's grateful for some of the difficulties.

He doesn't want to be like this old boy down home who stated that he would

He doesn't want to be like this old boy down home who stated that he would occasional y like a blessing which was not in disguise. I mention this because when we encounter the tough prospect and the tough sale, we must remember that the tough prospects are our best teachers, and if al sales were easy and

"anybody could do it," our commissions would be about one-tenth as much as they are.

The professional understands completely that competition is getting keener al the time, and so he must do the same thing. The professional has character; he is not one.

As sales pro Mike Frank says, "The professional acquires and maintains àprospecting awareness.' He seeks prospects from current and former clients as wel as everyone he cal s on, regardless of sales results. He cultivates them at the supermarket, the club, and restaurants, as wel as other social contacts. He utilizes information gleaned from radio, TV, and newspapers as wel as bil boards and bus signs. Hèsees' a prospect behind every bush and tree and around every corner."

The professional keeps records. He remembers what has made him successful and he keeps the same hustle, enthusiasm, and dedication to the job. Those factors which got him started, combined with expertise, experience, skil , and knowledge, are what make him the successful professional. He is a student and reads good books and publications on sel ing and motivation.

Question as you read this book: Is this the first one you've read this year or is it the sixth? If it's June or later, I sincerely hope it's at least the sixth one.

Recency, Frequency, Potency, and Recommendation

In the world of professional sel ing, the professional remembers that if he's going to build a career instead of just sel ing one customer one time and then having to look for another, he must take seriously the advice of Dr. Joseph Braysich, the

"body language" expert from Sydney, Australia. He advocates the use of the

"recency, frequency, potency, recommendation" formula, which is self-explanatory.

Recency. This refers to how long it has been since you were in touch with your customers to let them know you are available to serve, tel them that you appreciate their business, and inform them about a new addition to your product line or a new use for the products they already have.

line or a new use for the products they already have.

According to Dr. Braysich, customers, even those who are good friends, need to be reminded of your existence and your eagerness to meet their needs or solve their problems.

Frequency. This wil vary tremendously with the product and the practicality of the time investment as it relates to production, but in a competitive world, in some shape, form, or fashion, your customers need to be reminded of your existence and your interest. Otherwise, competition which has no feeling of "I've already got that customer" complacency enters the picture and you're short one customer.

The man who is one of the best in the world at keeping his name in front of his customers is Joe Girard, who with Stanley H. Brown wrote the best-sel ing book How to Sel Anything to Anybody. His phenomenal success in the automobile business enabled him to write a book on sel ing based on his personal experiences. To the best of my knowledge, he holds al the records for sel ing cars. He sold:

For the details on this astonishing performance, you should pick up Joe's book and careful y read what he has to say. There are many remarkable things about his record. First is the fact that over this fifteen-year period of time, he averaged nearly nine hundred cars per year, and these were al individual sales-no fleet sales at any time. Second, these were sales and not "deals" or giveaways. His company made a profit, Joe made a profit, and the customers obviously "won,"

too, or they would not have returned time after time. Third, Joe was the number one automobile salesman in America every year from 1967 to 1977. The magnitude of that feat almost defies description. Fourth, despite the fact there were two recessions during his first eleven years, he sold more cars every year than he had sold the previous year. Fifth, the last six years he sold cars on a ful -

time basis (before getting heavily involved as a speaker and writer) he averaged over thirteen hundred cars sold each year.

There are many reasons for such phenomenal sales success, but one of them is the fact that once a month Joe dropped a card in the mail to every one of his customers. Obvious ones like Christmas, Easter, birthday, and anniversary; and not-so-obvious ones like Happy Fourth of July, Labor Day, or Washington's or Lincoln's Birthday. With cards coming al the time his customers consider Joe a

Lincoln's Birthday. With cards coming al the time his customers consider Joe a member of the family, or at least an old friend. That's the way a real professional does things.

Mike Frank adds his own touch to this process by handwriting a minimum of seven cards every day. Mike uses a note pad which includes his picture, because many of his contacts are of a ten-to-fifteen-minute duration, during which time he sel s his prospect on inviting him back at a later date to conduct a meeting.

The purpose of the meeting is to sel tickets for an upcoming sales and motivation congress. The note reminds the prospect of the date and the picture helps him to put Mike's name and face together. Mike does the same thing with people he did not sel to but who might buy later. He has done this every day since 1972. Tough to do-yes. Time consuming-yes. Rewarding-you betcha!

Potency. How strong was your impact? How solid is the relationship? Wil your customer distinctly recal your last contact? Are you solidly entrenched because you sold and served wel , or did you get in for that initial sale through connections? It's great to have connections to make sales, but it's highly dangerous and erroneous thinking to believe that once you sel to them they are your customers.

Recommendation. This one, especial y on the initial sale, is critical y important.

As you wil learn in the next chapter, Chuck Bel ows sold me a Cadil ac because the recommendation was so strong I went to see him prepared to believe him, to trust him, and yes, to buy from him. The professional builds that kind of reputation. Strong recommendations are the easiest-and by far the surest-method of building a sales career.

Finally

The professional is skil ed at communicating and reading the prospect's communications back to him. According to some authorities, what we say contains only 7 percent of the persuasive impact of the message. The way we say it contains 38 percent and our body language the remaining 55

percent. With this in mind, the professional learns body language and voice inflection. He learns and uses the words that sel and avoids the words that unsel .

(I deal with this phase of the professional in chapter 22.) The professional is a builder and not a destroyer. He builds his fel ow salespeople. He builds his country, his company, his community. He constantly

salespeople. He builds his country, his company, his community. He constantly suffers from a case of mild discontent which he instinctively transforms to inspirational dissatisfaction, which is one of the most powerful forces we can harness in professional sel ing.

18

Here Is a Professional

Let's look at a real professional in the world of sel ing. I believe this story wil cover as many specific sales points, techniques, and procedures as you wil ever see covered in a sales story. Not only wil it be helpful to al salespeople, but the lessons in psychology and persuasion wil also be useful to any layman or professional who ever has to "sel " an idea. In short, it wil help you-personal y and professional y.

This story wil "cover the waterfront" since it includes voice inflection, how to ask questions, the importance of sales skil and the salesperson, how to effectively negotiate the determining factor in the sale, how to move from the sel er's side of the table to the buyer's side, how to lead prospects to new decisions, how to break the price down so it's not such a big factor, and how and why you should sel value. It covers the steps you take to make the prospect feel good about unsatisfactory previous purchases, the importance of the fol ow-through in building a sales career, how to use the Abraham Lincoln approach in convincing the prospect to take action, how to gently chastise the vacil ating prospect, and much more.

People Remember Stories

As you have already noticed, Secrets of Closing the Sale contains many, many stories. I tel a lot of sales stories for two good reasons. First, you are far less likely to let your mind drift when you are reading a story (provided I tel it wel ).

Second, you remember stories more easily than anything else, and as you recal the story you wil also remember the points and techniques taught in the story.

Since you can use only what you remember, teaching techniques through true stories and analogies is the most effective method ever devised. As you probably know, this was the procedure used by the Carpenter from Galilee, who was the greatest Salesman and the greatest Teacher who ever lived.

As a teacher and trainer, I'm completely aware of the fact that if the student didn't learn, the teacher didn't teach. I want this book to inform you, to make you

didn't learn, the teacher didn't teach. I want this book to inform you, to make you a better person and a better salesperson. I want it to make you more professional and more productive. The only way it wil do al those things is if it teaches you effective techniques and inspires you to use them.

In November of 1975, I decided to buy a new car, and since the '76 Cadil ac was especial y beautiful, I visited two dealerships, went for a test drive, and began shopping for the best overal offer. Since I drive very little, I only buy a new car every five or six years, so I was in no special hurry to "buy today." In a telephone conversation with a business acquaintance, the talk turned to cars and I commented that I was probably going to buy a new Cadil ac. He immediately told me that I ought to talk to Chuck Bel ows at Rodger Meier Cadil ac.

With that comment, I said, "Wel , you obviously know him. Why don't you give him a cal , tel him I'm a nice fel ow, that I'm on my way over, and to treat me right?" To that he responded, "I'l be glad to do that and, Zig, I'l tel you in advance, you can absolutely depend on Chuck Bel ows. If he tel s you it's going to rain, man, you can set your tubs out! His reputation for being honest and for having integrity is absolutely great!"

We finished the conversation, he cal ed Chuck, and I got into my automobile and headed over to Rodger Meier. As I was driving down the service road and circling the dealership, Chuck recognized my car because our mutual friend had described it to him. When I pul ed into the only available parking slot, Chuck was standing there to open the door.

The "Complimentary" Close

Chuck is an old-fashioned guy and very definitely an introvert. As he opened the door he said, "You've got to be Zig Ziglar." Zig: "Yes, I am." Chuck:

"Wel , Mr. Ziglar, let me start by tel ing you I think you're driving one of the nicest cars I've ever seen. It's absolutely beautiful!"

Point number one: Bragging about a recent or previous purchase is not a bad way to start an interview. A sure way to make me feel good about buying something else is to make me feel good about a previous purchase. This is exactly what Chuck was doing. There is an "if" attached. That is, if he's tel ing me the truth. If that car's a dog, if it's a beat-up wreck and he says, "Man, that's a beautiful car!" then I grab my pocketbook and run for my financial life because I know he's trying to get his hands in my pocket.

know he's trying to get his hands in my pocket.

Point: Make certain the observation or compliment is accurate and sincere.

Chuck was tel ing the truth. It was a beautiful car. It was an Oldsmobile Regency-two-tone brown-with al the good stuff on it which increases the value and enhances the enjoyment of a car. So when he said, "Man, you've got a beautiful car," I responded by thanking him and tel ing him I had enjoyed the car very much and it had given me excel ent service. He reiterated, "Wel , it is a beautiful car. Do you mind tel ing me where you got it?"

Ask Those Questions

It's very important for you to notice these questions, because they're completely natural and appear to be casual, despite the fact that Chuck has probably asked these same questions many times over the years. His questions were not

"canned," but they were very careful y planned. I responded that my neighbor across the street is a General Motors executive and I got the car through him.

Chuck: "Say, did you by any chance get one of the executive cars?" Zig: "Wel , as a matter of fact, I did." Chuck: "I'l bet you got a good deal on it, didn't you?"

(I don't know how you are, but the odds are great when somebody accuses you of having made a good deal four or five years earlier you're going to modestly admit you did al right in the transaction. I hope you do it modestly; otherwise it's tacky!)

As modestly as I could, I said, "Wel , Chuck, to tel you the truth, when I bought this car it was a seventy-six-hundred-dol ar automobile." (Remember, this was in 1975.) "It only had twenty-one hundred miles on it and I got it for fifty-six hundred." Chuck: "Say, you did get a good deal!"

True. I did get a good deal, but with those words I also did something else. I loaded the first barrel of his sales shotgun. He had asked me for information and I (a prospect) had given it to him.

Point: When you're talking with a prospect, please remember that in most cases he's delighted to give you pertinent information if you'l just ask for it!

Chuck continued, "Mr. Ziglar, I'm delighted you're here. Let me get the appraiser to see just how much we can give you for your fine car. I'l tel you right now, if it's as nice on the inside as it is on the outside, we're going to be able to swap with you today and make you happy in the process, because we have a

with you today and make you happy in the process, because we have a magnificent inventory." He found the appraiser and they got into the car and drove off.

Think like a Buyer-and a Seller

They went wherever it is they go when they do whatever it is they do when they appraise a car. They were gone about ten or fifteen minutes. When they drove back into the parking lot, old Chuck was sitting on the passenger side, grinning like the proverbial cat which had just swal owed the canary. I mean, he was real y excited!

As a salesperson, let me remind you that you need to be thinking as a buyer and as a sel er. In this particular case, since I'm buying, I am thinking as a buyer.

When Chuck pul ed into the lot with that big grin on his face, I've got to confess to you that an embarrassing thought went through my mind. (Now I want to stress that I didn't let it stay long before I ran it on out of there!) The word steal entered my mind. (I figured he was so sold on my four-year-old car that he was going to pay me to swap!) Like I say, it's embarrassing, but again I remind you that I was a prospective customer, so I was thinking as a customer.

To keep things in perspective, I remind you again, again, and yet again that if you want to scale the heights as a professional salesperson, you must always, in every sales situation, be thinking as a sel er and as a buyer.

As a prospective buyer I thought to myself, "He loves my car. I'm going to get an incredible offer on it, I just know I am!" The car stopped and Chuck stepped out. I'm not certain, but I believe old Chuck has had some training in dramatics.

When he stepped out of the car, he closed the door, backed away, and just shook his head. Then, as if he couldn't believe it, he opened the door and closed it again. He obviously loved this magnificent machine which he was going to have an opportunity to obtain in a trade.

Bring Out Those Unspoken Objections

He looked at me and repeated what he had said earlier. "You know, Mr. Ziglar, this real y is one of the most beautiful cars I think I've ever seen! As a matter of fact, it is in even better condition on the inside than it is on the outside. You're to be commended." Zig: "Thank you very much, Chuck."

He continued, "As a matter of fact, I'm a little puzzled. Please don't

He continued, "As a matter of fact, I'm a little puzzled. Please don't misunderstand, because I'm delighted you're here, but I am a little curious as to why you want to swap such a beautiful automobile at this time."

You readers who are directly involved in the world of sel ing, especial y if you haven't been at it too long, might think this question seems a bit negative. Zig brings in a four-year-old car to trade on a new one and Chuck is asking why he wants to swap it right now. Instead of it being negative, I believe it is a positive sign of a competent and confident professional.

Here's why. If there are any objections, it is infinitely better to bring them out early so you can deal with them as part of the presentation rather than at the end of the interview. If you, the salesperson, can smoke out any objection early, you can sel on the offense instead of on the defense.

Back to Chuck

When Chuck asked, "Why do you want to swap this car?" I looked at him, smiled, and replied, "Wel , Chuck, to tel you the truth, we have a family reunion in Mississippi in about three weeks and I think it would real y be nice if I drove a new Cadil ac over there." Chuck obviously thought that would be kind of nice, too, but he didn't say anything. (He didn't have to-I had just loaded the second barrel of his sales shotgun!) He simply got out his talking pad (I've stressed throughout this book that you need to keep your talking pad handy) and started figuring. He had a big grin on his face, so my confidence that I was going to get a real y good offer went up even more.

From High to Low to High

Unfortunately, that feeling was short-lived, because after he'd been figuring a moment or so, that magnificent grin of his started to fade into neutral.

As the grin dissolved I looked at him and thought to myself, Oh, no! He's hit a snag, maybe even found something wrong, and my heart started to sink. He continued to figure and after a few more minutes that magnificent expression of a moment earlier which had shifted into neutral shifted al the way into plain ugly! As a matter of fact, I've never seen such a high concentration of ugly in one smal spot in my life! My heart literal y went al the way down to my heels. I was thinking (more accurately, talking) to myself, Oh, no! He's found something wrong and I just know I'm not going to be able to get that beautiful new Cadil ac I've real y set my heart on!

I've real y set my heart on!

In retrospect, I should have been more optimistic, especial y since I do have a reputation for being a positive thinker. Actual y, I was guilty of sel ing Chuck Bel ows short and I shouldn't have done that, because among other things, he is a fighter! I mean, he flat hung in there and kept figuring and kept figuring and kept figuring. Final y, that ugly on his face started shifting back into neutral and I caught myself pul ing for him, Come on, Chuck, hang in there, man, stay with it!

And bless his heart, that's exactly what he did.

After a few more minutes of concentrated figuring, that neutral expression went back to his magnificent smile. At that point Chuck looked up from his talking pad and in an excited voice said, "Mr. Ziglar, I've got marvelous news for you!

Because of the remarkably good condition of your car, and because of our wonderful inventory, we're going to be able to swap with you today for just seventy-three eighty-five."

I Almost Had a Heart Attack!

Please don't misunderstand-I'm an educated man. I mean, I watch television and I read the newspapers and everybody knows that's where you get your education.

I knew that the price of automobiles had been going up-up-up-UP! Not only that but my friends and al of my relatives had been saying to me, "Zig, you cannot believe what has happened to the price of automobiles! Man, they've gone absolutely crazy!" But my friends and relatives were talking about a different subject.

That's a Lot of Money!

They were talking about their cars and their money. Chuck Bel ows was talking to me about my car and my money, and that's an entirely different bal game.

When he said, "Seventy-three eighty-five," and that's what he said, just as smoothly and easily as anything you've ever heard (he didn't say, "Seven thousand three hundred eighty-five dol ars"), I screamed like a stuck pig!

"Whooo-whooo! Chuck! Man alive," I said, "that's a lot of money!" Chuck looked me in the eye and quietly asked a very simple questionwith just the right voice inflection, I might add. "Mr. Ziglar, is it too much?"

Important point: He didn't argue, get defensive, or try to justify the price. He had quietly and with an almost casual confidence put the bal back in my court.

quietly and with an almost casual confidence put the bal back in my court.

What Is He Asking Me? As a player in this game I've got to ask myself some questions and make some decisions. First, what is he asking me? Is he asking me if the price is beyond my reach, is it out of my financial range? Does it represent a chal enge? Is he real y tel ing me that if I can't handle the $7,385 difference I should act like a man and confess that I just can't handle that much money? Dear reader, if you know anything at al about me, you know that in a thousand years I never would have confessed that I couldn't handle the investment. No way.

Or was his statement/question something of an altogether different nature? Was he simply asking, "Mr. Ziglar, as a wise and prudent businessman, do you feel the seventy-three eighty-five at this time is more than you wish to give in exchange for these two automobiles?"

If the latter is the question, then I have no trouble pleading guilty. I responded,

"Chuck, that's just more money than I'm wil ing to invest in the difference."

Pleasantly and gently he stayed on the offensive with another direct but simple question. "Mr. Ziglar, what do you think would be a fair difference to give in exchange between your magnificent four year-old Oldsmobile Regency and our gorgeous new Cadil ac Sedan deVil e?"

The "Abraham Lincoln" Close

Please notice that throughout this entire presentation Chuck Bel ows never once said anything derogatory or negative about my automobile. He used the Abraham Lincoln approach. Lincoln used to argue both sides of the case when he was presenting it to the jury. He would take the opposition's side, then he would take his client's side. He was very careful to bring out more points in his own favor, but when he took the opposition's side he was always fair, although he was undoubtedly not quite as eloquent as when he presented his client's case.

The "Previous Purchase" Close

Chuck's technique and psychology were perfect. Any attack on my car would have been an attack on me personal y. After al , I had bought the car and when you attack the purchase you attack the purchaser and his judgment. When parents criticize or malign the boyfriend or girlfriend of their son or daughter, they are attacking the judgment, taste, and intel igence of their child. That's often the reason kids rebel. That is not the way to win friends and influence people-or our children, or our prospects.

our children, or our prospects.

Be careful and tactful when a prospect says something derogatory about a purchase previously made. (Tact, as you probably know, is the art of recognizing when to be big and when not to belittle.) Statements such as "Boy, they sure took advantage of me!" or "They saw me coming!" can be disastrous for you if you agree with the prospect.

Example: If you say, "Obviously, they were not completely honest with you," or

"I agree they did see you coming," comments like that wil lead your prospect to think, Yeah, they got to me, but partner, I'm going to watch you and I wil guarantee that you are not going to get to me! You wave a red flag and alert the prospect to be skeptical of you when you say anything derogatory about your prospect's previous purchase or a salesperson with whom your prospect previously dealt.

What do you say when your prospect makes a negative statement about a previous purchase? Try this: Look your prospect in the eye and quietly say, "In retrospect, Mr. Prospect, I'm confident that most of us would make some of our decisions differently if we could make them again. However, at the time you made this decision, under the circum stances which existed at that moment and with the information you had at your disposal, I'm confident that most of us would have made the same decision you did, so I wouldn't feel bad about something which happened such a long time ago."

The best way to get a prospect to make a favorable new decision is to make him happy with an old decision.

Make the Prospect Feel Good

The question is, have you been honest with the prospect? The answer is obvious when you answer the next question: Did you ever buy anything and then later wish you had not bought it? Reflect on that for a moment. You bought because you felt you were making the right decision. When you acquire anything of any significance, you do so because you figure it is a "good deal" and in your best interests. Just remember that your prospect felt exactly the same way at the time he made his purchase.

By fol owing this procedure Chuck was making me feel good. He was talking about my beautiful four-year-old Oldsmobile Regency, but that's not al he was doing. By inquiring as to what I thought a fair exchange would be, he was also

doing. By inquiring as to what I thought a fair exchange would be, he was also finding out early in the interview if I was a real prospect. He knew that if I offered $500 in exchange for the new car that I was just wasting time and he would do better to terminate the interview.

Same Ballpark-Same Ball Game

A similar situation could exist in the real estate business. For example, a home is listed for $395,000 and the prospect says, "Wel , let's make an offer of $195,000." The real estate agent knows he doesn't have a prospect when an offer is so low it indicates they're not only in different bal parks but they're also in different bal games! You need to know this as early as possible so that you can make a sound decision as to whether your time could be more effectively invested with the prospect at hand or with someone else. That is exactly what Chuck was doing.

The question "Mr. Ziglar, what do you think is a fair exchange?" wil provide Chuck with the answer he needs so he can decide if I'm a legiti mate prospect or not. Zig: "Wel , Chuck, I've always believed in dealing in round figures and I personal y am convinced that seven thousand dol ars would be enough difference to pay between those two cars [pause]-including the taxes and costs."

Chuck looked at me in some shock and said, "Mr. Ziglar, you ask the impossible. First, you're asking for a discount of $385, and then you're talking about taxes and costs of about $350. That's $735, and I don't think there's a chance in a mil ion that we would even remotely entertain that idea.

[Pause.] But, Mr. Ziglar, let me ask you a question. In the unlikely event we would accept your offer, are you prepared to drive this beautiful new Sedan deVil e home with you right now?"

He Is Serious

Al of a sudden it dawned on me, "That old boy's serious about sel ing cars!" It also occurred to me that somebody (me) was a fixin' to buy something from somebody (him) if somebody didn't do something!

At that precise instant, I did to Chuck what your prospects have been doing to you al of your sales life and wil continue to do to you as long as you are in the world of sel ing. At the moment of truth, when I had in essence made an offer and Chuck had given me some indication he was going to take me up on it, I

and Chuck had given me some indication he was going to take me up on it, I started backing away. I crayfished on him and said, "Oh, I don't know about that, Chuck, seven thousand dol ars is an awful lot of money, and my money just doesn't come that easily."

The Prospect Is Temporarily Insane

You need to understand that if the decision is a major one, at the moment of decision, according to author Charles Roth, your prospects are

"temporarily insane." Here's why. On important decisions doubt and fear invariably enter the picture. In my case I was making a seventhousand-dol ar decision, which for a financial conservative is a major one.

The questions-or doubts-which started to pop into my own mind werèDo I real y want this color? Am I certain I want a Cadil ac? Do I want to buy it now or wait until the model has been out sixty or ninety days or more? Do I want a Sedan deVil e, a Fleetwood, or a Coupe deVil e? Can I get a better offer somewhere else? Am I absolutely certain I want to buy, or would I do better to lease a car? If I hang in there, can I get a better offer from Chuck?"

In short, there is doubt, and doubt affects your judgment, hence the "temporarily insane" statement. Chuck pinned me down with the question "Mr.

Ziglar, if we accept your offer of seven thousand dol ars, would you be ready to go ahead?"

The major point I want to make about handling a prospect who has doubts is this: The kind of person you are assumes at least equal importance with the kind of salesperson you are. Before the prospect buys either your explanations or your product, he must buy you. This means he must buy your personality, your sincerity, and your credibility. The bottom line is he must trust you.

At this point I would like for you to careful y notice the confidencebuilding approach taken by Chuck Bel ows the man, and the sales procedure fol owed by Chuck Bel ows the professional salesman. I remind you that the major reason your prospect does not buy from you is a lack of trust (page 37). For this reason you must understand that your career in sales started when you reached the age of accountability-not when you picked up your first sales kit or stepped behind your first counter.

Skill-or Credibility?

In the sales process you've got to move from one side of the table, where you think and feel as a salesperson, to the other side of the table, where you think and feel as a customer. That's what Chuck must do in this situation. He's got to sit in my seat, wear my shoes, and think my thoughts as a customer. He's got to have empathy (page 91) for my situation as a customer if he's going to make the sale.

Combined with this, I want you to notice the negotiation skil he demonstrates and the sales techniques he uses as a sales pro. But again and again I want you to understand that al the technique in the world you-or in this case, Chuck-might use is of little or no value if the prospect doesn't believe what you're saying and doesn't have confidence in you as a person.

So what did Chuck do at this particular moment, when I started to crayfish or back out on the counteroffer which I had made? He took his pen, scratched the seven thousand dol ars off the talking pad, and said, "Mr. Ziglar, as a practical matter, let's forget about the seven thousand dol ars, because I don't think there's a chance in a mil ion our company would even remotely entertain that idea. I'l tel you what let's do. Let's look at the seventy-three eighty-five, because I'm certain we would go along with that price." Then Chuck lowered his voice, looked me in the eye, and with just a trace of a smile said, "Because, Mr. Ziglar, we don't back out on our offers."

Mildly dangerous? Yes. But only mildly because our mutual friend had said to Chuck, "Zig has been known to pul both legs at the same time," so Chuck knew he could kid me a little. When he said, "We don't back out on our offers," I was amused and not offended. More importantly, I got the message loud and clear that he was a serious negotiator and he expected me to be serious, too.

"So," he said, "let's talk about this seventy-three eighty-five, Mr. Ziglar, because according to the figures you had given me earlier [and again he's using his talking pad], we are offering you within twenty-six hundred dol ars of what you paid for your Oldsmobile when it was brand-new. Actual y, Mr. Ziglar, you have driven your car slightly over four years, and if you put your pencil to it, that breaks down to a yearly cost of about six hundred dol ars a year." (He's showing me these figures on his talking pad.) Then Chuck lowered his voice, looked me in the eye, and said, "And, Mr. Ziglar, you can't even drive a Chevrolet that cheaply!" (That made me feel good about my previous purchase [page 179]).

The "Feel Good" Close

I thought to myself, Ziglar, you clever rascal! You're driving that big, high-powered Oldsmobile for just six hundred dol ars a year and those other folks have to pay that much to drive a Chevrolet! Then al of a sudden it dawned on me exactly what he was doing. I said, "Now, Chuck, hold the phone! Dadgone your hide, I'm not about to give you any seven thousand three hundred eighty-five dol ars for that car! I've offered you seven thousand dol ars and that's it!"

Chuck has had dramatic training, I know he has! He didn't giggle. He didn't even smile. He simply said, "Wel , Mr. Ziglar, it's out of my hands [now he moves over to my side, the customer's side, of the table and verbal y puts his arm around me], but I'l tel you what I'l do. I'l talk to the appraiser and see what I can do for you. You can rest assured I'm going to do everything I can to help you get your car at your price, because obviously I want you driving a car from Rodger Meier."

Earlier Chuck had made me feel like a man of good judgment. Now he was making me feel important. Caution: Be careful. If you can't do this with conviction and sincerity-don't do it.

Chuck is using a subtle version of the assumptive key in closing which I cover in more detail on page 357. When he said "your" car, "your" price, and pointed out that it had cost me only six hundred dol ars a year to drive my Oldsmobile, he was taking me out of the Olds and putting me in that Sedan deVil e. He put me in the seat and behind the wheel. He had already given me ownership.

Now watch him avoid future misunderstanding by repeating our conversation.

Chuck: "Before I go back to the appraiser, let me make certain we are communicating. As I get the picture, you're offering us seven thousand dol ars in exchange, provided that includes al charges." Zig: "That's exactly right, Chuck."

With that comment, Chuck headed back to see the appraiser. He was gone only about three minutes when he came back and said, "This is a little embarrassing, but the appraiser was cal ed home on an emergency and he's not going to be back until tomorrow morning. My question is, wil you be able to sleep tonight not knowing whether or not you're the owner of this beautiful new Sedan deVil e?"

The "Tie Down" Close

Zig: "Chuck, I think I can struggle through." Chuck: "Now before you go, let's

Zig: "Chuck, I think I can struggle through." Chuck: "Now before you go, let's make absolutely certain we are understanding each other. [Now watch him tie the sale down.] As you know, in the automobile business we don't consider it an offer unless we have a signed agreement, but I've been in this business for a long time and I pride myself on being able to judge men of quality and character. I believe, Mr. Ziglar, that when you say you wil pay seven thousand dol ars in exchange for the car, if that includes everything, that's al the agreement I need, that your word is your bond. Am I right on that, Mr. Ziglar?"

What do you think I'm going to say to a statement like that? What would you have said? I'm certainly not going to say, "No, Chuck, I'm a liar." When someone puts you on a pedestal like that, what are you going to do? So I said (modestly, of course), "That's right, Chuck, if I tel you something, you can depend on it!" Chuck: "I felt confident you were completely dependable, so we'l seal the deal with a gentlemen's handshake and I'l give you a cal first thing tomorrow morning, hopeful y with some good news for you."

When I walked into the office the next morning at half-past eight, the telephone was ringing. Chuck was cal ing and he was motivated. "Mr. Ziglar, I've got fantastic news for you! I just talked to the appraiser and we're going to be able to swap with you for just seventy-two hundred dol ars, including everything." At that precise instant I knew I had bought the car for seven thousand dol ars.

Compromise Leads to-Compromise

As we say down home, "You can put this in your little pipe and smoke it."

When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner.

Zig: "Chuck, last night I was impressed with your insight and wisdom in giving me credit for my integrity. I thought you werèright on,' and since I am a man of my word, I wil do exactly what I said I would." Chuck: "Mr. Ziglar, are you saying that you wil go no more than the seven thousand?" Zig:

"Chuck, we're not eyebal ing but we are communicating. That's it." Chuck: "I'l be back to you in a couple of minutes." He cal ed me back and asked,

"Do you want me to bring it to you, or are you going to come over here and get it?" Zig: "Chuck, I like to have my cars delivered to me." Chuck: "I'l see you in a few minutes."

few minutes."

Two major points as we conclude the story: Number one, when I started to back out of my seven-thousand-dol ar offer, Chuck did not try to resel me. He knew I'd try to get the price even lower if he did. Point number two: Even though I met Chuck for the first time the day before I bought the car, he actual y started sel ing me that car twentytwo years earlier when he made the decision he was going to make his career sel ing Cadil ac automobiles.

In order to do this, Chuck knew he had to do two things. First, he knew he had to build customer loyalty so he could sel the same people time after time. Second, he knew he had to persuade his customers to send him other customers. How wel he has succeeded is evidenced by the fact that the bulk of his business is repeat business. This is truly remarkable when you understand that we live in a highly mobile society and many of his customers relocate in other cities. My own purchase was initial y motivated by one of Chuck's long-term customers.

How he does this is important. Number one, he has built his career on integrity.

In my own case, I did not go see Chuck to look at a Cadil ac. I had already looked at Cadil acs at two other dealerships. I was sold on the car. I went to see Chuck to buy a car if we could work out the financial details. I knew I could trust Chuck, and trust is the most important ingredient in the transaction.

Number two, Chuck is extremely professional in his fol ow-through. Ten days after purchase, he cal ed to see how I liked the car, if he could do anything for me, and, "Oh, yes, do you have any friends I should talk to about our new model?"

The first time I was in for service, the first man I saw, almost before I switched the engine off, was Chuck Bel ows, wanting to know if he could do anything for me. That's not al . Periodical y Chuck would cal just to say, "Hel o, and by the way, do you know anybody who ... ?" Obviously, he was keeping his name fresh in my mind so when car-swapping time rol ed around I would remember him.

Chuck Bel ows is a professional. Neatly and conservatively dressed at al times, he creates the image of a friend and adviser who wants to assist you in selecting the right car for you and then work to help you enjoy your selection. That's good sel ing. That's the way to make every sale so you make more than a sale. You make a customer and a friend. This is the way to sel more now and sel more later. That, my friend, is career-building sel ing.

19

Everybody Is a Salesperson

and Everything Is Selling

This Dentist Is a Professional Salesman. One of the true professionals in sel ing is my friend Dr. Tom McDougal. Tom is a dentist, and a superb one. He lectures national y to other dentists on building a successful practice. Like al real professionals, Tom practices what he preaches.

On my first visit, the receptionist at the front desk was cordial, friendly, and enthusiastic. An assistant handed me the new-patient forms and encouraged me to take a seat in the reception room. Almost immediately after I completed them, another assistant came to take me into a treatment room for the preliminary examination.

From "hel o" to "good-bye," al of them were enthusiastic and professional in what they did. Dr. McDougal, of course, handled the parts of the treatment that only a dentist can handle, but the staff members did their jobs in a professional way. Perhaps the most impressive part of the visit was the fact that not one, not two, but three of them "sold" me on the importance of using dental floss. Each one laughingly said that Dr. McDougal believes you should floss "only those teeth you want to keep."

The point is simple: He believes in preventive dentistry. I left with the strong feeling that everybody there wanted me to keep my teeth. That's practicing good dentistry and good human relations, and it's fantastic service sel ing.

Words Do Make a Difference

When I visited Dr. McDougal I noticed he used positive words. Many of these words are taken from the extensive list prepared by dental consultant Gladys E.

Cook.

He talked about "restoration" instead of "fil ing"and about a "change in schedule" rather than any "cancel ation" or "postponement." I was in his

"reception room" briefly, not his "waiting room." At the end of the visit they wanted to know how I would "take care of," not "pay for," the services.

His office cal ed my office to "confirm" or to "verify" the appointment, not to

"remind" me of it. I was told to "empty my mouth," not to "spit." They

"prepared" the tooth instead of "grinding" the tooth. He gave me an "injection"

instead of a "needle" or "shot." I felt a little "discomfort" or

"pressure," not any "pain." Yes, sir, words are important. They do make a difference!

Oooops!

Two other things stand out in the relationship. First, two nights later one of the temporary crowns came off. I cal ed Dr. McDougal's office and the answering service responded. Five minutes later my phone was ringing and ten minutes later I was on my way to the office, where one of Dr.

McDougal's associates quickly cemented the temporary back in place. That's taking care of your patient (customer).

Second, since Dr. McDougal prepared three teeth for crowns, the visit was lengthy and the work extensive. That evening he personal y cal ed me to inquire as to how I was doing. Did I need a prescription? Was I comfortable? Could he be of any help to me? In al the years I've been going to dentists, I have never had a single one cal me at home to see how I was and ask if I was hurting.

To be candid, I initial y thought he was cal ing because he knew me professional y as a speaker and writer. I checked with other patients of his, however, and discovered that any time he does a significant amount of work on a patient, he always cal s him that night to make certain he's doing OK. That's good dentistry-but, friends, from where I'm sitting, that's also good sel ing, because that showed me his care and concern for me as a person.

Dr. Hugh Russel from Atlanta, Georgia, points out that often people wil buy from us not because they understand our offer but because they feel we understand them. In Dr. McDougal's case, I wil buy from him because he's a superb dentist and because he understands me and my needs when I sit down in his chair. Every professional salesman should be just that concerned and just that professional in looking after his customers.

This is best verbalized by Dr. McDougal himself in this paragraph which he contributed: The real secret to "sel ing" in dentistry or in any other profession or

contributed: The real secret to "sel ing" in dentistry or in any other profession or business is to speak from the heart instead of from the head or intel ectual base.

When the inner man speaks, the deepest form of sincerity is communicated.

However, one cannot speak from the heart unless he truly believes in his product and/or service. This means that he must have paid the price by obtaining profound knowledge of his product or service. One must also believe this product/service is unquestionably what the customer/patient needs.

Dr. McDougal is not a "salesman" or "sales trainer" in the eyes of the public at large, but as a salesman you wil never read a paragraph any more loaded with sales impact than the preceding one.

A Professional Service Station Operator

Several years ago, when service stations were service stations and not just stands with pumps that you use to fil your own tank, I met Tom Fountain, one of the supersalesmen of our time.

Never wil I forget the day I pul ed into his station in Decatur, Georgia, with an empty tank. Rain was coming down in sheets as I pul ed up to the gas pump, hopped out, and made a mad dash into the station, signaling the attendant not to come out and get soaked because I was not in a big hurry.

I introduced myself to the owner and started the conversation with an untypical y negative comment. "Tom, this rain is real y tough on the service station business, isn't it?" Tom very cheerful y replied, "No, Zig, not at al . As a matter of fact, this is one of the greatest things that happens to me."

The "Rainy Weather" Close

I responded that in al my years I'd never heard a service station owner get enthusiastic about rain, and I asked him why he said that. He replied,

"Wel , Zig, while it's raining it is true that my business slows down, but when we have a real gul ywasher like this it washes hundreds of nails and pieces of glass into the street, and you're going to see a rash of flat tires during the next few days.

"Now don't misunderstand, Zig, I hate to see anyone have bad luck, but it's a fact of life that when nails and glass hit the street people are going to run over them.

of life that when nails and glass hit the street people are going to run over them.

And it also happens, Zig, that I have the greatest tire repairmen in this city, and we can do the best and fastest job at the best price of anybody here. That's the reason people come to us. There's nothing I can do about the rain fal ing, but there is a lot I can do about solving people's problems when that rain does fal ."

Wow! Was that ever a delightful visit! With an attitude like that no wonder Tom's business was booming!

The "Spare" Close

On another visit into his station we were discussing sales strategy, and Tom shared a fantastic procedure he uses for bonus sales.

When a car pul s into the station, Tom and his crew check the oil, battery, and water as wel as the fan belt. When the fan belt is worn and in danger of breaking, Tom says to the owner of the car, "Sir, your fan belt is worn. If you'l get the spare one out of your trunk, I'l be glad to put it on and it shouldn't delay you but just a minute."

Invariably the owner wil say, "I don't have one in my trunk." Then Tom responds, "If you'l take a look, you'l notice this one is badly worn. I would real y encourage you to get a new one, because yours could break at any minute and you might be stuck in a bad spot." The owner, in an extremely high percentage of the cases, agrees to do so.

I'l bet you've already finished the story, haven't you? When Tom comes out of the station, he is carrying not one but two belts. He not only sel s the one belt but in a high percentage of the cases he also sel s the second belt. That's the mark of the professional. That's serving by sel ing-or is it sel ing by serving?

The Coach Is a Salesman

Everybody sel s. And to repeat what Red Motley, the former editor of Parade magazine, said many years ago, "Nothing happens until somebody sel s something." Never wil I forget that hot summer day in 1943 when I walked into the American history class being taught by Coach Joby Harris at Hinds Community Col ege in Raymond, Mississippi. I was there under protest. I had to have the course in history in order to get my high school diploma, but as far as I was concerned it was a complete waste of time. What possible good would it do me to know what happened fifty years ago, a hundred years ago, two hundred years ago?

years ago?

I entered the class with the attitude that I would take the class-and I would pass it-because I would learn just enough to "get by." My real interest was in getting the course out of the way so I could take additional math and science courses the fol owing fal in order to qualify for the Naval Air Corps.

My dream for several years had been to fly one of the fighter planes. We were in the midst of World War I in that summer of 1943, and I was real y gung ho about doing my share. At the ripe old age of sixteen I clearly knew what I wanted to do with my life.

When I walked into the classroom that day, I expected the teacher to introduce himself, make a few light remarks, and get on with the business of teaching us history. The first part was right. Coach Harris introduced himself, made a few casual remarks, and then made one of the most professional sales presentations I have ever heard. By the time the "sales talk" was over, I clearly understood why I absolutely had to know my history. As a matter of fact, before the end of that first hour, I was a history major. Not only did I make an A in the class, but it was the only subject in which I consistently made As for most of the rest of my academic career.

Considerably more important is the fact that what Coach Harris said to me that day influenced the rest of my life. My interest in politics, in social conditions, and in doing as much as I can to make our country a better place to live can be traced directly to that first hour in the history class of Coach Joby Harris.

Since every teacher is a salesperson, wouldn't it be great if we could sel every teacher on the idea that they truly are salespeople, that they need to sel and can sel our young people the concepts which made our country great, that they need to sel the students on the idea of doing their best and being their best, to sel them on reaching for higher objectives and making bigger contributions? With this approach, I believe the youth of today wil be far more productive in their world of tomorrow.

Professional Builders Sell, Too

As I've said on a half-dozen different occasions in Secrets, everyone from the housewife and mother to the professional computer technician is a salesperson.

The same is certainly true of builders. In 1981 we initiated an action which had been in our plans for a number of-years.-

been in our plans for a number of-years.-

We bought a lot at Hol y Lake, which is a pleasant two-hour drive east of Dal as, Texas. It had been my long-range dream to reduce my speaking engagements and concentrate more on writing. My personal objective is to positively influence the maximum number of people. I can do this more effectively through my books than I can through personal appearances.

We found in Hol y Lake what we considered the ideal location because it was secluded, quiet, and beautiful. After buying the lot we had to decide on a builder.

We only talked to one man-his name is Bil Tenison. From the beginning Bil 's words and actions indicated that he expected to build our house ("Assumptive"

Close). Bil had many things going for him, including an easy, friendly, professional manner and his reputation.

When we bought our lot we met the next-door neighbors who were in the process of completing their home. They told us there was only one builder to consider, and Bil was that man.

They enthusiastical y pointed out that Bil did superb work, was a man of integrity, and did everything he said he was going to do and then some.

We talked to people for whom Bil had built a couple of years earlier. They said exactly the same thing. Bil was understandably eager to take us to inspect homes currently under construction as wel as those he had built several years before.

The general feeling in the community is that Bil Tenison builds every house so that he can be good neighbors and friends with al his customers.

Since Bil was in the process of building his own house at the lake and was going to be fishing and playing golf with al or most of his neighbors, his approach is certainly a wise one. (Can you imagine trying to play golf with fifty angry clients?) So How Did He Do?

I can honestly say that Bil delivered far more house than I thought we were buying. I know little or nothing about building, but person after person familiar with the industry assured me that Bil had used far more insulation than was required in the specifications and that he added extra reinforcement which was not cal ed for. On countless occasions he used 3" x 6" boards when standard practice dictated 2" x 4".

As the house was going up, since we could not be there for every phase of the

As the house was going up, since we could not be there for every phase of the construction, Bil voluntarily took dozens of pictures and sent them to us. This not only enabled us to watch the growth of the house but satisfied us completely that we were getting everything we had bargained for-and then some.

The point real y is clear. Bil knew that when his men drove the last nail into our house he was laying the groundwork for driving the first nail in al the other houses his satisfied customers are going to sel for him. As a professional, Bil is intel igently selfish enough to know that if he does a superb job, delivers more than he's paid for, and satisfies me as a customer, I'm going to be tel ing people like you that if you ever build a house at Hol y Lake, Bil Tenison is the man who should build it. That, my sel ing friend, is what building a sales career is al about.

Since you don't let a beautiful home sit empty, this story has a sequel, and it's at least partial y tied to what the late sales trainer J. Douglas Edwards cal ed the

"Puppy Dog" Close.

This close is simple and undoubtedly got its start-or at least its popularity-from the early days when youngsters lured their parents into a pet shop

"just to look" at that "doggy in the window" (for those of you who are old enough to remember that song). If the youngster and the pet-shop owner could not gang up on Mom and Dad and persuade them to buy that cute puppy, then the owner encouraged them to take the puppy home to see how they liked it. You can complete the story, can't you? The most important point is the pet-shop owner let his product (the puppy) sell itself. That's good strategy.

Interior Designers Sell, Too

When Bil Tenison finished our home at Hol y Lake, interior designer Joyce Wynn and her beautiful staff (especial y Kathy Adcock-Smith, who did a tremendous job of looking everywhere to find exactly what we needed) worked careful y with the Redhead and me to make certain it was furnished appropriately and according to our tastes and desires.

Never wil I forget what happened when virtual y everything was complete except for a large empty space on one of the wal s in the great room.

Frankly, I thought it looked fine as it was, but Joyce brought in a beautiful wal rug to fil the spot. As you might suspect, it wasn't exactly bargain-basement

rug to fil the spot. As you might suspect, it wasn't exactly bargain-basement material. I liked it but there were some reservations about buying it. Joyce casual y suggested that we hang it on a temporary basis and see if it "grew" on us. If it did, that would be fine; if not, no problem.

That made a certain amount of sense, even to this stubborn husband. It wasn't until that afternoon while I was jogging that I realized she had used the old

"Puppy Dog" Close on me. It was almost al I could do to keep from laughing, because it demonstrates exactly what I'm talking about.

Good technique works (yes, I bought the wal rug) even when the person you're using it on is educated in sales techniques and procedures. Actual y, if it's real y good, the prospect is not completely aware of what is happening. Even if he is, if the need and desire for ownership are there and the salesperson's techniques are professional, there simply isn't a great deal you can or want to do about it.

Remember: The prospect wants his problem solved.

The professional is so effective you "forget" he or she is a pro. About a year after we moved into our home at Hol y Lake, the Redhead and I were visiting with Kathy Adcock-Smith. My wife was sharing with her that many people have remarked how they love the warmth of our home. She also commented that some had expressed surprise that an interior designer had helped us, because the home looked so "natural" and livable, whereas many interior designers have a tendency to make homes look artificial and overdone. These comments obviously delighted Kathy, because she knew she had done her job wel , that she had "sold" us her furniture, accessories, and ideas so wel they had blended completely with our tastes, ideas, and concepts so that her expertise had given our home a beautiful added dimension.

The conversation reminded me of an early experience I had in the sales world.

After consummating a sale for a set of cookware, I was getting prospects from my new customers. As I sought the prospects, I assured them I would simply demonstrate, and if their friends chose to buy, that was fine, and if they did not choose to buy, that was fine, too. To this statement the wife responded, "Yes, I know that is true because you're definitely not much of a salesman."

Since she had just given me a check for the largest set of cookware our company made, I was delighted with her comment. In the customer's mind she had bought and I had not sold. Ideal y, that's the way every prospect should feel at the end of the transaction.

the transaction.

It Works on Million-Dollar Deals, Too

Several years ago, when the corporation was smal compared to what it is today, an aircraft salesman cal ed on Rich DeVos, the president of The Amway Corporation, to sel him a jet airplane. Rich is quite conservative and felt the corporation could not justify the purchase at that time. The salesman knew what the jet would do in saving time as wel as wear and tear on Rich's body. He also knew the plane would enable Rich to see more of his distributors and substantial y increase his effectiveness.

Here's the approach the salesman used: "Mr. DeVos, we have one special jet aircraft which would be ideal for you, and I would like to take you for a demonstration ride." With some reluctance but also with some excitement, Rich took the ride. He liked it but was by no means convinced he should buy, so the salesman said, "Mr. DeVos, we're not going to be using this plane this week, so we want you to take it and use it as if it were your own.

Obviously, there is no obligation." A deal like that is difficult to turn down since he emphasized there would be no obligation on Amway's part. As luck would have it, Rich just happened to have an especial y difficult week, with much travel in front of him. During that week Rich flew around the country in that jet faster, more comfortably, and more productively.

At the end of the week the salesman came back and tried to close the sale, but Rich was stil not convinced the move would be prudent, so the salesman extended the "Puppy Dog" offer with a smal string attached. "Mr. DeVos, since we have no specific plans for the jet this next month, why don't you just lease it for the month and continue to use it as if it were your own?" This time Rich was even more hesitant, but the salesman persisted, so Rich made even better use of the plane for the entire month.

By the end of the month Rich was "hooked," so when the salesman came back for "his" jet, Rich DeVos looked at him and asked, "What do you mean, your jet?" (By then Rich had grown accustomed to the extra speed and convenience, and it's tough to give up any satisfying convenience, especial y if you can justify it in any way.) In essence, Rich had no trouble talking himself into an investment which would enable him to serve his corporation more effectively.

He bought the jet because the salesman was able to demonstrate the value of his product. In a nutshel , he let his product demonstrate that it would make Rich

product. In a nutshel , he let his product demonstrate that it would make Rich more effective in fulfil ing his corporate responsibilities, so in the truest sense the product "sold itself" after the salesman used the

"Puppy Dog" Close.

The Waiter Is a Salesman

Frank Infante was born and raised in Cuba, but when Castro and his Communist cohorts took over, he, along with other members of his family, made his exit to the United States. I met Frank for the first time one evening when the Redhead and I were having dinner at Farfal o's Restaurant in Dal as and had the good fortune to have Frank as our waiter. He's the best I've ever seen. He's thoroughly professional in his every move and is wel versed in al the niceties of being a superb waiter. He speaks the language, knows the words, and has the grace, charm, and good manners that are vital to good service. He's extremely sensitive to the diner and his every need without smothering him with unwanted, unneeded attention.

Each time he serves us Frank starts by greeting us with a friendly, low-key welcome. After we've had a reasonable amount of time to look over the menu, Frank-with that innate sixth sense of his-approaches at what seems to be the precise moment we've arrived at our decision. He smilingly asks if we are ready to order. General y speaking, there's a little smal talk. I always ask about the specialties, and in glowing but not too detailed terms Frank tel s us about them. I ask for his recommendation and he seldom hedges. He knows our tastes and wil say, "I believe you would enjoy this particular dish. It's very nice."

However, since we are fairly traditional and there are three or four dishes we particularly enjoy, we general y order the Veal Oscar, Red Snapper Sauce Bretonne, or Coeur de Filet Helder (Filet Mignon with Bearnaise Sauce). His description of the salads is also quite elaborate and yet not too lengthy. In other words, he's inclined to "tel us what time it is and not how to build a watch."

The "Soft Service Sell" Close

It's amazing to me that Frank can bring us exactly what we want so quickly when we're somewhat pushed for time and yet time everything to perfection so that we can have a leisurely dinner when it's just the two of us. The tea and coffee are always available and ready; the hot bread is at our fingertips; we never wait more than a minute or so when we've completed one course and are ready

wait more than a minute or so when we've completed one course and are ready to move to the next.

As we finish our meal, Frank asks about dessert and we general y say no. Often, with a twinkle in his eye he wil say to us that the cheesecake is particularly good or the cappuccino pie is especial y nice and if we split one it would not be too heavy for us. His close is "soft," it's service oriented, and it works. One reason it works is that Frank is truly a "team player" who works with his "busboy" (that's a horrible title which the restaurant industry must change in order to help attract more quality people) in a most effective manner. He treats him with respect and courtesy as he requests assistance instead of demanding it. That's class.

From "hel o" to "good-bye" Frank Infante is sel ing. He's doing it in a pleasant, low-key, and very professional way, but he is sel ing. He recognizes that his income is directly related to the effectiveness and manner in which he serves.

However, as you watch Frank and listen to him, you get the distinct feeling that his entire reason for being there is to be the best at his profession. His objective is to make your meal a true dining experience.

Needless to say, we never tip Frank just the standard amount.

As you probably know, the original word was TIPS and it was "To Insure Prompt Service." The tip was given before the meal as a reward in advance for the prompt service. The Redhead and I figure the standard amount is for prompt, courteous service. When we get a "bonus" in the form of helpful suggestions, gracious manners, a pleasant smile, and some friendly enthusiasm, we're inclined to reward our benefactors with more.

It's a shame that every waiter and waitress can't have Frank Infante serve them a meal. I'm convinced that if they could, and if they were truly interested in becoming more professional, many of them could increase their incomes from 50 to 150 percent almost immediately.

Question: What would you do with this extra income? Answer: You probably could figure it out for yourself, but Frank Infante invested in his own restaurant and is doing wel .

One of the mysteries of life is why any waiter or waitress (or any other salesperson) doesn't understand that al they've real y got to sel is their attitude and their service. If they would learn some of the simple niceties of being gracious, pleasant, enthusiastic, and helpful, their income would increase

gracious, pleasant, enthusiastic, and helpful, their income would increase dramatical y. Yes, a good waitperson is a good salesperson.

The Three-Year-Old Pro

When it comes to sel ing, no one-but no one-is as persuasive or effective as a smal child. Conviction is total, integrity is beyond question, and enthusiasm is unlimited. Now throw in a completely open manner, combined with the right words, and you have an unbeatable persuader.

Never wil I forget an incident with Suzan, my oldest daughter, when she was just three years old. Cindy, our second daughter, had made her appearance just six weeks earlier, and I had been on the road much of the time the previous three weeks. I pul ed into our driveway in Knoxvil e, Tennessee, slightly before noon on that cold, snowy February Saturday. After my welcome home from the Redhead, Suzan, Cindy, and our live-in housekeeper, Lizzie Rogers, I was informed that I needed to go to the store to "pick up some things."

Since I was playing with Suzan and holding the baby while talking to the Redhead about the trip, I wasn't exactly thril ed at the prospect of going back out in the cold. However, those "things" were essential, so I reluctantly started putting on my topcoat, hat, and gloves. As I was getting ready, Suzan started asking if she could go. I explained that the weather was just too bad to take her out, and besides, I would be gone only a few minutes.

She responded, "But, Daddy, I'l be so lonely." Zig: "Suzan, you know you won't be lonely. Your mother, your little sister, and Lizzie are al here, so you certainly won't be lonely." Suzan: "But, Daddy, I'l be lonely for you."

It real y wasn't a fair fight. I was badly overmatched and never had a chance.

Obviously, Suzan didn't know anything about "dominant buying motive"

or the importance of making the prospect feel important (and real y meaning it), but no sales pro with thirty years' experience could have come up with a better line. Needless to say, I didn't want Suzan to be "lonely," so she made the trip.

The Winner and Undisputed Champion

One of the real y great professional salespeople in America was the late Bil ie Engman, who sold for the Saladmaster Corporation out of Dal as, Texas. At the time of her death, Bil ie had set and held more individual sales records than

time of her death, Bil ie had set and held more individual sales records than anyone in the history of the company. She sold the complete product line of cookware, china, cutlery, crystal, and flatware. Toward the end of her career she was sel ing to the daughters of the girls she sold to when she started her career with the company in 1950.

Bil ie was one of those ladies with a truly professional concept and philosophy.

She was incredibly wel organized and was an extremely hard, persistent, and consistent worker. When she was out "beating the bushes," she had great singleness of purpose.

She's a Sales "Psychologist"

Let's look at some of her concepts, ideas, and philosophies. To begin with, she mildly objected to the use of the term closing the sale. She explained that she thought of closing as someone closing the door and shutting someone out. She felt that when she opened her sample case of products and opened her storehouse of information which she shared with the prospect, she was real y opening the sale instead of closing the sale.

Bil ie had some keen insights into human nature and the impact we can al have on one another if we wil but take time to learn. Despite her phenomenal success, she was extremely modest and felt that her role as a salesperson gave her the privilege and opportunity to serve. That modesty was best demonstrated by the fact that she had not reported her sales for several years. Not reporting cost her a considerable number of substantial prizes and the resulting publicity that was part of the package, but Bil ie preferred to stay out of the limelight and serve her clients.

According to a company official and her husband, Hal, who worked with her and was understandably proud of her, Bil ie sold so much more than anyone else that her major competition was with herself and her records. Like the professional golfer whose real competition is the golf course itself, Bil ie could tel you exactly what she sold this same week last year. She reached her goal to improve sales for the same time period so consistently that almost without exception each year was better than last year. She understood that over the years there had been several recessions. She admitted that any talk about recession frightened her, so she got out and worked harder so that her volume of business would continue to climb instead of start to decline. Now that's a great attitude!

She's a Smart Lady

Her sales psychology included getting the entire family involved in a presentation, because approximately 60 percent of her business was with families and only 40 percent with single girls. Initial y she had a great fear of sel ing to men but soon learned they were actual y easier to sel than women. If a smal child was present for the presentation, she involved that child and made each member of the family feel important.

One thing she did to psychological y gear the prospect for the sale was to eliminate tension or feelings of being "closed in" on the part of the prospect.

When the closing process started, if she observed the prospect getting nervous and uptight, she asked him to get her a drink of water. As she explained, it's amazing what that brief interlude wil do for the nerves of the prospect.

Bil ie never used the telephone to make appointments. She believed the telephone was a fast way to burn up a lot of qualified prospects and believed the telephone put a lot of direct sales people out of business, especial y in direct sales. She dropped in on her leads. She didn't alert them to her coming and give them the opportunity to think of reasons not to buy. Direct sel ing is a face-toface business-not an ear-to-ear business.

Bil ie kept meticulous records and took great delight in tracing her customers into the second generation. She grouped her leads into areas, and when she left home it was with the sole purpose of seeing as many prospects as she possibly could. (Like al sales pros, she was action oriented and goal directed.) She carried her sample case to the door so if the prospect was home she had everything needed to make a presentation. This procedure eliminated any loss of momentum or a chance the prospect might change his mind during the few minutes required to go to the car and get her samples. Since she went to the door expecting to get in, it would be inconsistent not to carry the sample case. Bil ie was low key and was not seen as a threat to the people she dealt with.

Bil ie's sales were probably larger than those of anyone else in the cookware and table-appointments field. Frequently her orders ran as much as $2,500, and sales of $4,000 and even $5,000 occurred with amazing regularity.

Each Prospect Is Different

Bil ie geared her presentation to each individual prospect. Though she gave each one the same basic facts as they related to the product, she recognized that the

one the same basic facts as they related to the product, she recognized that the single girl who wil perhaps always be single has different interests from the girl who plans to get married, who also is different from the married couple. She personalized the use of the product to a large degree. She used what she cal ed the "mirror of the future" and projected the prospects using and enjoying the beauty and practicality of her products not just in their own lifetime but in the lifetime of their children and even their grandchildren. - - - - -- - - - - - -- -

She noted with considerable pride that the china and especial y the sterling silver which she sold to her prospects thirty years earlier was worth a great deal more now than it was when they bought it. She felt that during the years ahead the customers who were investing now would be equal y fortunate.

Bil ie was up-to-date on her current events. She tied her prospect's needs to current stories and used that information as a tool or sales prop for getting immediate action. She sold on love, caring, sharing, and togetherness and the fact that her products contributed to al of those things. She used warm sel ing words as she discussed her program with her prospects. Words like rich, loving, good taste, gracious, comfort, security, investment, caring, and many other positive words were a part of her, so they were a natural part of her vocabulary.

The lowest word on her sales-language totem pole was the word pitch. She contended-and I completely agree-that the professional never uses that word.

The "Total" Saleslady

Bil ie firmly believed you open/close ("open" is Bil ie's term) the sale by the way you dress, by the neatness of your accessories and attire, by the way you smile, the way you walk, and even the kind of car you drive. She didn't believe in being flashy for fear the prospect might think she was being "too" successful, and though Bil ie could have driven a new Mercedes and made her sales cal s dressed in mink, she prudently bought fine-quality materials, drove a more-than-adequate car, and gave the appearance of the quiet, confident success she was.

She never discussed with her prospects how long she had been sel ing (she started in 1948). She felt this would brand her as a person who was

"trying to sel somebody something," when in fact she wanted to be regarded as a friend and counselor whose function was to help them make the best possible investment for the future.

She felt the increasing use of catalog buying was a real asset to her because

She felt the increasing use of catalog buying was a real asset to her because people could see and recognize that you could buy quality merchandise without having to go shopping to do so. She had the added advantage of being able to show and demonstrate her product with the personal presentation and letting the prospect see, feel, and examine what she was sel ing.

Bil ie col ected many testimonial letters and constantly updated the ones she had.

What a new happy customer said about her product was a strong supplement to what her customers of ten years ago had to say. When she brought out some of the "oldies," it was to let the prospect know that an investment of this type was not a new idea, that years ago investors were doing exactly the same thing she was trying to get them to do that day, and that yes, she real y was offering a provable lifetime investment. (Conviction is essential to closing.) This

"Partially" Explains Her Success

There are many reasons Bil ie Engman did such an incredible volume of business. I've already touched on some of those reasons, but there are three others that were as much a part of Bil ie Engman as breathing. First, Bil ie expected to sel everyone she cal ed on. Not only did she expect to sel them, but she expected to sel them a large order the first time and an even larger repeat order the second time.

Second, Bil ie felt the order was the result of making a presentation, so she considered the "close" a natural part of that presentation. She gave everyone she cal ed on a chance to buy by asking for the order. If that sounds elementary, may I remind you that sales trainer Chris Hegarty points out that 63 percent of al sales interviews end with no specific invitation to buy.

Third, Bil ie kept records on al her customers. She knew exactly what they bought, when they bought, and how they paid for it. She planned her cal -

back and prepared the prospect for that cal back when she made the original sale.

Equal y important, she prepared herself for the fol ow-up cal .

She knew the initial order firmly established the trust of the buyer and put her in the position of being able to help the customer even more on the second sale.

The "Accessory" Close

Bil ie's cal back was something else. Before she cal ed back to complete the order, she careful y checked the initial order. Then she prepared three

order, she careful y checked the initial order. Then she prepared three

"accessory" offers. Her first offer was the "impossible" one. It was so big, so complete, so comprehensive, and so expensive there was no way the prospect could or would buy it. It was truly a dream proposal in that most people would only dream of owning so many beautiful table appointments.

Fortunately for Bil ie and the customer, many of them didn't realize they couldn't have the biggest and the best, so they went ahead and bought the

"impossible" dream order. As a pro, Bil ie chal enged her customers to "go for the gold," to strive for the best, to reach their "impossible" dream, and the prospects responded. It's a fact: Customer performance is often tied directly to the salesperson's expectancy. Bil ie's expectancy was always high.

The second accessory order Bil ie prepared was also beautiful and substantial. It was a big order, designed to perfectly complement the original one. The

"average" salesperson would be thril ed to make sales this size, but there was nothing average about Bil ie. This was her most popular reorder, partly because it was the "middle" offer and partly because realistical y, more people could afford it.

The third accessory order which Bil ie prepared in minute detail to complement the initial order was stil a substantial order but was obviously smal er than the first two proposals. After looking at the first two proposals, many prospects who initial y felt they "couldn't afford" anything became enthusiastic buyers of the

"minimum" order and at a later date fol owed up with a third and even a fourth order.

VERY IMPORTANT: On the fol ow-up cal to sel accessories, Bil ie treated the cal as a ful -fledged sales and service cal . She gave the customer the "ful treatment" and then some. She resold herself. She resold the company. She resold the products. She resold the concept of investing for the future. She sold the idea of taking action today-not tomorrow. She had her customer get out her original order so she could check it over. Then Bil ie either bragged on the customer for taking such excel ent care of the merchandise or gently suggested how she could take better care of it and receive even more benefits. Al the time she was resel ing herself and her products.

She had two legitimate reasons for being there. Number one was the service cal , and since Bil ie had written the customer a thank-you letter immediately after the

and since Bil ie had written the customer a thank-you letter immediately after the first sale and had sent him Christmas cards in between, she stood there as a friend. Number two was the fact that the company had a special sale which Bil ie knew the customer was going to be excited about. Needless to say, she was almost never turned away on those fol ow-through cal s.

Wish I Had Known This

I personal y believe that if I had known this procedure when I was in the business, my income would have been at least 50 percent greater because my customers would have benefited a great deal more. Incidental y, in case you are wondering about Bil ie's cancel ation and delinquency records, it's a fact that her cancel ation was extremely low and her delinquency rate for nonpayment was the lowest in the company at that time.

Wil this procedure work for others? You betcha! Over the years, in addition to her own sales, which put her in first place, Bil ie trained numerous others who finished in the top ten national y. "Wil it work for me?" Only if you use it.

Techniques, procedures, and ideas have no feelings and don't real y care who uses them.

One of the real mysteries of life is why more salespeople who work in stores don't "go direct" and generate more business by developing customers who are loyal to them and their stores. Example: In our over fifty-six years of housekeeping, the Redhead and I have never once been solicited to buy a house, diamonds, furs, furniture, or appliances. Doyle Hover, who sold me my clothes (pages 393-95), and Chuck Bel ows, who sold me a car, are a couple of the precious few who have ever fol owed through with service and solicitation for future business. During our years together we have bought four homes, more than thirty-five cars, counting company vehicles, and four complete households of furniture and appliances, not counting dozens of major individual items.

We've spent thousands of dol ars on jewelry and furs, but nobody ever tries to sel us those items. They don't even make a serious effort to get us back in their stores!

Question: If you sel any of these items, are you seeking business or do you just wait for the business to seek you? When you make the initial sale, do you fol ow through to make certain your customer is satisfied with this purchase and plant the seeds for the next one? In athletics the fol owthrough is critical. The golfer, pitcher, kicker, boxer must fol ow through for maximum results. In sel ing the salesman must fol ow through with service and reminders to buy if he's going to

salesman must fol ow through with service and reminders to buy if he's going to keep his customers (once you sel them you should feel as if they are yours) and build a career.

Point: If anyone makes a "significant" purchase from you, you should put him on your "super customer" list and "court" him as long as you represent the same company or sel the same basic product line.

In many ways Bil ie Engman was the epitome of what I speak about throughout this segment. She did al the right things, took al the steps, learned her lessons, was a constant student, was resourceful and imaginative, had the highest integrity, was absolutely dependable, was an exceptional y hard worker, and was loyal to her principles, to her company, to her customers, and most of al to her own sense of what was fair and right. She truly was a credit to the profession.

Question: How do you sum up or in a nutshel explain Bil ie Engman? Answer: You don't, but if you could, you would start with love. She loved her family, her products, her company, and her customers. She wanted the best for al of them.

Then you move to commitment. She committed to do the best possible job and utilize her talents and abilities to the maximum by utilizing every moment to the ful est. Final y, she saw herself as a person who was going to deserve (serve is the major part of deserve) the big sale, do the big job, earn the big rewards. She knew that was the way her customers, her family, her company, and her country would also win big. She was truly a sales pro.

PART 4

Imagination and Word Pictures

OBJECTIVES

To open your mind to the importance of developing your imagination for a substantial increase in your sales.

To teach you twenty-four specific closes, some of which you can adapt and use in your daily sales life.

To sel you on the value of learning how to use the verbal paintbrush to paint pictures of future customer enjoyment to help you sel more today.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "1902" Close Revisited

The "Tightwad" Close

The "Diagram" Close

The "20/20" Close

The "Action Now" Close

The "No Procedure" Close

The "Marriage" Close

The "Imagination" Close

The "Click" Close

The "Special Occasion" Close

The "Tuit" Close

The "Chal enge" Close

The "Twenty-Nine-Day" Close

The "Front Line" Close

The "Opportunity" Close

The "Companion" Close

The "Nice People" Close

The "Cokes and Smokes" Close

The "Corner" Close

The "Time Utilization" Close

The "Question" Close

The "Picture" Close

The "Preparation" Close

The "Fear" Close

The "Postsel ing" Close

The "Repetition" Close

The "Menu" Close

The "Oooh and Aaah" Close

20

Imagination in Selling

According to my good friend and fel ow sales trainer Merle Fraser, in the next

According to my good friend and fel ow sales trainer Merle Fraser, in the next twenty-four hours your prospect's heart wil beat 103,689 times. His blood wil travel 168,000 miles; his lungs wil inhale 23,240 times; he'l eat three and a half pounds of food; he'l exercise only 7 mil ion of his 9 bil ion brain cel s. He'l speak 4,800 words of which 3,200 involve something about himself and not a single one wil be about you or your products or services unless you figure out a way to involve him emotional y with your sales presentation. The only way you're going to get your share of his attention and his words is to use that imagination to make yourself a part of his world.

One of the most exciting things I can say to you about the world of sel ing is that most prospects real y do not want to say no. The reason they don't want to say no is that no is so final. It ends the relationship. So rather than saying no, many prospects wil say everything from "I want to think about it" to "I've got to talk to my lawyer, wife, husband, C.P.A., etc." This is shocking, but I actual y have evidence that some of them wil even lie to you to keep from saying no.

The "1902" Close Revisited

As we look at imagination in sel ing and some of the closes in this section, I'd like to go back to the "1902" Close, which I partial y covered in the first chapter.

Years ago, when I was sel ing cookware, I used this close tailored to fit the cookware business and added a little imagination. I sold a heavy set of stainless steel cookware with a core in the middle to transmit the heat more evenly. This cookware was incredibly durable. As a matter of fact, to demonstrate its durability, I persuaded one of the local police officers to take his .45 caliber service revolver and, using a steel-jacketed slug, shoot our smal frying pan from a distance of twelve feet.

The impact from a.45 is enormous. I placed the frying pan against a tree and the slug hit it dead center, but you had to look careful y to see where that slug had hit the pan. Armed with this visual aid and a notarized letter from the policeman, I had no trouble getting customers to listen to me talk about durability. When I said to them, "This is a lifetime set of cookware," they understood and agreed that it would last a lifetime because the average housewife doesn't abuse her cookware to that degree.

As you might suspect, the cookware was expensive when compared to the price of lighter cookware sold in stores. Many times the prospect would raise the price objection, "It costs too much." Zig: "How much too much does it cost?"

objection, "It costs too much." Zig: "How much too much does it cost?"

Prospect: "Oh, it's two hundred dol ars too much." (To me that was an astronomical y ridiculous figure, but remember, we've got to deal with the prospect's feelings.) Again, as I wil indicate on many occasions throughout this book, you now use your talking pad.

When the prospect said, "Two hundred dol ars too much," I wrote down the two hundred dol ars on the talking pad so the prospect could see it, and the dialogue went like this: Zig: "Mr. Prospect, how long do you think this set of cookware wil last you?" Prospect: "Oh, it wil last forever." Zig:

"Wel , certainly it would last ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty years, wouldn't it?"

Prospect: "No question about that!" Zig: "Wel , why don't we settle on a minimal figure of ten years. This means that the cookware, in your mind, wil cost twenty dol ars too much per year. Is that what you're saying?"

Prospect: "Yes, that's what I'm saying."

Break Cost into Small Pieces

Zig: "Twenty dol ars a year is how much each month?" Prospect: "Wel , that's about a dol ar and seventy-five cents a month." Zig: "OK, that's about right. How often do you cook?" Prospect: "Two or three times a day." Zig: "Let's be conservative and say twice a day, which means that in a month's time you would cook sixty meals [remember, I'm writing al these figures on my talking pad]. So if this beautiful set of cookware costs a dol ar and seventy-five cents a month too much, that is less than three cents a meal too much to have the finest set of cookware on the market."

Ask Questions-Lead Them to a Decision

I continue: "Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, do you ever eat out?" Prospect: "Why, sure!"

Zig: "How often?" "Oh, once or twice a week." Zig: "Do you ever tip the waitress?" Prospect: "We always tip the waitress." Zig: "How much do you tip her?" Prospect: "Dol ar, two dol ars, it depends." (Remember, this was 1962!) I'd write "3¢" by "Your wife" and "$1.00" by "Waitress." Zig: "Let me offer a thought and ask a question. The waitress takes the order, brings the food from the kitchen to the table, and brings the extras like tea, coffee, and bread. General y speaking, a busboy cleans the table and carries the dishes back to the kitchen.

"Your wife goes to the store, buys the food, brings it home, puts it in the cabinets

"Your wife goes to the store, buys the food, brings it home, puts it in the cabinets and in the refrigerator. Later she takes the food out, cleans, prepares, cooks, and serves it. Then after the meal she takes the leftovers, stores them in the refrigerator, and then cleans up. Now, Mr. Prospect, in al fairness, if you tip the waitress a dol ar [I'd circle the "$1.00" several times] just for bringing the food from the kitchen to the table, don't you real y think your wife deserves at least three cents [I'd circle "Your wife" and "3o," several times] for shopping, cooking, serving, storing, and cleaning?"

Imagination, emotion, and logic are al at work on this one. Chances are excel ent you noticed the large number of questions asked in this dialogue (twelve). This is significant because it forced the prospect to put pressure on himself. When this happens, your chances for action are substantial y increased. In this example, the procedure and the questions undoubtedly helped the husband put the wife's contributions in a more realistic and favorable light. The questions also brought the price into perspective and broke it down to such a low figure that it was affordable.

The "1902" simply means you break it down to a figure which is so low the prospect can visualize ownership of the product because he now sees it as affordable. Three cents per use certainly put the cookware within reach, especial y since we had demonstrated it would save more than that with each use. This close makes it easy for the prospect to buy, and that's the role of the professional salesperson.

Concentrate-Establish Credibility

This next close I'm going to share with you is a dramatic one. It's one you can effectively utilize almost regardless of what you sel . However, I want to emphasize that every close and every procedure which I describe is notgoing to fit everybody and that in most cases you wil have to adapt what I say to your specific situation. That's the reason you need the notepad mentioned on page 13

to go with this book. One more time, this book is not a workbook, but it is a working book written to teach you how to sel more effectively and to inspire you to translate the new "how to" into the old-fashioned DO IT NOUN approach to sales success.

Many years ago I was working in the little community of St. Matthews, South Carolina. I have always believed in "cluster" sel ing, so I habitual y went into a community and concentrated on a smal area and quickly became known to the local people. Not only did this save a lot of travel and time, but it also helped me

local people. Not only did this save a lot of travel and time, but it also helped me to establish credibility.

In St. Matthews, as in many other communities, after I'd been there a few times I became known as the "Pot Man." (I didn't particularly like the title, but in those days at least everyone knew they were talking about cookware and not dope.) When I'd drive down the street or highway, somebody would say, "There goes the Pot Man," and somebody else would say, "Yeah, I'm going to his party

[cookware demonstration] next week!"

The "Tightwad" Close

After one demonstration with seven couples as prospects, I was making the cal -

backs the next day. I sold the first five, and when I knocked on the door at the home of the sixth couple, I heard a booming voice which you could have heard al over town, "COME ON IN, MR. ZIGLAR!" I walked in and there stood this giant! (If he had been green, he would have been the "Jol y Green Giant.") He was about six feet, seven inches tal and weighed close to three hundred pounds.

A jovial kind of a guy who blurted out, "It's good to see you! Me and you both know I ain't agonna buy no four-hundred-dol ar set of pots, but come on in, sit down, and we'l talk anyhow!"

For the record (and I think it was one!), that dude had eaten enough food the night before to feed five normal-sized people. I had bought, cooked, and personal y served every bite he ate. Now he started the sales cal by saying, "We both know I'm not going to buy anything!"

That's not exactly my idea of an ideal way to open an interview, but I grinned, looked at him, and said, "Wel , Mr. Prospect, you might know you're not going to buy anything, but I don't." Prospect: "Wel , I might as wel tel you right now, I'l be glad to talk to you, but I'm not going to buy a thing." Zig:

"You know, it looks like you and I have a lot in common." Prospect: "Oh, how's that?" Zig: "In my case, my wife spends my money and my neighbors take care of my business, so that leaves me free to work! Now I don't know if your wife spends your money, but I can tel you your neighbors take care of your business!"

Prospect: "Why do you say that?" Zig: "Wel , today, every time I cal ed on one of your neighbors, after I had talked with them, and incidental y, al of them did buy [I wanted to get that little word in at that point], each one would ask, `Have you cal ed on Mr. So-and-So yet?' I'd say, `No, not yet. I see him later this

you cal ed on Mr. So-and-So yet?' I'd say, `No, not yet. I see him later this afternoon.' Without exception, each one said, `Wel , let me know what he does!"'

Your Neighbors Don't Know You

"I final y asked one of them, `Why does everyone want to know what Mr. So-and-So's going to do?' One of them grinned and said, `Wel , he's known around the community as being fairly conservative."' The old boy just hol ered, and said,

"They probably said that I'm the biggest tightwad in the county!" Zig: "Wel , one of them did say something about `first dol ar,' but I never quite understood what he meant!" The prospect half snorted and said, "You know perfectly good and wel what he meant, and he might be right. I am a little conservative."

Zig: "Wel , they might think you're conservative, but I think it's rather interesting that you were born and raised in this community and yet your friends and neighbors don't know the first thing about you!" Prospect: "What're you talking about?" Zig: "Wel , I thought you said you were not going to buy a set of my cookware." Prospect: "I'm not!" Zig: "Isn't that interesting? You were born and raised around these people al your life, and they don't know the first thing about you!" Prospect: "What are you talking about?" Zig: "Mr. Prospect, if I remember correctly-and I believe I do-you told me last night you've been married something like twenty-three years." Prospect: "Yeah, as a matter of fact, this August wil be twenty-four years." Zig: "OK, let me ask you a question. Were you sincere last night [don't ever ask a person if he was tel ing the truth; that's an insult] when you said you felt you could save at least a dol ar a day by cooking in our set of cookware?" Prospect: "With this crowd I've got, I could save maybe two dol ars per day. You saw how much I ate last night, and I've got four boys who eat just as much!"

Tie It Down

Zig: "Wel , certainly you could save at least a dol ar, couldn't you?" Prospect:

"At least." Zig: "Wel , if it wil save you a dol ar a day to have the set of cookware, that means it costs you a dol ar a day not to have the cookware, doesn't it?" Prospect: "I suppose you could say that." (Note: Here's where you need to be firm and strong-but gentle. This is where a good, healthy self-image is crucial. If you let him off the hook at this point, he's not going to buy at the end of the interview.) Zig: "What I say is not important. Since it is your money, what do you say?" (In this type of dialogue, voice inflection can be the determining factor.) Prospect: "I suppose I could say the same thing." Zig: "Actual y, you can take the suppose' out, can't you?"

take the suppose' out, can't you?"

Prospect: "Yes."

Zig: "Instead of saving a dol ar a day, if I were to talk about saving fifty cents a day, that would be ultra-ultraconservative, wouldn't it?" Prospect: "It sure would!" Zig: "OK, if this set of cookware wil save you fifty cents a day, that means every two days you don't provide your wife with this money-saving cookware, she reaches into your pocket, takes out a brand-new, crisp one-dol ar bil , tears it up into a lot of little pieces, and throws it away, doesn't it?" (At this point, I slowly tore up a crisp, new one-dol ar bil and threw the pieces on the floor.) Zig: "Mr. Prospect, you can stand the dol ar loss, but according to your neighbors, you don't get excited about it. And according to your neighbors, even though this beautiful home is yours, and not yours and the savings-and-loan's, and even though the eleven hundred acres of land is yours, and not yours and the bank's [and I smiled], you don't want to waste anything. Now, Mr. Prospect, do you realize that on the basis of losing fifty cents a day, every forty days you and your wife take a brand-new, twenty-dol ar bil and literal y tear it al to pieces and throw it away?" (At this point, I slowly tore up a twenty-dol ar bil , but I did put the pieces in my pocket.)

Let Them See and Feel Your Message

Let me digress for just a moment. As you read about me tearing up that money, did you feel a slight hitch in the pocketbook (you might imagine yourself sitting there as the money was being mutilated)? I want to remind you that my prospect was a notorious tightwad. When I was slowly tearing up that money, I was eyebal ing him and I can tel you that cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Questions Make Him Think

I looked at him and asked, "Mr. Prospect, what did you think when I tore up that dol ar bil ?" Prospect: "I thought you'd lost your mind!" Zig: "What did you think when I tore up the twenty-dol ar bil ?" Prospect: "Didn't think a thing-I knew you had!" Zig: "Mr. Prospect, whose money was that?"

Prospect: "I hope it was yours!" I assured him it was and continued, "Yet you real y felt physical pain when I tore up that money, didn't you?"

Prospect: "I sure did!" Zig: "Mr. Prospect, can I ask you a question?" Prospect:

"Sure." Zig: "Don't you feel even closer to money that's your very own?"

"Sure." Zig: "Don't you feel even closer to money that's your very own?"

Prospect: "What are you getting at?" Zig: "It's real y very simple. [Again, I'd go back to my talking pad.] You told me you have been married over twenty-three years. Now I don't know how to multiply by twenty-three real fast, so let's cut it down to twenty [I wrote "20" on the pad]. You've already told me that this set of cookware would save you fifty cents a day-minimum-which means it costs you fifty cents a day not to have it. If we put only three hundred sixty days in the year, that means it costs you one hundred eighty dol ars a year not to have this set of cookware [I wrote the "$180"].

That means, Mr. Prospect [and I was multiplying this on my talking pad], that in twenty years you have already paid three thousand six hundred dol ars [20 years x $180] not to have a set of our cookware, but you won't give three hundred ninety-five dol ars [I wrote "$395"]-that's al it costs to have a set of the cookware-and you say you are conservative! Mr. Prospect, that's government thinking if I ever heard it!"

He's Convinced-Now Persuade Him

My prospect got real quiet and reflective, so I smilingly continued, "That's bad enough, but even more amazing is that you are now saying, `Mr.

Ziglar, in the next twenty years I am going to pay another three thousand six hundred dol ars not to have a set of the cookware [in large figures I wrote

"$3,600"], but I'm unwil ing to invest three hundred ninety-five dol ars to have a set of the cookware."'

As he thought about this I pressed my advantage by saying, "Mr. Prospect, I don't like to threaten anyone, but with that kind of thinking I believe it's only fair to warn you that I'm going to tel your neighbors al about you [obviously, I'm smiling]. Up until now they have thought you were conservative, but when they learn that you are perfectly wil ing to pay seven thousand two hundred dol ars [I added $3,600 + $3,600] in losses not to have a set of our cookware but refuse to invest three hundred ninety-five dol ars to own a set, I fear your reputation as a conservative wil be ruined forever."

It got awful y quiet for a few seconds; then he asked me a question which I think is one of the most significant questions I've ever been asked. It revealed a great deal about human nature and had an impact on my thinking as a salesman.

Question: "Mr. Ziglar, what would I tel my neighbors?"

Question: "Mr. Ziglar, what would I tel my neighbors?"

Now please understand that of al the people in our country, the most independent of the independent are the farmers. This particular farmer certainly fit that role.

Additional y, he was a "big man" in the community. He was a wealthy and respected member of the school board, and yet he was asking, "What would I tel my neighbors?"

Get Him Out of the Corner

Why was he asking it? Very simple. When he was invited to the demonstration, he had told the hostess, "I'l go, but I'm not about to buy any four-hundred-dol ar set of pots!" He was late for the demonstration, and when he made his entrance one of his neighbors kidded him by saying, "Wel , I see you've come to buy yourself a set of pots." To this he had loudly (I heard him from back in the kitchen) proclaimed, "I've come to eat the man's food! I'm not about to buy any four-hundred-dol ar set of pots!" Everybody there heard him, so he had literal y painted himself into a corner.

At this point, having seen the demonstration the night before and the financial presentation today, he is sold on the cookware. He wants to buy and he certainly has the money, but before he wil buy I've got to get him out of that corner so he doesn't lose face with his neighbors. If I can do this, the sale is mine.

Learn This Lesson and You'll Sell More

Important lesson, my sel ing friend. Many times your prospect has painted himself into a corner by promising his wife, brother, friends, or another salesperson that he won't take any further action until ... When the "good"

prospect is not buying, we need to be sensitive to the possibility that he might be in a corner wanting to get out. That's a job the professional salesman loves to take on because it means sales for him.

I looked at him, grinned, and said, "Mr. Prospect, it's not only simple but it wil actual y make your neighbors love and respect you even more. I'm going to give you a receipt marked PAID IN FULL, because I know you're not about to pay any high-priced interest since you'rèconservative' [we both smiled]. I want you to take this receipt, go to each one of your neighbors, and say, `Look what I've got!' I might add that you should prepare yourself for a horselaugh and a little good-natured ribbing. When that happens, just smile and tel them, `Yeah, I know I said I wasn't going to buy a set of those high-priced pots, but when I said that, al I real y knew was the price. When I saw that the cookware saved money and

al I real y knew was the price. When I saw that the cookware saved money and food value, as wel as saving my wife a lot of work, it just made sense to buy it.

Frankly, I love my wife and family too much to let my own stubbornness keep my family from getting something we would al enjoy.'

"Your neighbors wil love you, Mr. Prospect, because it takes a big man to admit he made a mistake-that he made a premature decision. Then it takes an even bigger man to correct that mistake." He got up, and as he walked out of the living room to go to the bedroom to get his checkbook, he said,

"You're the dadgonest fel ow I have ever seen in my life!"

He became a good friend and one of my biggest boosters. From that moment, when people in the community learned that "Mr. Conservative"

himself had bought, it made my sales even better and easier. I emphasize that al I did was take him out of the corner into which he had painted himself. That made the sale relatively easy.

Every product has a maximum price or ceiling. This price is all you can pay.

(This is not true of services which are ongoing.) This is not true of benefits.

If the product saves money by its use, the longer it is functioning properly and in use, the greater your benefits will be.

If you sell a product which saves money, like the set of cookware I just mentioned, I would diagram the example this way: CLOSE: "If you buy the cookware, the savings will pay for it. If you don't buy it, your daily losses will soon be more than the cost of the cookware. In other words, you can get it and let it pay for itself or you can choose not to get it and still pay for it through losses.

Since you've got to pay for it whether you get it or not, doesn't it make sense to go ahead and get it?"

OR: "As you can see, just by saving 500 a day, at the end of 800 days the cookware will have paid for itself. If you don't get it, at the end of 800 days you will have paid the $400 through losses and still not have the cookware.

So the choice is simple: Invest $400 and get the cookware, which will return the $400, or don't invest $400 but still pay $400 through losses and still not have the cookware."

(Pause. Smile.)

The "20/20" Close

"You're going to love your cookware, and we can deliver it on our 20/20 plan, which is $20 per month for 20 months with two $20 deposits in advance. Or you could take advantage of our 90-day cash discount plan. Which would suit your needs best?"

Note: Ben Feldman, possibly the greatest insurance salesman ever, says it this way: "You make the sale when the prospect understands that it wil cost more to do nothing about the problem than to do something about it. "

And Another One

In 1977 we invested nearly $10,000 in a new copying machine. By our calculations that machine saves us at least two hours each day. At just $5

per hour (1977 costs), that's $10 per day, $50 a week, or $2,500 per year. Not only does this machine do better work, but we have fewer fouled-up copies, so we save money on paper. Because we invested in the machine we saved enough by using it for the machine to pay for itself. Had we not bought the machine we would have paid for it in actual losses and would not be able to show anything for the $10,000.

The point is clear. If you sel goods or services which save money, you should work on your presentation until it is crystal clear to your prospects that they pay for your product whether they get it or not. Since they pay for it whether they get it or not, they might as wel go ahead and get it. One more time: Don't just tel them-show the figures at the same time. Prospects make the decision to buy based on what they understand and believe.

One more time: When the prospect clearly understands that it costs more not to invest in a money-saving device than it does to invest in the device, he wil invest-if you ask him to and help him figure out a simple way to make the financial arrangements.

Not Available in Any Bookstore

Questions for you! As a reader, if there were a single cassette recording or CD

that taught you how to train and use your voice, how to ask questions, how to tel stories, how to use your imagination, how to paint vivid word pictures, and how to make more sales, you would be interested in knowing about it, wouldn't you?

(If you said no, please go back to page 27 and change your answer as to why you bought this book.) If this recording was sixty minutes in length and was done in front of a live audience by yours truly so you would know 1 was sharing with you instead of talking to you, that would be even more exciting, wouldn't it?

If I personal y guaranteed the recording would motivate you to want to be more professional and specifical y teach you how to be more professional and sel more, you'd real y like that, wouldn't you? (Say yes.) If you could acquire this tape for just three dol ars, to cover production, shipping, and handling costs, that would be more than fair, wouldn't it?6

The "Action Now" Close

If you take action on this offer, you'l have to agree that at least one of the techniques in this book works, doesn't it? If you haven't taken action on the offer, let me ask you a question. Are you having trouble with too many prospects who want to "think about it," "sleep on it," "talk to my mate, lawyer, banker, C.P.A.," "check around," etc.? In other words-they procrastinate. You do know that procrastinators bring out the procrastination syndrome in others, don't you?

With this in mind, is it clear to you that the best way to get action from others is to take action yourself? Your next step is clear, isn't it? If you are one of the procrastinators who has decided to become an ex-procrastinator, read the footnote and take action now so you can go forward more rapidly in your career.

Now you are probably wondering why I would make such an effort to sel you a three-dol ar cassette. The reason is twofold. First, I wanted to demonstrate another "question-asking" procedure to lead prospects to a decision. Second, and far more importantly, I'm completely convinced this recording, teaching how to train and use your voice, when used in conjunction with Secrets, wil be the most effective single cassette recording on sales training you wil ever own. I want you to own it. NOW HEAR THIS: If you feel anything less than 100 percent good about my "sel ing" you so strongly and taking more than a page of your book to do so, here is what I'm wil ing-even anxious-to do: If you wil give us a cal and

do so, here is what I'm wil ing-even anxious-to do: If you wil give us a cal and tel us that you want a copy of the recording for free, we wil send you the tape free. This recording is important for your career. I want you to have it.

Important: This recording is available only through our company at the address and phone number in the footnote. (Limit one recording per customer, whether for free or three dol ars.)

The "No Procedure" Close

Sometimes the best procedure is no procedure. Example: Recently after an exciting day on the golf course with the president and executive vice president of our company, along with a business associate, we were headed back home. We cut through the Dal as-Fort Worth Airport and took the access road. As I topped a hil , there sat a friendly policeman waving me to the side. I use the word friendly a little facetiously, because at that point he had a pretty grim look on his face.

I was honestly surprised because I did not believe I had been speeding. The officer asked if he could see my driver's license. I reached for it, and as I did, I pleasantly asked him why he had stopped me. He said, "You were doing fifty-one, which is sixteen miles above the speed limit." I replied, in a little shock,

"Gracious, I had no idea the speed limit was thirty-five-I thought it was fifty-five." He assured me it was thirty-five. I said, "Then in that case, I am guilty as charged, because I definitely was speeding."

He asked me where I was going. I told him I was going home but that I was in no hurry and therefore it just didn't make any sense for me to be speeding. He smiled and said, "Wel , let me get you to slow it down, if you wil ." As he handed me back my driver's license, I assured him that I would.

I'm convinced that in this situation, had I attempted to give a "sales talk," I would have ended up with a ticket. I emphasize that what I said was effective entirely because I was genuinely shocked to learn the speed limit was thirty-five.

I'm certain there were signs on the access road saying

"35," but I had not noticed them despite the fact I'd been on that road a half-dozen times.

This reminds me of the axiom When you've laid an egg, step back and admire it as you acknowledge what you have done. That's exactly what I did.

I acknowledged without hesitation I'd been speeding. In my own mind I'm convinced he made the final decision not to give me the ticket when I said I was in no hurry, because I real y wasn't. My story wasn't fancy or imaginative, but it was effective because it was true.

In the world of sel ing, as I have indicated many times throughout Secrets of Closing the Sale, the completely honest approach is the best approach.

21

Imagination Sells and Closes Sales

Thus far we have covered a number of specific closing techniques which I believe wil increase your closing effectiveness. Now we're going to look at a significant close with a number of sales lessons built into the close. I tel this one in story form because the story is easy to remember and when you remember the story you wil remember the close and the lessons. Again, I wil be demonstrating the importance of effectively using your voice and applying your imagination to your sales situations.

I wil also share with you the importance of ignoring certain objections and not taking it too seriously when some prospects say they're just "not interested."

We'll Have to Buy from Someone Else

Years ago when I was in the insurance business, one of the things that frustrated me most was this: After conducting the fact-finding interview, I would go back for the presentation, tel the story, and sel the product, the need, and our service, only to have the prospect look at me and say, "Mr.

Ziglar, you know I'm embarrassed we've permitted you to come back. Although we recognize our need for insurance, if we buy any, we can't buy from you. My wife's second cousin's next-door neighbor's best friend's uncle's son's classmate has a friend whose daughter's husband is in the insurance business [maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but it was pretty farfetched!], and if we buy any insurance, we'l have to buy from him."

The "Marriage" Close

Obviously, it was a stal , and it bugged me that I had sold a need and nobody, including the prospect and yours truly, was going to benefit from it.

One day while thinking about the problem, I came up with a solution and developed the "Marriage" Close. This close came from an idea I got from Frank Bettger's book How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Sel ing. I read the book in 1948, but it was not until eight years later that I utilized this bit of Frank's information and added a little imagination to develop this close.

I designed a "Marriage Certificate" and had it printed on beautiful parchment paper. When the prospect stal ed and said, "I like the idea but I'l have to buy from ," I looked him in the eye and replied, "I'm confident the individual you mention is competent and the company he represents is legitimate, since it is licensed in this state. [Never make a negative or antagonistic comment.] But, Mr.

Prospect, I can do something for you at this moment that no other insurance man in America can do." Obviously, that's going to elicit the question "What's that?"

At that point I would reach into my briefcase, pul out the Marriage Certificate, and say, "I can marry you." [The reaction was interesting.]

"Let me explain this to you." Across the top the certificate said, "CERTIFICATE

OF MARRIAGE." Then, "This Certificate of Marriage, issued this 18th day of January 2003 [or'04 or'05 or whenever], is between Zig Ziglar and John and Mary Smith. By this marriage Zig Ziglar agrees to be available in time of need for John and Mary Smith. [I had typed their names in before I made the cal .] Zig agrees to stay abreast of the trends in tax and Social Security developments so he can properly advise John and Mary Smith as to their insurance needs. He agrees to be available for consultation and help. John and Mary Smith agree to give Zig Ziglar the privilege of earning the right to serve. Cancel able for any reason by John and Mary Smith. Noncancel able for any reason by Zig Ziglar."

Is This Legal, Mr. Ziglar?

The close: I would look at them and say, "Al that's required to put this marriage into force is for you to put your OK right here." Almost without exception the man would look at his wife, grin, and say, "Honey, what about that? This fel ow wants to marry both of us at the same time! Do we want to marry him?"

Sometimes she'd laugh and say, "Wel , I don't know. It's up to you." Often one of them would say, "Wel , he looks like a pretty nice fel ow. Why don't we go ahead?" Many times the husband would say, "Mr. Ziglar, now this is legal, isn't it? I mean, it's not bigamy. You're not going to get us in trouble?"

it? I mean, it's not bigamy. You're not going to get us in trouble?"

I'd laugh and reply, "No, I've already talked to the governor, the secretary of state, the insurance commissioner, and even cleared it with my brother-in-law.

Everybody says it's perfectly al right." Many times the man would chuckle and say, "Wel , why not?" He'd grab his pen and with a real flowery twist he would real y sign it. But a funny thing happened on the way to the bank. Never once did I get the Marriage Certificate signed that I did not also get the application blank signed.

By using the Marriage Certificate I'm doing two things. Number one, I'm using a trial close. When they bought the first idea (signing the Marriage Certificate) it made the second one a great deal easier to buy. Number two, I'm saying to the prospect, "I'm not sel ing you just for today. I'm sel ing you for the future. I'm going to be part of your life. I'm going to be your insurance man." That's career-building sel ing.

Now Adapt It

I'm confident you've asked yourself this question many times, because I've stressed it from the beginning of the book: "How do I adapt it to fit my situation?" One of the most excited salesmen I've talked with is Jerry Parker.

Jerry formerly represented The Extracorporeal Corpora tion, which is now a division of Johnson & Johnson. Incidental y, the word extracorporeal means

"outside the body."

For over a year Jerry had been cal ing on the Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California. He was dealing with head nurse Loretta Davis and was attempting to sel his products and services. For a year Mrs. Davis kept tel ing him he had the highest price and his company gave the poorest service.

To help you understand the importance of the cal , his product is blood-lines.

That's the line that transfers the blood from the body to the artificial kidney and then returns it to the body. A person on the system has to go through this procedure thirteen times each month, which meant that 156

lines were involved for every patient for a year's usage. Multiply this by forty patients, and as you can see, you're talking about 6,240 lines. This represented a substantial order.

During this year Jerry was doing two things. He was building a relationship of

During this year Jerry was doing two things. He was building a relationship of trust and friendship with Mrs. Davis. He was also listening every day to our cassette recordings on sel ing. He heard the "Marriage" Close not just once but many different times. Final y, one day, half in jest, Mrs. Davis asked Jerry,

"Why in the world should I buy from you, since your price is the highest and your service is the poorest?"

Jerry quickly searched his mind, came up with an adaptation of the "Marriage"

Close, looked at her, and smiled as he said, "Because I can marry you." With that Mrs. Davis laughed uproariously and said, "Wel , what in the world would Wil ie say about that?" Jerry quickly responded, "Don't misunderstand. Here's what I mean. [As he made the statement he saw a brown paper bag lying on the counter.

He reached over, picked it up, and quickly wrote "Certificate of Marriage"

across the top. Jerry then explained, as he wrote, the essence of the "marriage"

agreement.]

"When you buy our service you also buy me, and I am literal y going to be married to this account. I'm going to see to it that you get the best possible service. I wil be your personal representative between your hospital and our company. I wil see to it that things are handled in an effective and efficient manner so your patients wil always be taken care of. The few pennies in extra cost wil be far more than compensated with the assurance that not only are you getting the best product on the market but you're also getting my personal interest and attention. This is critical to the hospital because it directly involves the wel -being of your patients. That is your first consideration, isn't it, Mrs.

Davis?" (She acknowledged that it was.)

By this time Jerry had completed his writing, so he handed the "Certificate of Marriage" to Mrs. Davis and said, "The only thing necessary to put this marriage agreement in force is for you to put your OK right here." Mrs. Davis thought about it for a moment and recognized that it made sense.

In addition, because of his pleasant and persistent belief that his product was the best, she had developed confidence in Jerry and knew the validity of his argument. He had fol owed the right procedure, he had used the right words, his interest was in the wel -being of the hospital and its patients.

Mrs. Davis trusted him. She signed the "marriage agreement" and a few minutes later signed the official order form.

As Jerry was sharing this story with me, I can tel you he was enthusiastic and

As Jerry was sharing this story with me, I can tel you he was enthusiastic and excited about it. Yes, these procedures work-if you wil do as Jerry Parker did and adapt them to your specific situation.

The "Imagination" Close

One of the most amazing examples of the use of imagination is that of Paul Jeffers of Sacramento, California. In 1982 Paul made eighty-six speeches and sold $9.8 mil ion worth of life insurance involving seventy sales and over $250,000 in premiums. Paul is a remarkable man who believes that failure to hit the bul 's-eye is never the fault of the target, and failure to buy is never the fault of the prospect.

On February 8, 1975, Paul Jeffers lost his sense of hearing, but he laughingly said that being deaf gave him an advantage over other salespeople because he never heard anybody say no. - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -

Not long after Paul suddenly lost his hearing, and before he completely mastered the art of reading lips, he was by himself on a significant interview with two prospects. In Paul's words, here is what happened: "I walked into their office, started talking to them, and they answered, and by gol y, I couldn't read their lips. So I said, `Gentlemen, I can't read your lips.' I pul ed out my yel ow scratch pad and said, Ì'm going to give each one of you a scratch pad and you write out your questions and I'l answer the questions you've written. Is that fair enough?'

They both nodded their heads yes, so I handed them the scratch pads and they wrote al kinds of questions on that crazy sheet of paper! They handed them back to me, I looked at the pad-and I couldn't read their handwriting-either one of 'em!

"So I said, `Gentlemen, I real y have a problem. I can't read your lips and can't read your handwriting. So I've got two choices-I can walk out of here right now and forget about it, or better yet, why don't you let me give you the presentation the way I normal y would because I have al this material prepared? Let me give you the objections I think you would give me and I wil give you the answers to those objections. Al you have to do is shake your head up and down if you agree with me and from side to side if you disagree. Is that fair enough?' They both nodded yes to the suggestion.

"I'm charging through that presentation, boy, best one I've ever made! I go through the story, the objections, the answers to the objections, the whole thing, get down to the close, and I say, `Gentlemen, is there anything about this plan you do not like? Is there any reason you can think of that you don't want to get

you do not like? Is there any reason you can think of that you don't want to get started right now? Is there any problem in giving me a check for $3,800

immediately?' They shook their heads no, so I said, `Make the check out to Standard Insurance Company.' They did, and handed me the check.

"Now most insurance people can get an application without a check-I get a check without an application! Now what do I do? How do I handle this?

Where is my manager to help me? Obviously, he wasn't there. I was strictly on my own, so I said, `Look, I'm going to give you a blank Part One of the application. Please print in block letters, very plainly. I'm also going to give you another blank Part One for you to sign. I'l transfer the information from the one you've printed over to the one you've signed; it'l be in my handwriting. We'l get you examined by a doctor, and we're both covered, is that fair enough?' They both nodded their heads yes." Paul laughingly says, "That's what I cal a control ed interview, and I'l bet you a buck you've never had one like that any time!"

For years I've heard that you could parachute a professional salesman into a strange area where he knew absolutely no one and by nightfal he would be in business. I agree with that observation, especial y if that salesman has the imagination, tenacity, wil to win, and love for people which Paul Jeffers has.

Another man with imagination and al the other attributes of an outstanding salesman is E. U. Parker, Jr., of Laurel, Mississippi. According to Bil Sanders, who was regional vice-president of State Farm Insurance companies when this book was original y released, E. U. had been total y blind since age eight.

Despite this fact, he became the first C.L.U. in the mid-south region. In Bil Sanders' words, "In the automobile insurance business, it is very important that an agent see and record prior damage to the automobile at the time it is insured.

Our blind agent continues to see' and record more prior damage than any of our other agents."

The stories of Paul Jeffers and E. U. Parker, Jr., simply emphasize that

"handicaps" are handicaps only when you "see" or "hear" them as handicaps.

Chalk up the stories of these two men as another reason I'm so excited about the sales profession.

The "Click" Close

People buy for some incredible reasons. A number of years ago when I was in Nashvil e, my brother, Judge Ziglar, and 1 were the home-office general agents

Nashvil e, my brother, Judge Ziglar, and 1 were the home-office general agents for a life insurance company. We had joined the company early and helped raise capital through the sale of stock. There was a three-month delay after the stock issue was closed and the company was in ful operation. Al we had was a rate book, and in the competitive world of life insurance programming, if you are going to compete, you need to be able to make a ful presentation with a complete proposal.

Since we could not afford a three-month income sabbatical, we decided to buy the equipment to print and figure the proposals. One of the things we needed was a calculator. In those days only three companies, Friden, Monroe, and Marchant, manufactured automatic calculators (they were not computers).

We eliminated the Marchant because of the ineptness of the salesperson, but we stil had to decide between a Friden and a Monroe. We decided on the Friden for the weirdest of al reasons. Everything else was equal, but would you believe we liked the way the Friden "clicked" better? In 1961

that calculator cost a thousand dol ars. Despite this, the deciding factor was that we liked the "click" of the Friden calculator the best.

Point: People don't buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.

That's why you need to be sensitive to some of the "little" things about your prospect and his needs if you expect to improve your closing percentages.

The "Special Occasion" Close

I spent eighteen years in the world of direct sel ing. During this time I developed a number of "Special Occasion" closes. Many times vacuum cleaner, alarm system, water softener, and cookware salespeople as wel as others wil encounter the fol owing or a similar situation. This close, as it is, was original y designed for the direct sales world, but when you see how effectively a young furniture store owner used his imagination and adapted it for his business, you wil know why I included it in this segment on imagination.

In the cookware business I demonstrated at night for a group of husbands and wives and made appointments to see them together the next day.

However, on many occasions only the wife would be at home for the appointment. General y the wife would assure me she could make the decision, but when I finished the presentation she sometimes attempted to terminate the

but when I finished the presentation she sometimes attempted to terminate the interview by saying that on second thought, she was going to have to talk to her husband because she now had the information he needed to make the decision.

That meant in most cases I was not going to get the sale. Don't misunderstand. If she real y did have to talk to her husband, I wanted her to do so. I knew from painful experience if she bought over his objections I'd end up with a cancel ation or, even worse, a dissatisfied customer.

However, I needed to find out if it were a put-off or a legitimate reason for not buying, so I would say, "That's fine. Since he gets home at six [I learned his hours the night before], I'l drop back at seven, or would eight be better?" With this approach I quickly found out if she was real y interested or if she was just trying to get rid of me. If she gave me the old routine, "Wel , you know, we've been married for over twenty years and I know how to handle him," I knew it was a lost cause.

As a salesperson you already know there is a vast difference between understanding something wel enough to buy it as opposed to understanding it wel enough to sel it. She understood the value of the cookware wel enough to buy it, but there was no way she could understand it wel enough to

"sel " it to her husband. I had spent years learning how to explain it wel enough to sel it and she had seen one demonstration.

When the housewife stal ed on giving me the appointment, I responded with,

"Let me ask you a question. What time does your husband get home with the groceries?" Housewife: "What do you mean?" Zig: "I assume he does buy the groceries." Housewife: "No, he sure doesn't!" Zig: "Wel , who does?"

Housewife: "I buy the groceries!" Zig: "Have you always bought them?"

Housewife: "Why, certainly." Zig: "Boy, groceries are expensive, aren't they?"

Housewife: "They sure are!" Zig: "I'l bet you they cost you twenty, twenty-five dol ars a week, don't they?" Invariably she'd say, "What do you mean, twenty or twenty-five? You mean a hundred and twenty or twenty-five!" Zig: "You mean they cost more than twenty or twenty-five dol ars?"

Housewife: "You've never bought groceries!" Zig: "Let me ask you, would fifty dol ars a week be a conservative estimate of what you spend on groceries?"

Housewife: "It sure would."

After All, Mrs. Prospect, You Picked Him

Zig: "Mrs. Prospect, that being the case [and again, back to our talking pad], you invest fifty dol ars a week for groceries [write it down]. Let's take that fifty-dol ar figure times just fifty weeks in a year. That means in a year's time you spend twenty-five hundred dol ars for groceries. Now, Mrs.

Prospect, according to what you tel me, you've been married twenty years.

Twenty years times twenty-five hundred dol ars per year is fifty thousand dol ars your husband has already trusted you to spend for groceries. I'm not being unkind, Mrs. Prospect, but I'l bet you can't show me more than a hundred dol ars'

worth of groceries right now for the whole fifty thousand, can you?"

We would both laugh and she'd say, "Why, of course not!" Then I'd say, "Mrs.

Prospect, he has already trusted you to invest fifty thousand dol ars for food.

Don't you honestly think he wil trust you to invest just four hundred more to cook the next fifty thousand dol ars' worth of food in the best and most economical manner?"

Here's Why He Married You

If that one didn't get the order, I would add this: "One of the reasons he tel s folks he married you is that he admires your judgment, Mrs. Prospect, for selecting him." I'd get real y quiet, smile, look her in the eye, and say, "Now you know if he trusted you to pick out your own husband, he's going to trust you to invest a few dol ars in a set of cookware to cook his food." I sold lots of cookware on that particular one!

Don't misunderstand. I personal y do not believe any salesperson can sel everybody he talks with. However, I do believe with a little imagination, most of us can increase our closing percentages considerably. I also know the most frustrating experience a salesperson has is to miss a sale he knows he should have made. Not only does this affect his own income for the moment, but more importantly it makes it impossible for him to render any service to that person. I simply want to give that prospect every opportunity to make a favorable decision.

In conjunction with this, many times I'm asked the question, "Just how long should you stay with a prospect?" There's no set rule or specific answer to that one. It's something you have to "feel" and something you learn from experience.

one. It's something you have to "feel" and something you learn from experience.

My own barometer was that I stayed as long as the prospect displayed obvious interest or until he emphatical y said he was not going to buy.

It Works in Retail Stores, Too

As I was preparing the original manuscript of this book, Randy Cooper, an excited young furniture store owner (who doesn't believe in recessions!) dropped by my office to see me. Unfortunately, I've lost track of Randy, but at that time Randy owned Cooper's Home Furnish ings in Enid, Oklahoma, and was tremendously excited about his business and how he adapted this close to make

"one of the easiest sales I've ever made."

In December of 1982, a lady and her daughter came into his store to look for a recliner which her husband was going to buy for her Christmas present. She found exactly what she wanted, and the investment was $449. She told Randy she would talk to her husband about it. Fortunately, when the lady walked in Randy had been listening to this "Special Occasion" Close. Here's how he adapted it.

Randy: "Mrs. Prospect, I'm a single parent and keep my two children three days each week. I buy my groceries myself and they cost me about a hundred dol ars a week." Prospect: "I buy my groceries, too, and that's about what mine cost."

Randy: "A hundred dol ars a week is over five thousand dol ars a year [strong voice emphasis], and I'l bet you don't even talk it over with your husband, do you?" At this point, Randy said, the lady stuck her chin out, looked right at her daughter, and said, "I'l take it!"

Incidental y, Randy started his business without any sales training, and in our brief encounter he expressed delight and a little surprise that these things actual y work. A real shocker came on an adaptation of the "Alternate of Choice" Close tied to the "Assumptive" Close. A man and his wife had selected a number of items which came to a substantial dol ar amount. The wife told Randy they would go home and "think about it." Randy suddenly became "hard of hearing,"

looked at the husband, and asked, "Do you want to take this home yourself or do you want us to deliver it?"

Husband to wife: "What do we want to do?" Wife: "Shoot, they charge for delivering. We'l take it ourselves." (Remember, this is the same lady who just twenty seconds earlier was going to go home and "think about it.")

One more time: I'm convinced that many sales are lost or missed simply because the salesperson doesn't ask the prospect to buy.

The "Tuit" Close

Many times in the world of sel ing there are people whom you can nudge over the line, or should I say "on" the line, with a little humor. Never wil I forget a company I cal ed on to sel an $18,000 sales training package. Management was sold on the program and had decided to buy, but they were procrastinating. They kicked it back and forth and back and forth, but always ended up saying, "We wil let you know." Zig: "Do you have any time frame?" Company: "Probably within the next thirty, sixty, ninety days." Zig: "But you seem to be sold and you real y want it." Company: "Yes, we do!" Zig: "You definitely are eventual y going to go ahead and do this, aren't you?" Company: "We sure are." Zig: "In other words, just as soon as you get around to it, then you're going to go ahead and start this training program?" Company: "We sure are."

With that I looked at them, smiled, and said, "Wel , gentlemen [there were four of them involved], let me say this. I've thoroughly enjoyed dealing with you because I can see you are sincere. When you tel me you're going to start this training program as soon as you get around to it, I know you are serious, so let me give you my card.

"My card, as you can plainly see, is round and has my name, address, and phone number on one side. On the other side it has the word TUIT. Now that spel s

`tuft.' It is round and it's àtuit,' so it is àround tuit.' Since you said you were going to start our training program just as soon as yoùgot around to it,' let me be the first to congratulate you, because you've now got your `round tuit,' so we can get your training program started immediately."

Are You Kidding Me?

Now you might be thinking to yourself, "C'mon, Ziglar, you've got to be kidding! You mean those guys went ahead and bought because you put that one on 'em?" I mean to tel you exactly that, but don't misunderstand. I didn't walk in and say, "As soon as you fel ows get around to it, you're probably going to start a good training program, aren't you?" That's crazy. I had done my homework. I'd laid the groundwork; I'd established the need and the fact that our program met their needs. In addition, the work I had done with them previously had enabled us to establish rapport and trust. Al the TUIT did was jump-start them and get

us to establish rapport and trust. Al the TUIT did was jump-start them and get them into immediate action.

"Maybe" Will Kill You in Selling

Action now real y is the objective of the sales cal . I've said it before and I'l say it a dozen times. The prospects who say yes wil not run you out of the sales business. The prospects who say no won't put you out of business. But those prospects who say maybe wil not only put you out of business, they'l run you out of your mind, especial y if you are in direct sales.

Here's why. If you take each person seriously who says he wil "buy later," you wil build a backlog of false security which you plan to "cash" at an opportune time. Obviously, if you are in an industry in which cal backs are a way of life (like detailing doctors on new drugs, offering a new line to a department store which has carried a competitive line for "umpteen" years, etc.), and you promise to see them on your next trip, you keep that commitment.

The "Tuit" Close, like most closes, fits a specific need at a specific time. It is true there are occasions when you can kid a prospect into doing something you could not seriously talk him into doing. Again, you need to study your prospect and your situation, throw in a little common sense, and as our Australian friends would say, "give it a go. "

P.S. If you would like to try it, send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and I'l send you a free round TUIT.

The "Challenge" Close

Sales trainer and management development expert Larry Wilson, before he launched his career in the world of sales and management development, was one of the top life insurance men in the country. He developed and used what I cal the "Chal enge" Close. On his sales cal s, Larry took a marble, a basebal , and a beach bal with him. When he started to close the sale, if the prospect gave him a lot of resistanceespecial y from a financial point of view-Larry would take the marble and ask the prospect to put it in his pocket. Then Larry would say, "Mr.

Prospect, the marble is so smal and light you are unaware it's there. In a few days you wil forget it altogether."

Next, Larry took out his basebal and said, "Mr. Prospect, you could struggle and get this basebal into your pocket. You could carry it wherever you go, but every step you take and every move you make you wil know it is there." Next, Larry

step you take and every move you make you wil know it is there." Next, Larry took the beach bal out of his briefcase, inflated it, and said, "Now there's no way you can carry this in your pocket.

"That's the way it is with life insurance. At your age, if you start today, the premiums wil be like carrying this marble. They are so smal you soon wil forget you carry them. If you wait a few years, it wil be like carrying the basebal . You can do it, but you wil always know they are there. If you wait too long, it wil be like carrying this beach bal . You just couldn't do it. So, Mr. Prospect, you real y are not making a decision today to buy or not to buy life insurance. You're deciding, `Do I carry the marble? Do I carry the basebal ? Or do I carry the beach bal ?' I chal enge you, Mr. Prospect, carry the marble! It wil be easier for you and better for your family."

Many times the response came back, "Wel , gee, I had never thought about it quite that way." To that, Larry would say, "By the way, the price of marbles today is just , and you can handle it on a yearly, quarterly, or monthly basis.

Which would be more convenient for you?" Needless to say, Larry sold a lot of insurance.

When I was in the life insurance business, one of the things that frequently bugged me was the fact that on occasion I could not uncover the prospect's real objection. I felt confident, in most cases, that I could effectively deal with the spoken objection, but the unspoken one is far more difficult to handle. As a matter of fact, on occasion it borders on the impossible.

Never will I forget one evening when I was calling on a prospect who had a need for more comprehensive life insurance coverage. He was in a financial position to take care of that need and was deeply committed to the well-being of his family. However, I was making zero progress with him as he brought up stalls and objections with little or no validity. It became increasingly obvious that I was not going to make the sale unless I did something imaginative to "smoke out" the real objection.

With this in mind, I searched my memory bank and came up with the germ of an idea which had been planted by a speaker (his identity escapes me) at a seminar several years earlier. I took that idea, altered it considerably, looked at my prospect, and said, "Mr.

Prospect, I don't know why you're hesitating to make this decision. You

have already indicated your need; you apparently are financially in a position to provide the coverage; and your love for your family is obvious.

The only thing which enters my mind is the possibility that perhaps I've been offering you the wrong product. Perhaps we should be talking about our `Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement' rather than the agreement which I have been discussing with you."

Out Comes the Talking Pad

At this point I turned to my talking pad and said, "Very briefly let me explain the Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement. First of al , it carries the same face amount of insurance which you've indicated you need. Second, the retirement benefits are exactly the same, and that's good because you've emphasized the figure we have chosen is a minimal one. Third, the Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement provides both waiver of premium and double indemnity in the event you become disabled and can't make the payments or are accidental y kil ed. Incidental y, since we mentioned premium, the premium on this Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement is only 50 percent as much as it is on the standard agreement. Would that suit your needs better?"

The prospect looked at me with some astonishment and said, "Wel , it certainly suits my pocketbook better, but what do you mean by a Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement?"

Frankly, it was al I could do to keep a straight face as I said, "What that means, Mr. Prospect, is that you're covered twenty-nine days out of every month. Since this is April and there are only thirty days in the month, you wil be covered every day but one and the company wil let you select that day. It might be that you would prefer a Saturday or a Sunday." Then I stopped and said, "No, that would not be a good thing, because you wil probably be at home and, statistical y speaking, home is the most dangerous place for you to be."

Then I looked at my prospect and apologetical y said, "In al fairness, Mr.

Prospect, if you should elect to ask me to leave your home [or office] at this point, you would be ful y justified. I've been doing something which I real y have no right to do. I have apparently been making light of the future wel -being of your family, and you're obviously the kind of man who takes your family responsibilities very seriously.

"I strongly suspect that when I suggested this Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement

"I strongly suspect that when I suggested this Twenty-Nine-Day Agreement would leave you uninsured one or two days every month, the thought entered your mind that you might wel die or be kil ed on one of those days."

Breathe Easy, Mr. Prospect. "Let me put your mind at ease, Mr. Prospect. There isn't an insurance commissioner in the world who would permit the sale of a Twenty-nine-Day Agreement. I took the liberty of suggesting it, Mr. Prospect, because I knew you would be concerned about even one day not being covered.

Considering this, I knew you were not about to leave your family's future at the mercy of chance every day if you could possibly avoid it. You do feel that way, don't you, Mr. Prospect?

"I believe you're the kind of man who wil relate to the agreement you and I have talked about from the beginning. That agreement, Mr. Pros pect, wil cover you twenty-four hours out of every day, seven days out of every week, regardless of where you are and what you're doing. That's the kind of protection you want for your family, isn't it, Mr. Prospect?"

Not only did I make the sale that night, but I used that close many times during my career in the life insurance business. I did not make a sale every time I used it, but there were many sales I did make because I took the germ of an idea gathered at a long-ago sales meeting and tailored that idea to fit my specific situation.

I cannot say this often enough or strongly enough: If you're going to be professional in sel ing, you must read, study, and listen to motivational and educational recordings on a daily basis. You must attend clinics and seminars conducted by the professionals. Then you must work at adapting and applying these principles and ideas to fit your specific situation. That is the way to stay inspired, informed, and up-to-date.

Imagination and Common Sense

It seems trite to say, but in the world of sel ing we need to find out the prospect's major interests and then show him how our product wil meet his needs and satisfy his interests.

During World War I , or so the story goes, G.I. insurance was introduced. In simple terms it meant that for a minimal premium of six or seven dol ars a month, ten thousand dol ars in life insurance was provided. If a serviceman was kil ed, his beneficiaries received the ten thousand dol ars. It was a super deal, but

kil ed, his beneficiaries received the ten thousand dol ars. It was a super deal, but like everything else, it had to be sold.

A young lieutenant cal ed his infantry company to attention, explained the policy in great detail, and passed out papers for those who were interested in signing up for the insurance. Virtual y no one bought. An old sergeant asked the young lieutenant for permission to explain the program. The lieutenant reluctantly agreed and felt confident that if he could not sel the insurance, the sergeant couldn't.

The "Front Line" Close

The sergeant stood up and in simple eloquence explained it this way: "Men, as I understand it, here's the program. You're going to be sent overseas. If you buy the insurance and get kil ed, the government is going to send your family ten thousand big, beautiful dol ars. If you don't get the insurance and you get kil ed, the government is not going to send your family anything. My question is this: Who do you think the government is going to send to the front lines first? The ones who would cost ten thousand dol ars if they're kil ed, or the ones who would cost nothing if they're kil ed?" The men bought the insurance.

In reality I doubt that the story is true. However, as a practical matter, it il ustrates the point perfectly. Point: Regardless of what you sel , make it crystal clear that your prospect is better off to buy than not to buy.

Sell Where You Are

In 1952 I was living in Florence, South Carolina, but sel ing and building part of my sales organization in Wilmington, North Carolina. Late one Saturday evening I was driving too fast on my way back to Florence. A highway patrolman stopped me and proceeded to give me a ticket.

Because we had a mutual friend, he let me go without paying the bil that night on the condition that I stop in Whitevil e, North Carolina, on Monday and pay the ticket on my way back to Wilmington.

The "Opportunity" Close

I vividly remember the amount of the ticket. It was thirty dol ars. In 1952 that was a considerable sum of money. On Monday I stopped by the courthouse to pay the fine. As I gave the money to the young woman who was handling the tickets, the thought occurred to me that perhaps I could recoup my loss by taking

tickets, the thought occurred to me that perhaps I could recoup my loss by taking advantage of this opportunity. Since I had nothing to lose, the fol owing dialogue took place.

Zig: "I wonder if you'd mind if I ask you a couple of questions?" Single girl (with a smile): "No." Zig: "I just wonder, since you're single and working, if you are saving a portion of the money you're earning?" Single girl: "Yes, I am." Zig:

"If you should see something extremely nice, which you definitely wil need later on, would you be in a position to save an additional twenty-five cents a day to get it, provided you real y wanted it?" Single girl: "Yes, I could." Zig: "Wel , if I had something in my car which was real y outstanding, truly beautiful, and something which you not only wil need but wil use for the rest of your life, would you be courteous enough to spend five minutes looking at it?" Single girl:

"I'd be happy to." Zig: "Excuse me for a moment."

I quickly stepped back out to my car and brought my cookware samples into the office. I made a short but very enthusiastic demonstration and asked the obligating question. After I asked the obligating question, she turned to a married lady who was about ten years older and said, "What would you do, if you were me?"

Before the other lady could answer, I interrupted and said, "Excuse me for interrupting, but let me ask you a question. If you were in this girl's position, but knowing what you know about al of the expenses and obligations you have as a married person with a growing family, if you had had the same opportunity she has of acquiring this beautiful set of cookware before you were married, in retrospect, what would you do?" Without a moment's hesitation the married lady said, "I would buy it." With that I turned to the single girl and said, "And that's what you want to do, isn't it?" She smiled and said, "Yes," so I wrote the order.

The "Companion" Close

When I finished writing the order, I turned to the married lady and said, "Just because you did not have the chance to get it ten years ago does not mean that you should continue to deny yourself and your family this beautiful set of cookware for the rest of your life, does it?" She said, "No, it doesn't." So I said,

"I suppose you want the same set, don't you?" She said, "Yes, I do."

I made the second sale because (a) I was aware it was there and (b) I asked for the order. I'm convinced that many sales are missed not because of poor technique but because of no technique. Ask for the order.

technique but because of no technique. Ask for the order.

Those sales were two of the easiest I have ever made, and my commissions more than paid for my ticket. As a matter of fact, later that day I encountered that same highway patrolman, but this time I wasn't speeding, so -1 waved him down and thanked him for giving me the ticket!

I tel this story to say you should be so wrapped up in what you're doing you instinctively take advantage of every sales opportunity that comes your way.

The "Nice People" Close

The more commonplace and competitive your business is, the more important it becomes for you to develop and use your imagination. Many times this real y boils down to you, the salesperson or merchant, being aware of your customers'

needs and concentrating on the best procedure to meet those needs. For example, when we stopped at Til er's Cafe and Shel Station in the little town of Chil icothe, Texas, even though the station was self-service for gasoline, we stil got a little "extra."

When my wife and I stopped for gasoline, the lady asked for my auto license number. Since I did not know it, I had to walk back to my car to get it for her.

She wrote my tag number on a gummed piece of white paper and stuck it on the back of my credit card. As she did this, she explained that now I would always have my tag number with me. Nice touch. Then she pul ed out a piece of cardboard with a sheet on it and explained that she had listed al of her local customers so when they came in to buy, especial y in bad weather, they would not have to go back out to get their tag numbers.

Not earth-shattering, but it is one of those "little things" which brings customers back to the store time after time. That's career-building sel ing. That is the way nice, considerate, ambitious people do things.

The "Cokes and Smokes" Close

One of the most imaginative closes I've ever seen was developed by Hal Krause, the founder of American Salesmasters and later Crestcom, who worked his way through col ege sel ing cookware, china, crystal, and flatware to single girls.

After completing the demonstration he smiled at the prospect and said: The story I'm about to tel in every way is true. I'm the only man alive to share

The story I'm about to tel in every way is true. I'm the only man alive to share this tale with you.

You'l know yourself that I've told the truth the minute I get through, Because I never lie or stretch the truth, like some other salesmen do.

If you don't buy a set of pots from me you'l spend al your money on Chocolates, Cokes, filtered smokes, fancy clothes, and picture shows, And then you'l look back and find that Cokes and smokes have gone to pot, And your bankbook wil show that your cash is shot.

What's worse, you'l find yourself cooking out of thin pans and tin pans, Lead pans and bread pansNone of which look alike or cook alike.

So everyone says, "Wel , what can I do but buy some of those from you"And most of them do, and I've got good news for youYou've got a chance too!

If you think that's too much high pressure, You can even use your own pen to fil out this order.

This combination of humor and imagination, mixed with a lot of hard work, produced championship results.

One of the most creative and imaginative sales trainers in America was the late Ira Hayes, who served as head of Advertising and Promotion for the Speakers Bureau of National Cash Register (N.C.R.) before he took early retirement in 1980 to form his own company. While Ira was with N.C.R., he did public seminars al over America and, needless to say, his competitors were often in attendance. This didn't bother Ira or N.C.R., because they felt that when you sold professional y you were not giving up a piece of your pie. You were increasing the size of the pie so that you (in this case Ira and N.C.R.) were stil going to get more pie.

Ira also smiled and explained that sometimes he had trouble getting his own people to use the techniques, so he wasn't worried about his competitors hearing his ideas. Incidental y, Ira-who was international y known as "America's Ambassador of Enthusiasm"-believed in the liberal use of one's own picture. He had hundreds of miniature pictures made, and when he sent a letter or passed out his business card, he always affixed his picture to the card or correspondence. It worked. People recognized him wherever he went.

Perhaps the most imaginative business card I have ever seen is that of Gerhard Gschwandtner, the dynamic publisher of Personal Sel ing Power, which I also highly recommend. Here is his card, along with what he says about it: May I present my business card:

"The phone number is on the back. Yes, just turn it around.

"Why did I put these leaders on my business card?

"There are three reasons: First, it's an icebreaker during the opening.

"Second, it's a reminder that good salesmanship can get you to the top. If you have doubts, just think where these leaders would be without the ability to sel themselves.

"Third, each leader on this card stands for a characteristic that can lead you to the top. Look at the names and see how they relate to sales success:

"A leading salesperson has the ability to be tough like a Russian, persuasive like the president of the United States, diplomatic like the French premier, faithful like the Pope, wel organized like the German chancel or, and confident like the queen of England."

SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

The Prospect Who Won't Change His Mind

Sales trainer Howard Bonnel , formerly the management training director for World Book Encyclopedia and currently a sales consultant and trainer for many different companies, shared this with me. One day Howard was working with a World Book representative. Howard made the presentation, and at the conclusion the prospect said, "Wel , Mr. Bonnel , let me tel you something. We want the set of books, we need them, and our children can get a lot of benefit from them. However, when we married fifteen years ago, I made a flat statement that I was never going to buy anything on credit except our house, and in fifteen years I have never gone back on my word."

Al of us have seen people like that, so broke that if it didn't cost but fifty cents to go around the world they couldn't get out of sight, but they pay cash for

go around the world they couldn't get out of sight, but they pay cash for everything. In this particular case the prospect wasn't quite that broke, but his pride was at stake and Howard Bonnel , as persuasive as he is, was not about to get that guy to change his mind. There was no way. He'd made the statement and he was dogmatic: "I said I wasn't going to buy on credit and I'm not!" If Howard had tried to sel him by using every sales technique known to man, he would have done nothing but back up in the process. As I mentioned earlier, it is virtual y impossible to get a person to change his mind.

The "Corner" Close

What Howard had to do was get this man out of the corner and let him be free to go ahead and make a new decision. Here's how he did it: He looked at the prospect and said, "Mr. Prospect, let me ask you a question. If I can show you how to get this set of World Book right now, without paying cash, which you've said you don't have, and without going back on your word, would you be interested?" The old boy asked, "How can you do that?" Howard didn't let him off the hook. He repeated. "Here's the question. If I can show you how to get this set of World Book today without paying cash, without getting it on credit, and without going back on your word, would you be interested?" The prospect said,

"Yeah, how could I do that?" Howard: "It's real y very simple."

Then he turned to the wife, looked at her, and said, "Mrs. Prospect, as I understand it, you did not make a commitment like your husband, did you?"

She said, "No, I didn't." Then Howard turned to the husband and said, "Mr.

Prospect, wil it be al right if I talk with your wife about solving your problem for you and your son?" The old boy said, "Wel , whatever you can work out with her is perfectly al right with me. Just go ahead."

Actual y, the man was delighted he'd been taken off the hook and was able to get out of the corner. Howard enabled him to save face, which was critical. The man recognized the need for the encyclopedias, wanted to buy them, but would not have gotten them had Howard not been astute enough to save face for him and make it easy for him to buy. Much of the sales process is simply figuring out a way for the prospect to buy what you sel .

Howard astutely points out that the prospect's objection was emotional and il ogical, but he wasn't going to buy-period. In order to make the sale, Howard had to appeal to his emotions. Logical y, whether the man or the wife signed the

to appeal to his emotions. Logical y, whether the man or the wife signed the agreement didn't matter as far as responsibility was concerned. Emotional y, the prospect would comfortably buy because his wife was signing so his cash record was intact. Note: His reason for buying was for the children's benefit. His excuse: His wife did it-not him.

Many of these closes and procedures involve the use of your imagination, letting your prospect see logical y and emotional y what you're offering and urging him to make a new decision. I emphasize there is seldom a sales cal or interview in which everything comes off according to "Hoyle," or exactly as projected on the drawing board. However, if you've got the guidelines and if you build reserves of knowledge which are instantly at your disposal, your imagination is free to work. As a result, you'l make more sales, and you'l build your career faster and more successful y.

Imagination in Time Usage

One of the most time-conscious, dedicated, and imaginative salesmen I have ever known is Hal Krause. When Hal founded American Salesmasters he had two major objectives. His first goal was to make the company the biggest and best sales training organization of its kind in the world. Not only did Hal achieve this objective, but along the way American Salesmasters was awarded the prestigious President's E. Award, which is awarded to a handful of America's top export companies.

As an aside, I might reinforce what I said in chapter 12 about the sales profession and free enterprise. As a young man of modest circumstances, Hal not only worked his way through col ege sel ing hope chest items to single girls but was also able to accumulate a substantial nest egg in the process. He used this capital to launch a successful business career founded on the principles which made America great. He truly is a wholesome personification of the American dream, and he got his start in the sales profession.

Hal's second goal was to sel his company and "retire" before he was forty. Three weeks before his fortieth birthday he reached his second goal. In

"retirement" Hal has served as the Republican National Committeeman for the Republican party in Colorado, looked after some diverse business interests, and conducted financial seminars around the world. Hal does many things successful y because of hard work, imagination, and time management.

The "Time Utilization" Close Example: While serving as president of American Salesmasters, Hal once had about an hour's stop between flights in a large city.

The home office for a major insurance company was close to the airport, so Hal took a taxi on the chance he could see a decision maker at the company. He gave the receptionist his card and said, "I'm between planes and I do not have an appointment, but if at al possible I would like to see the president."

This company utilized a speaker system built into the telephone, so the receptionist, with Hal listening, cal ed the president and told him that Mr. Hal Krause of American Salesmasters would like to see him. Instead of answering back on the telephone so he could not be heard, the president, slightly annoyed, responded on the speaker system and said, "Tel the young man I am busy and I work only by appointment."

Hal and the receptionist heard the response and the receptionist was a little embarrassed. Hal just smiled and asked the receptionist to press the proper button so he could respond directly to the president's comments. She complied with the request and Hal said, "Sir, my name is Hal Krause.

May I ask you just one question?" Insurance company president: "Yes." Hal: "In your training program, do you train your salespeople, when they have an hour between appointments, to utilize that time by making cold cal s?" Insurance company president (after a long pause): "Mr. Krause, because you've asked the right question, I want to talk with you. Come on in." -- -- - - -- - - -

Hal utilized the time effectively. He laid the groundwork on this cal , and a fol ow-up cal produced a substantial order.

The "Question" Close

Effective sales procedures work everywhere. Mike Bhag, who worked with the sponsor of the Dale Carnegie courses in England, listened to the Hal Krause example on a cassette recording. Here in his own words is how Mike put the information to work for himself: It was 1:40 on a hot Friday afternoon. I had just driven into town for a two o'clock appointment. I had twenty minutes to kil ; since there are 1,440

minutes in a day, I decided to turn dead time into quality time and make a cold

minutes in a day, I decided to turn dead time into quality time and make a cold cal . I spotted a large car showroom, gave myself a pep talk, and walked in.

I asked the salesman, "Is the boss in?" He replied, "No." Not to be deterred I said, "If he were in, where would he be?" "Across the street," he answered. I walked onto the premises across the street, into the reception area, and said to the receptionist, "The boss isn't in, is he?"

"Oh, yes he is; he's in his office in front of you." The boss was in a meeting with his sales manager and overheard the receptionist. He looked my way. I walked in and said, "As managing director of this company, you're probably always looking for ways to increase sales, aren't you?"

I did not get a chance to continue as he said, "Young man, can't you see I'm very busy? It's Friday afternoon! It's lunchtime! Tel me, I'm curious, what makes you cal at this particular time?"

I confidently looked him straight in the eye and said, "Do you real y want to know?" "Yes, I'm curious," he replied. "Wel ," I said, "I've just driven in from Reading. My next appointment is at 2:00 P.M. I've got twenty minutes to kil , so I thought I would turn dead time into productive time and make a cold cal ."

Then I lowered my voice and asked slowly, "Isn't that what you teach your salesmen to do?"

At that his mouth dropped. He looked at his sales manager in amazement and awe, smiled, and said to me warmly, "Sit down, young man, sit down!" By the time I finished I had made a large sale involving sales-andmanagement training for his company.

Fantastic, Mike! Excel ent use of your time and your imagination, not to mention the fact that you tailored the script to fit your situation and asked six questions to get into an actual interview.

22

Using Word Pictures to Sell

Most-no, change that to al -ambitiously aggressive salespeople are always on the

Most-no, change that to al -ambitiously aggressive salespeople are always on the lookout for the magic word, the key phrase, or the new technique that wil give them a persuasive edge and leave the prospect powerless to resist. Fortunately, no such "weapon" exists, but there are many words, phrases, and techniques you can learn and use which wil enable you to present your offer in a more attractive light. The result is a more persuasive presentation which wil enable you to persuade more-but not al -of your prospects to take action.

To some hard-liners this wil sound like heresy, but I am convinced the moment you recognize that not everyone could or should buy your product or services, you wil sel to more of those who can and should buy.

You do not enhance your reputation or build your career by overloading your prospects or by browbeating a nonprospect into buying something he real y doesn't want, doesn't need, or can't afford. Once you clearly understand that basic premise, it wil be easier for you to forgive yourself for missing a sale you thought you should have made. This frees your mind to give maximum effort to the next sales interview.

Careful. This involves some common sense and mature judgment. Otherwise you might rationalize that everyone who does not buy real y isn't a prospect.

From a sales career point of view, that would be a fatal mistake.

Now let's look at some words and procedures which the legitimate salesperson, sel ing a legitimate product at a fair price, can use to persuade legitimate prospects to take action in their own best interests.

Twenty-Four Words That Sell

My friend, sales trainer Thom Norman from Scottsdale, Arizona, was one of the most comprehensive sales trainers in America. Thom's specialty was the telephone, but he did considerable work and research in other fields. For example, he identified twenty-four words that sel and twenty-four words that

"unsel ." Thom agreed to share these words with us. I encourage you to memorize and learn them by getting a good dictionary and finding out exactly what each one means. From the list I promise you at least a half-dozen pleasant learning surprises when you pursue them in a dictionary.

The first word that sel s is your prospect's name. I think everyone recognizes this as being true. His name is the sweetest sound of them al . You should use it from time to time throughout your presentation. Here are the other twenty-three.

time to time throughout your presentation. Here are the other twenty-three.

Note: Yale University has added five words to Thom's twenty-four sel ing words: YOU, SECURITY, ADVANTAGE, POSITIVE, and BENEFITS.

Thom also has researched and come up with twenty-four words that "unsel ,"

and here they are: I encourage you to give these words the same dictionary treatment.

Obviously, there are many additional words that are soothing to the prospect's ears, and others which leave the prospect in neutral or even turn him off. I share Bil ie Engman's dislike for the word pitch, and most people prefer home to house and a fine automobile instead of a nice car. It's easier to get a prospect to OK an agreement than it is to sign a con tract, and more people prefer to invest instead of buy. They find it easier to make a deposit each month than to make a payment.

Words and phrases which paint word pictures can sel effectively for you and your company. For example, in North Carolina the highway patrol took a positive and imaginative approach with their roadside signs which proclaimed,

"North Carolina uses radar to protect you from speeding drivers."

The picture is clear, isn't it?

Watch Those Words

One reason I encouraged you to record your sales presentation (see chapter 5) is to help you recognize the positive and the negative aspects of the words, phrases, and word patterns you use. You know, one of the things, you know, that wil drive a prospect up the wal , you know, is the use of you know. It's hard to imagine, you know, but some people actual y, you know, use the words you know as many times in conversation as I have used them in these last two sentences. Nothing is more distracting to a prospect than hearing you know in every sentence. And you know that's true, don't you?

Another negative and distracting phrase is the constant use of "Do you understand what I mean?" or "You know what I mean?" Too many of those little goodies and your prospect wil start counting the number of times you use them.

Since he can't count and concentrate at the same time, your persuasiveness wil be adversely affected.

Of al the negative words, easily the most negative and destructive are the obscene, vulgar, and profane ones. And a sure way of committing sales suicide with many prospects (that would certainly include me) is to take God's name in vain. Question: Have you ever heard of anyone buying anything from a salesman because he used gutter language or took God's name in vain? Fact: Many people don't buy because of the use of those objectionable words. Question: Since the prospect doesn't buy because of those profane or vulgar words and might not buy because of them, doesn't it make sense to leave them out?

Again, Again, and Yet Again. John Shedd, a great sales manager, said, "We don't need to be told-but we do need to be reminded. " Throughout this book I've been painting and wil continue to paint pictures in your mind with words. As you think back on what you've read (remember me buying the car, the house, the shoe shine, Columbus's trip, etc.), you wil remember the word pictures I've been painting. For the remainder of the book you wil be even more sensitive to the number and effectiveness of the word pictures I paint. Another reason I encourage you to read this book several times is to saturate your mind with word pictures until their use becomes second nature to you.

In the world of sel ing you've got to understand two things if you expect to become a real sales professional. First, the mind thinks in pictures. For example, if I say "car," you do not think "c-a-r." In your mind's eye you see a car, and it is probably a beautiful car. If I say "girl," you do not think "g-i-r-l," but fel ows, in your mind's eye you wil see a beautiful girl. If I say "house," as a reader or a listener you would not think "h-o-u-s-e," but rather you would, in your mind's eye, see a house. If I say "home," you do not think "h-o-m-e," but you see a home with a family in it, whereas the house you saw in your mind just two seconds ago was empty. The master salesperson takes a verbal paintbrush and instinctively uses ful words like home instead of empty words like house.

Number two, if you're going to sel more of your goods, products, services, or ideas, you've got to learn how to take the verbal paintbrush and paint them (your prospects) right into the picture. You've got to put your prospect in the car and show him enjoying the luxury, comfort, or economy of driving your particular car. You've got to paint the picture of satisfaction and gratification of him gril ing the steak on his gril on a beautiful spring, summer, or fal evening in the backyard of the home you are showing him. The picture must be (a) in color and (b) in the present tense.

The "Picture" Close

The New York Times printed a story of how a New Jersey housewife's feeling for her home, combined with her sense of what makes good advertising copy, in one day sold a home that five brokers had been carrying for three months. Mr.

and Mrs. Lowe decided to sel their twobedroom home to buy a larger one since space was becoming a problem. The brokers ran typical, standard ads like "Cozy six-room home, ranch style with fireplace, garage, tile baths, al hot water heat, convenient to Rutgers campus, stadium, golf courses, and primary school."

Those are facts, but people do not buy facts or even benefits unless they can see those benefits translated to their own personal use.

After three months Mrs. Lowe ran an ad herself. She was anxious to get something done and believed she could sel her home. Here's the way the ad ran: We'l Miss Our Home

We've been happy in it but two bedrooms are not enough for us, so we must move. If you like to be cozy by a fire while you admire autumn woods through wide windows, protected from the street, if you like a shady yard in summer, a clear view of winter sunsets, and quiet enough to hear frogs in spring, but city utilities and conveniences, you might like to buy our home. We hope so. We don't want it to be empty and alone at Christmas.

Out of the six responses the next day, one person bought the home.

Now look back at those word pictures. Block off the first sentence and you can see a happy family crowded together in a nice home which is just too smal for the current owners. You immediately see that there is nothing wrong with the home. The problem is too many occupants. IMPORTANT-Slow down and take the rest of that ad on a phrase-byphrase basis. There are seven additional pictures, a total of eight pictures in the eighty-six words in the body of the ad.

Now tel yourself the truth. Did you see the other picture in the heading-or was it so obvious you missed it? That's the reason I keep tel ing you to study this book a number of times.

This ad or "sales talk" painted a beautiful picture of the features and benefits the Lowes had enjoyed as owners, but it did even more. It promised the new owners they would inherit the same beauty, benefits, and enjoyment. It painted a beautiful picture of happiness, contentment, and security which the new owners would inherit.

would inherit.

You probably noticed that Mrs. Lowe advertised her "home," not her "house."

The difference between a house and a home is love. The new owners could undoubtedly sense the love the Lowes had for their "home." They didn't want to buy a house to occupy. They wanted to invest in a home to live in. Yes, words do make a difference, don't they?

Ideal y, word pictures should either paint beauty, luxury, love, satisfaction, enjoyment, success, performance, or the features painted by Mrs. Lowe.

Obviously, most pictures wil paint a combination of features and benefits, but al word pictures must paint the prospect in the picture for maximum effectiveness.

Almost without exception, every product or service can be sold by painting word pictures, especial y if the pictures are in the present tense. As I've previously stated, we think in pictures and we buy pictures if we are painted into the picture as satisfied customers.

Picture-Painting Selling Is Good Postselling

One of the most effective users of word pictures was the late Fred Herman. Here is a story told by Fred as he demonstrated the use of word pictures in front of live audiences. I had the privilege of seeing Fred do this on several occasions, and his widow, Kay Herman, supplied me with a cassette recording of his presentation to refresh my memory. Since I had the advantage of both seeing and hearing the presentation, I'l set the stage as we go, but the words wil be Fred Herman's.

Fred (to audience): "People do not buy products or services-they buy pictures of the end result of using the product or service. Let me give you an example. I need somebody who has a boy about five or six years old to come up and help me."

Fred to participant in audience holding up hand: "How old is your oldest boy?"

Participant: "Twelve." Fred: "Twelve. OK, that's al right, come on up here.

What's his name?" Participant: "Michael." Fred: "And your name is ... ?"

Participant: "Bob." Fred: "Bob, I appreciate your coming up here.

Bob, we came out here not to talk about insurance or investments but to talk about how to get Michael a col ege education. You'd spend a few minutes on that, wouldn't you?" Bob: "Sure can."

that, wouldn't you?" Bob: "Sure can."

In this drama Fred explains that the insurance representative describes the insurance program and its benefits. Then he says to the audience: "So we've talked about a program. We've provided the solution. We worked out some sort of a program so there'd be cash value at a certain time, but I'd say, `Bob, as we've been working together here it's become completely apparent to me that one of the drives inside of you is that Michael wil have the tools and equipment so that he can meet life and whip it, is that right?' Bob: `That's correct.' Fred:

`Wel , this program we've worked out wil take care of this regardless of what might happen. Here's what does happen.

"It's about maybe eight or nine years from now. An invitation comes through the mail from the col ege of Michael's choice. You and your wife go to the graduation ceremonies. You enter the hal , and there's a tremendous babble of voices, a feeling of human warmth; it al hushes down as you hear the graduation processional, hear the swish of robes as you see those little tassels bouncing on the hats. You notice your wife's face. Big smile on it, but there's just the suggestion of a tear in the corner of her eye. And you kind of grab her hand and she holds your hand; you're completely enthral ed in the culmination of years of hoping and planning and dreaming.

"It's over now. You watch Mike go across and get his diploma. He's walking up the aisle, he's looking for you and your wife; he spies you. There's a big smile on his face. You feel the warmth of his handclasp, you feel his arm around your shoulder, and he says, `Gee, Dad, I'l never forget you for this.' This is what you want, isn't it, Bob?" "Yeah."

Corny? Only if you, the salesperson, don't real y feel the emotion the parents felt. I might also add that this procedure is good postsel ing, too. It helps to ensure the sale because you are sel ing the results of the sale. I might also point out that the parents are getting some now benefits in peace of mind by knowing their son's col ege education is secure.

Almost regardless of what you sel , you can and should paint a picture the prospect can see and feel. Since many of the benefits, in this case, are delayed for years, it is important that an emotional picture of those delayed benefits be burned indelibly into that prospect's mind. This greatly reduces the possibility of cancel ation.

The impact of picture sel ing is vividly clear and explains why Charles Osgood

The impact of picture sel ing is vividly clear and explains why Charles Osgood of CBS News was moved to say, "A picture is a pitiful thing next to words and imagination." To make certain you didn't miss it, I must also point out that the dialogue also contained six questions. Good sel ing and good closing by good salespeople wil always include several facets of the sales presentation.

When Fred was making this presentation, life insurance with cash value was very popular and practical for many young parents. Today we deal with different products (term insurance in combination with mutual funds, common stock, the money market, CDs, etc.), but the technique and procedure are the same. You adapt the procedures to fit your product or service.

As sales trainer John Hammond points out, when a person makes a significant purchase of any kind, he general y makes that purchase only after he has gone through the picture-painting process in his own mind. As a professional you need to help the prospect with the picturepainting process.

The "Preparation" Close

A good friend of mine, the late Dr. Emol Fails, a former professor at North Carolina State University, did a considerable amount of work with many Chambers of Commerce. He convinced them they needed to have sales clinics for the retail salespeople in stores in their area to teach them how to capitalize on the sales opportunities that many, if not most of them, were missing.

To prove the point that they needed training, Dr. Fails took his wal et, tied it to the back of his car, and dragged it around town for several days until it was in tatters. Then he put his credit cards, money, and driver's license in it. Next, he would go into a men's store and buy a necktie, which as a general rule is located reasonably close to a display of wal ets. He would take his wal et out of his pocket and "accidental y" drop it. Money, credit cards, and wal et would scatter al over the floor.

In one smal town the same thing happened in five different stores. The clerks would always help him pick up the pieces. Sometimes they would look down their noses at that disgraceful thing he cal ed a wal et, but not a single one suggested that in addition to the necktie a new wal et might also be considered.

The picture Dr. Fails painted was crystal clear. The need for sales training was acute. The benefits to the people, the merchants, and the Chamber of Commerce could easily be visualized by the Chamber official.

could easily be visualized by the Chamber official.

It is my firm conviction that by using your imagination you can paint effective pictures for your prospects. In Dr. Fails's case, the preparation (dragging the wal et behind his car and cal ing on the five stores) for the sales cal on the Chamber official took ten times as long as the actual cal .

This supports Abraham Lincoln's statement, "If I had nine hours to cut down a tree, I would spend six hours sharpening my axe." Sel ing is not easy, but proper preparation makes it easier and far more rewarding.

Incidental y, this is true in al fields of endeavor. The trial attorney spends hundreds of hours in study, investigation, and preparation for every hour he spends in the courtroom. Ditto for the surgeon, the professional athlete, and the professional salesperson. The great racehorse Nashua won over one mil ion dol ars in less than one hour of racing, but he spent hundreds of hours in training to know how to perform in al kinds of weather and under al track conditions. With proper preparation and by being in great physical and mental shape to run the proper pace, accelerate when needed, and go al out when necessary, he was able to take advantage of every opportunity.

I think you get the picture! When you train in the art of professional closing in relationship to the time a professional footbal team prepares for Sunday or a boxer prepares for a match (not to mention the championship), you'l begin to realize a tremendous jump in your closing ratio on the regular cal s and a good boost in the close ones-which most people in sales have always missed.

The "Fear" Close

Fred Herman used one of the fastest and most effective word pictures I've ever heard of. He conducted a training program for a major oil company and trained their service station attendants. (This was years ago when service stations gave service!) Fred's primary purpose was to teach the attendants how to sel more oil.

(In those days, help was plentiful and service stations were desperately trying to sel more oil.)

When the attendant lifted the hood and checked the oil, Fred taught him to go to the driver and say, "You need five quarts." Fred properly identified this as fear motivation. It paints a vivid word picture, doesn't it? It's easy to visualize the

motivation. It paints a vivid word picture, doesn't it? It's easy to visualize the fear in the prospect's mind, because the instant the attendant said, "You need five quarts," the car owner could visualize a serious engine problem. Most people expect the worst, and the thought of his car burning those five quarts of oil was pretty frightening.

Fred said the car owner would come unglued and bound out of that driver's seat in a hurry! "What do you mean, I need five quarts?" Then the attendant calmly said, "Your oil is awful y dirty and should be changed before it damages your motor. It won't take but a minute and you'l be on your way." (That last sentence is another word picture, isn't it?)

You Sell What It Does

You need to paint the picture of your prospect using and enjoying the goods or services you sel . When you become completely aware of this process and the benefits that go with it, you wil work at doing it until picture sel ing becomes second nature for you.

Make yourself a mental note to check the word pictures I paint for you throughout the remainder of this book. Remind yourself in your second and subsequent readings of Secrets of Closing the Sale to look for the word pictures.

Incidental y, I remind you again that you wil glean more ideas, make more notes, and mark the book more on your second reading than you wil on your first and stil more on your third than on your second.

Throughout the book the picture painted is that of satisfaction and gratification.

The reason is simple. You don't sel what the product is you always sel what the product does. Example: Each year over 5 mil ion quarter-inch dril s are sold, yet it's safe to say that nobody wants a quarter-inch dril .

They want a quarter-inch hole.

Each year bil ions of dol ars worth of cosmetics are sold, yet it's safe to say that nobody wants lipstick, eye shadow, blush, etc. What they want is a more attractive appearance. They want to smel good and to be glamorous and desirable to members of the opposite sex.

You don't sel what the product isyou sel what it does.

Watch the ads on television and you'l hear word pictures and see the actual

Watch the ads on television and you'l hear word pictures and see the actual picture of the users of the product enjoying the benefits of the product.

Thom Norman painted word pictures with a letter. He trained salespeople to write the customer after the sale was made. This is postselling, which is often overlooked in sales training. Its importance should be obvious, because once you've made the sale, you need to keep it sold.

Thom encouraged his clients to do the same thing he did for many years when he was in the field of direct selling. He urged salespeople to write a letter the evening, or no later than the day after, the sale has been made, whether the sale was made in a home or office.

Thom insisted that the letter be handwritten. It's all right to use company stationery, but it is very important that you hand address the envelope and put a postage stamp on it, since it is more personal than a postage meter.

The letter says, "A personal note to thank you for your courtesy and the trust and confidence you placed in me yesterday [or today, whichever day you are writing the letter]. I very much enjoyed visiting with you and your family. I am proud that you are now using our product or service and know that you will benefit and be pleased with the results. I shall be in touch with you in the future to see if I can be of any additional service. In the meantime, if you should need or want assistance of any kind, please feel free to contact me."

This letter paints a lot of pictures and gives the new customer some sincere

"strokes" and assurance that he did the right thing: He was painting the picture of a salesperson who cares, who appreciates your business, who is going to look after your needs as they arise. He was assuring the customer that "just because you made the purchase doesn't mean I'm going to lose interest." He was painting a picture of a salesperson who is people- and service-oriented. That is the way you make more sales and build a solid sales career in the process.

23

Picture Selling for Bigger,

Permanent Sales

The "Repetition" Close

Now I'm going to stick my neck out just a little, although not very much, because you've heard this one so many times. I'm going to give you a word picture and then I want you to write in the product name before you look below for the answer. "The pause that refreshes." Even though it's been over forty years since they've used it, the picture is stil clearly in your mind. Next picture: A group of young people playing, laughing, singing, running, and just having a marvelous time. Which generation are they? . Now we see an athlete performing and then sitting down for the "Breakfast of Champions." Which cereal?

In each one of these examples the company or product, through repetition and the use of word pictures, has built name recognition while conditioning us to expect a particular result when we buy those products. These repetitions and

"pictures" are strong invitations for us to get a Coke, a Pepsi, or a bowl of Wheaties.

If your presentation or demonstration is fifteen minutes or longer, you need to build in repetitive benefit phrases which suggest that those who buy from you enjoy certain benefits which those who don't buy from you can never enjoy.

These phrases should have continuity: "This tightly seals al escapes"; "This keeps the heat out and the cold in"; "Electricity savings are substantial"; "The money you save is yours, not the utility company's";

"Invest your savings in your future."

Every Good Salesperson Paints Pictures

Good mechanics and conscientious doctors al do exactly the same thing. The doctor says, "It's not cancer-yet." The mechanic says, "No, I don't think you need a major overhaul-yet." The word yet paints a picture of fear in the prospect's mind.

Question: Would you want a doctor who wouldn't put a little fear into your heart that if you didn't do something, that benign tumor might become cancerous?

Would you want a mechanic who wouldn't let you know that if you didn't replace your brake pads fairly soon, you'd end up spending five times as much money?

Thinking as a salesperson/customer, what do you think about the salesman who is not aggressively concerned enough about the customer to take a certain

is not aggressively concerned enough about the customer to take a certain amount of risk in actively encouraging the prospect to make one or two more purchases to increase the effectiveness or enjoyment of the purchases already made? Motive is the key word. If you encourage the prospect to buy more merchandise solely because you can earn more, you are a "peddler." If you encourage the prospect to buy more items for his benefit, you are a

"professional," and both of you benefit.

When you paint that prospect into the picture and tie the companion sel ing to it, you're going to sel more merchandise-and cut down on the travel and shopping time of your customer. It is true-you can have everything in life you want if you wil just help enough other people get what they want.

The "Menu" Close

One of the most liberal uses of picture-painting words I've ever seen is the menu for the Hyatt hotels. I'm looking at one from Indianapolis, Indiana, and the descriptive adjectives they use real y paint beautiful pictures to "close" you on ordering not just this one food item but more different items.

Their imagination certainly ran rampant on these. Here are a few samples.

The heading is "Sensuous Salads. California Painter's Palate. A colorful array of the season's freshest berries, bananas, melons, pineapples, and grapes surrounding separate scoops of frozen yogurt and cottage cheese on a palate of watermelon."

Or get a load of this one: "Spinach Supreme. A tumultuous arrangement of fresh spinach leaves mingled with enok mushrooms, crisp chips of bacon, and ripe tomato, with our superb hot honey bacon dressing."

And this one is not bad either: "For Protein Lovers. Mr. Chopped Sirloin conducts an orchestra of fresh vegetables, fruits, and eggs to an audience of shredded lettuce with an accompaniment of frozen yogurt and cottage cheese."

Here's another. "The Tivoli. A bountiful garden sandwich of fresh avocado sprouts, Swiss cheese, tomato, and head lettuce on honey wheat bread amidst a symphony of fresh, raw vegetables with our Esquire Sauce for dipping."

The Rusty Scupper® doesn't do badly, either. Just look at the next twenty-nine words. "Crab and Cheddar. A feast worthy of King Neptune himself!

words. "Crab and Cheddar. A feast worthy of King Neptune himself!

A generous helping of crab salad under melted cheddar cheese, al gril ed and served open-face on sourdough bread."

This one is short and sweet, too. "Avocado, Shrimp, and Bacon. Tasting is believing! Tempting avocado and Pacific bay shrimp topped with Canadian bacon comes to you open-face on sourdough bread. French fries come along, too."

Yes, sir, those folks real y are word merchants. They know how to throw the words around to describe their food, and since I've eaten at both these places on several different occasions, I'm here to tel you they deliver what they sel . It's good!

The "Oooh and Aaah" Close

During the years I worked with Bernie Lofchick and World Wide Distributors, I was presented with many unusual opportunities. Never wil I forget when World Wide started sel ing fine Bavarian china. Bernie had gone to Germany and negotiated an agreement with a manufacturer of beautiful Bavarian china. He was permitted to select his own patterns and even had some specifical y created for his company. This presented a rather unique opportunity for the use of word pictures and imagination.

In sel ing hope chest items to single girls, the "romance" or "story" associated with any pattern presented was especial y important. Everything was in place and al set for al of the patterns except one, which was a unique and beautiful pattern; but without the proper presentation Bernie felt it would not be accepted in the marketplace.

At the eleventh hour, the night before the convention when the new china was to be presented, Bernie and I final y came up with an idea. On the day of the convention we presented the china to the sales audience and they were wildly enthusiastic about the quality and beauty, as wel as the finer points involved with a truly quality product. One by one the different patterns were presented, and since a matter of taste is always involved, the various salespeople responded to the different patterns according to their own taste preferences.

When the magic moment arrived for this one pattern to be presented, I paused, looked at the audience, smiled, and said, "Now, folks, just before you take this

looked at the audience, smiled, and said, "Now, folks, just before you take this pattern from your sample case and show it to the girl, here's what you want to say. Look at her, smile broadly, and say, `Now, Mary, this next pattern is what we cal the "Oooh and Aaah" pattern. We cal it that because when a girl sees this one she either says "Oooh" or "Aaah,"

which is exactly the same thing your dinner guests wil be saying for the rest of your life as you use this pattern."'

At that point I removed the dinner plate from the sample case, held it up in front of the audience, and sure enough-without exception-everyone there said either

"Oooh" or "Aaah." This particular pattern became a runaway best-sel er and World Wide Distributors sold more than twice as much of this pattern as they did any of the other patterns. This might have happened in any event, but Bernie Lofchick is absolutely convinced that the introduction of the pattern to the entire sales force with that little touch is what made the difference.

You Can Use It This Way

Again, I urge you to adapt this approach to your own situation. For example, if you're in a ladies' apparel shop and your prospect has been having difficulty choosing the right dress or outfit, I encourage you to have an "Oooh" or "Aaah"

outfit. If you are perceptive, by the time you have spent a few minutes with your prospect, you wil have a feel for what she real y likes. Most of the finer shops have those unique outfits that were "made for"

the particular shopper. However, many times the prospect is indecisive and vacil ates between choosing one outfit over another. At the right moment-and that definitely is not the first three or four outfits you show-when your prospect shows she is a little confused as to what to purchase, you say to her, "I just remembered something which I believe is what you're looking for. As a matter of fact, let me tel you that when your husband [or boyfriend] sees you in this, he's probably going to say either Òooh' or "Aaah."' Then smilingly say, "So in reality this is our Òooh' or Àaah' outfit."

Obviously, this approach wil fit some prospects better than others.

The same basic approach can be used when you have a particularly gorgeous view in a home you're showing or when you're sel ing a fine automobile with a unique appearance. This approach would also be applicable in the sale of fine jewelry, inspiring paintings, beautiful furniture, or any number of other items

jewelry, inspiring paintings, beautiful furniture, or any number of other items which we al merchandise. You could even expand it to a set of golf clubs. The salesperson, in explaining the clubs, can smilingly say to the prospect, "When you hit this driver off the tee, the rest of the foursome wil probably say Òooh' or Àaah."'

Warm, descriptive words paint pictures, and those pictures and sounds do have a substantial impact on the buyer's decision whether or not to buy.

Yes, words do make a difference, so you, too, need to be a "word merchant."

You must learn to use them in an effective picture-painting process in order to utilize the potential you have and reach your peak as a sales professional.

PART 5

The Nuts and Bolts of Selling

OBJECTIVES

To sel you on the benefits of objections and teach you how to cash in on them in the marketplace.

To teach you how to identify the different kinds of prospects and how to deal with them as individuals.

To demonstrate the question-asking technique and give you specific questions to use under sales circumstances.

To encourage you to be a little bold-or even audacious-in the sales process under some circumstances.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "Assumptive" Close Revisited

The "Trial" Close

The "Four Question" Close

The "Talking Pad" Close

The "Safety Valve" or "Punt and Pray" Close The "Alternate of Choice" Close Revisited

The "Wheeler Which" Close

The "Obligation" Close

The "Similar Product" Close

The "Similar Product" Close The "Right Experience" Close

The "Deserve It" Close

The "Reason-Excuse" Close

The "Choice" Close

The "Tie Down" Close Revisited

The "Permanent Customer" Close

The "Disclosure" Close

The "Minor Decision" Close

The "Tennis Racket" Close

The "Ben Franklin" Close

The "Pedestal" Close

The "Hat in Hand" Close

The "Mother" Close

The "Pressure Permission" Close

24

Objections The Key

to Closing the Sale

The very word objection strikes fear in the hearts of insecure and/or beginning salespeople. In reality it should create excitement, because as I wil repeat a little later, the indication of an objection is an expression of interest, and that's the first thing a salesperson should be looking for.

There are as many different kinds of objections as there are kinds of prospects, so there are many approaches and variations in the way you handle each one of

so there are many approaches and variations in the way you handle each one of them. The subject is both broad and deep and is one of the most important covered in this book. I urge you to combine and adapt this information with your own company materials and applications, as wel as explore the subject with sales leaders in your own industry.

Selling on Objections

I can state with considerable confidence that in most cases involving significant purchases, if you do not encounter objections from the prospect when you make your presentation, you do not have a prospect. When your prospect raises an objection, you ought to grin internal y and think to yourself, Oh, boy! I've got a live one today! Just remember, if al the benefits and values of your product were obvious to the prospect, the salesperson (that's you) would not be necessary.

Also remember that if everybody instantly bought your product, commission rates would drop dramatical y.

No Objections-No Prospect

For example, if you were to cal on me sel ing scuba-diving equipment, I'd never raise an objection to the equipment. If you offered to sel me the complete outfit, guaranteed for fifty years for $9.95, I would never object because I have no interest.

If you were to try to sel me golf clubs, I might object by saying, "That shaft is too stiff [or not stiff enough]." A comment like that should bring a grin, because then you can say, "What you need is our new graphite shaft." If a person is interested in what you are sel ing, he is, in most cases, going to offer some kind of an objection, so when the prospect raises an objection, you ought to get excited.

As far as objections are concerned, the question most frequently asked is, "When should you answer the objection?" Actual y, there are four times to handle objections: (1) before they occur, (2) when they occur, (3) later, and (4) never.

On the last one, however, let me explain something. The objection might seem frivolous or irrelevant to you, but if the prospect raises it the second time, you can rest assured it is important to him. You'd better handle the objection at that time or he wil feel that you are ignoring it, that you have either no interest in him or no answer to the objection.

As we deal with objections, let me emphatical y state that I believe a highly

As we deal with objections, let me emphatical y state that I believe a highly motivated, skil ed, professional salesperson can strip a prospect of al objections and make him look and feel utterly ridiculous if he doesn't buy. With this procedure a salesman can intimidate or "high pressure" some prospects into buying. I also believe that some salesmen can be so persuasive and charming they can "hypnotize" their prospects into buying products, goods, or services which are not needed or are grossly overpriced. However, no salesman is so hypnotic in his presentation that he can keep the prospect hypnotized and feeling good about the purchase until the product is delivered and paid for.

With this in mind, I'm convinced high-pressure or overpriced sales are easily the two worst things which can happen to a sales career. In either case the sale wil probably be canceled, and neither approach wil build customers, which is a must if you are going to build a sales career.

Along these lines, retired communications and time-management expert Dan Bel us says too many salespeople make the mistake of thinking the sales process is a

"win" for the salesman and a "loss" for the customer. With this attitude, Dan says, the salesman gets the feel ing he's got to

"defeat" the other person. He then raises the question, "Can you honestly expect someone you just `defeated' to buy something from you?"

The communication process demands that we approach the handling of objections in a convincing manner rather than a "defeating" manner. Our objective is not to defeat but to convince and then persuade. The point at which we "defeat" someone is the point at which we lose understanding and communication and, hence, the sale. He gives this example: A tourist was watching two Asians in Hong Kong who were real y going at each other hot and heavy with language which almost turned the air blue!

As they stood there, the observer asked the Asian guide, "What are they talking about?" The guide said, "They're having a discussion about ownership of a boat."

The tourist said, "They're getting so wrought up, aren't they going to start fighting pretty soon?" The guide said, "No, they'l never start fighting because each one of them knows the man who strikes the first blow admits his ideas just gave out."

The same thing happens when we let a conversation develop into an argument.

When we start arguing, our ideas have just given out.

When we start arguing, our ideas have just given out.

Communication-or in this case persuasion-no longer takes place.

To properly set the stage for dealing with objections, let me explain by way of analogy what my brother, who was one of the top sales trainers in the country, had to say. Judge explained that some people won't buy because the night train no longer runs from Buffalo to New York City. You might reasonably ask what the night train from Buffalo to New York City has to do with your prospect's not buying from you. Obviously, as Judge said, it has nothing to do with his not buying from you, but if a prospect does not want to buy, one excuse is as good as another.

Message: Give every cal your very best. Make every effort to extend your goods, products, and services to the person you're dealing with. But if he does not buy, do not beat yourself to death as a result of it. Walk away and mental y prepare yourself to make the next sale on the next cal .

Remember that you haven't failed on the sales cal unless you let it negatively affect your attitude on your next sales cal .

Answer in Advance

First, let's look at the best time to answer the objection-which is before it occurs.

Incidental y, if you are consistently getting the same objections after your presentation, it is a sure sign your presentation is in trouble. You need to analyze the presentation so you wil be able to handle most objections in the body of the presentation. This approach enables you to answer the objection before it occurs, which means you are sel ing on the offense instead of defensively responding.

This is far more positive and effective.

Here are a couple of examples of how to handle your objections in the body of the presentation before the prospect verbalizes them.

Years ago I sold a food machine. You probably saw these machines demonstrated on television, at the state fairs and food shows, or in local department stores. After demonstrating the machine for several months, I could flat make it talk! I'd put that food in the hopper and it came out about ninety miles an hour, sliced, diced, cubed, minced, waffled, shredded, chipped, curled, shoestrung, etc.

The group of prospects would sit or stand around "ooohing" and "aaahing" as the food came tumbling from the hopper in precise order. However, two objections would almost always arise. General y one of the husbands would lean over and whisper to his wife in a voice you could only hear about three blocks away,

"Yeah, he can make that machine do tricks, but I'l bet if you bought one you could never do that!" That was a standard objection, fol owed in short order by another when one of the ladies would comment, "It looks to me like you'd cut your hand on that thing, too!"

Make It Believable

These objections were so standard we knew we had to deal with them positively and in advance if we were going to sel the machines in quantity.

Here is the way Harry Lemmons, the founder and president of The Saladmaster Corporation, taught me to handle this one. When I had quickly and easily cut three or four foods, I looked at the group and said, "Now, folks, many times those who attend these demonstrations watch me operate this food machine and ask, `Mr. Ziglar, if I bought one of those machines, could I do what you're doing?'

"I'm going to be frank with you and say, emphatical y not. There is no way you're ever going to be as good at running this machine as I am. Now that's not vanity, ladies, that's just a fact. Let me explain. For several hours every day al I do is turn this crank, and just look at what's happening [I was cutting food as I talked]. See how beautiful the food is and how easy the machine is to operate?

To be fair, ladies, I make it look easy because I am a specialist with this machine.

"Now ladies, when you get your machine [there's my first assumptive buying suggestion], by necessity you are going to be a'general practitioner.'

While you are using your machine, you're also going to have to be looking after the children, answering the telephone, running the vacuum cleaner, chasing the dog out of the house, and doing a hundred and one other things.

All I've got to do is turn the crank, so I should be pretty good at it."

Selling What the Product Does

They believed what I was saying, but at that point I had not sold a single machine, which was the purpose of the demonstration, so I continued my presentation. "If you won't be as effective as I am with the machine, you

presentation. "If you won't be as effective as I am with the machine, you probably wonder just how good you wil be at saving time and money plus serving more attractive foods to your family. Here's the answer.

"We could take this lady right here [and I'd always pick out a young lady close to the front], give her five minutes to read the instructions, and with the machine she wil cut more food better and faster than any three other ladies in the room if I gave them the three sharpest knives in town. Chances are good they've been using knives al of their lives and our machine operator has never used the machine. The reason she wil cut more food better and faster with the machine is simple. She has the machine that does the work. While she won't be able to use this machine as wel as I do, she wil be able to do more than the three ladies with the knives because she has the machine that does the job, and that's what you real y want-isn't it, ladies?" (Nodding heads.)

The "Trial" Close

That seemed to satisfy that objection pretty wel . At this time I would cut two or three other foods, remove the first blade from the machine, and use my first trial close by saying, "Now, ladies, as you can plainly see, the machine has five blades. I've used only one blade to cut these first six foods, but let me ask you a question. If the machine had only this one blade [and now I lowered my voice and looked them in the eye], how many of you have already decided you sure would like to have your own food machine? Can I see your hands, please?"

Almost without exception several of the ladies and even more of the men would nod their heads, hold up their hands, or verbal y indicate they wanted a machine.

I've always felt it was cruel and unusual punishment to require a prospect to listen to the entire presentation after he told me he was ready to buy, before I took his order and accepted his money. In my judgment, you should be nice to folks and let them buy whenever they are ready, instead of insisting they listen to the entire presentation before you permit them to buy. (Note: In group sel ing you need an assistant to handle these impulse buyers while you continue your demonstration.) Caution! Many times a prospect in a group wil respond as if he wants to buy when in reality he is just being pleasant and agreeable. It's difficult to tel the difference, so experience and common sense are important.

Humor Can Be Invaluable

At this point I would cut two or three more foods and deal with the second major

At this point I would cut two or three more foods and deal with the second major unspoken objection by saying, "Many times I've had ladies ask me,

`Mr. Ziglar, if I bought that machine, could I cut my hand with it?"' To this I would smilingly respond, "Yes, ma'am, you can, but we don't recommend it."

(Many times you can do more with humor than you can by being dead serious.) Then I would say, "Ladies, if you want to cut your hand with the machine, it's very simple. Al you have to do as you turn the crank is to insert your finger at the very back of the hopper so that it's trapped between the blade and the hopper itself. If you are coordinated, you insert your finger as you turn the crank. This way the red comes out right over here

[pointing to the front of the hopper and obviously smiling broadly]!

"Now, ladies, if you don't want to cut your hand, keep it out of the machine! Any questions?" This approach apparently dealt with the handcutting objection beautiful y because we seldom heard that particular objection again.

As you know, I dealt with price at great length in the first segment, but since it is an "objection," I want to include one final word on the subject in this section.

Too Much Money

Objection: "Costs too much." Answer: "I'd be inclined to agree with that, Mr.

Prospect, because good things aren't cheap and cheap things aren't good. Our company had a choice. We could either design the prod uct to do as little as possible so we could sel it as cheaply as possible, or we could design and build it to do as much as possible so in the long run your cost would be substantial y lower.

"It is more than just a cliche, Mr. Prospect, to say you should invest in the best in the beginning, or pay for thèget by' in the end. So why substitute thèget by' for the best? When our company made the decision to build the best product possible to do as many things as possible, we actual y placed ourselves in your shoes and tried to determine what would be best for you. That's the reason we unhesitatingly recommend this product so highly."

"The price is high." "I don't think there's any question about the price being high, Mr. Prospect, but when you add the benefits of quality, subtract the

Mr. Prospect, but when you add the benefits of quality, subtract the disappointments of cheapness, multiply the pleasure of owning something good, and divide the cost over a period of time, the arithmetic comes out in your favor."

"The price is high." "Yes, it is, Mr. Prospect; however, in the final analysis a product is worth what it can do for you, not what you have to pay for it. If it costs you a hundred dol ars but does you a thousand dol ars' worth of good, then by any yardstick you've bought a bargain, haven't you?"

Cost Is Not the Determining Factor

On December 16, 1982, pitcher Floyd Bannister signed a five-year, $4.5 mil ion contract with the Chicago White Sox. He chose the White Sox over the Atlanta Braves, who offered him a six-year contract worth $6.3 mil ion. That's $1.8 mil ion more than the White Sox offered and the Braves had won their division pennant in 1982.

As a prospect, Floyd Bannister obviously considered some things more important than money. Here's what Floyd's wife (in chapter 32 I elaborate on why you should get both husband and wife involved in the decision-making process), Jana, had to say: The Sox showed interest in Floyd as a person, not as a commodity. Until late in the negotiations, they were not real y in the running, but we kept an open mind. When it came time to make a decision, it was important to us that [White Sox owner] Jerry Reinsdorf and [White Sox pitching coach]

Dave Duncan flew to Arizona and took us out to dinner. It also was important that [White Sox manager] Tony LaRussa cal ed Floyd several times, and a couple of White Sox players, Carlton Fisk and Tom Paciorek, also cal ed.

Jerry Reinsdorf commented, "With Floyd we were dealing with somebody entirely different than the average player. The city and his teammates were just as important to him as money. I'd say fifty-fifty."

Other factors in the decision were (1) a spacious home park more suitable for Bannister's fly-bal pitching, (2) an opportunity to remain in the American League, and (3) a city where he had friends and relatives.

Al those things were important, but I know Floyd Bannister wel enough to know his priorities. He puts God first, family second, and his basebal career third. He

his priorities. He puts God first, family second, and his basebal career third. He weighed the offers of al the clubs and made his decision based on his priorities. I insert Floyd's story in Secrets of Closing the Sale because it reinforces what the sales pro has learned throughout his career. Find out what your prospect real y wants and show him how your goods, products, or services can better help him achieve his objectives, and you wil make the sale.

Price is important but it is only one of many important factors. If you have a price advantage, you obviously utilize it to the maximum. If you don't have it, then do what the White Sox did in signing Floyd Bannister-capitalize on your other advantages. Of course, as Sherlock Holmes would say,

"That's elementary, my dear Watson."

Maybe You've Got the Wrong Person

Caution: Many times when you've dealt with a series of objections and the prospect continues to bring up other ones, you should understand that maybe you're talking to the wrong person. It could be that this man or woman real y is not the decision maker. He or she may have to confer with someone else, like the purchasing agent, the president, or a mate. Your prospect could be stal ing and saving face by not admitting he can't make the decision.

To determine whether or not this is the case, this pleasant but direct approach used by John Hammond is most effective. "Mr. Prospect, I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I honestly believe that because of the versatility of our product and the nature of your need, our product is the answer to any questions which you might raise. But before we go any further, may I ask you a question?"

If the prospect says yes, then say: "If I can answer your question to your satisfaction that this is the right product at the right time and at the right price, are you personal y in a position to give me an order for the product today, and would you be wil ing to do so?"

Chances are excel ent if it's handled properly and he cannot make the decision, you wil be able to determine this and save yourself a great deal of time. If he acknowledges that he cannot make the decision, then you need to make an appointment-with his help-with the person who can make the decision.

Again, I emphasize if you are encountering the same objections repeatedly, chances are excel ent that your presentation is in trouble.

Objections Are Consistent

To repeat myself, the best time to deal with an objection is before it occurs. As a general rule, most of the same objections are occurring after each of your presentations. If this is the case, you need to make a recording of your presentation (covered in chapter 5) so you can careful y analyze the points you are covering and the manner in which you are covering them. Chances are at least ten to one you wil discover you are pretty "wordy"

and are missing some key points. You are probably elaborating too much on the points which interest you but which might not be of particular interest to the prospect.

It's important you understand that you should already be sold and, hence, you're not trying to sel yourself again. You are trying to sel the prospect. It makes sense to sit on the prospect's side of the table, anticipate the objections which historical y you've been getting, then answer those objections in your presentation.

25

Objections Are Consistent

Objectors Aren't

In no particular order I wil first identify the different kinds of prospects and then I wil give some basic guidelines in one to five sentences as to how you can deal with them.

First, there is the antagonistic prospect, then the skeptical, the gul ible, the egotistical, the know-it-al , the procrastinator, the hostile, the indecisive, the dominant "tough guy," the big spender, the conservative penny pincher, the critical prospect, the bargain hunter, the good-time Charlie, and the stone face.

On the humorous side, you have the animal prospect who is going to "bear" it in mind; the insomniac prospect who is going to "sleep on it"; the musical prospect who wil make a "note" of it; and the playful prospect who is just "feeling out the market."

Yes, there are many kinds of prospects and I wil repeat part of this as I deal with

Yes, there are many kinds of prospects and I wil repeat part of this as I deal with the various ones. There are two things you real y need to know about al of them.

Number one, according to sales trainer Thom Norman, they al want to be right and they want to be understood. The second thing you need to understand is that, as the late Charles Roth would say, at the point of purchase al of them are afraid they're going to make a mistake, particularly if a significant amount of money is involved, and as a result, actual y they are "not quite normal." It has been proven that at the point of decision a purchaser's heartbeat actual y increases. Fear is there and fear affects judgment, so I suppose in the truest sense of the word we could say they're not quite normal. Therefore, al prospects want reassurance that they are making the right decision.

Convince the Prospect. Let's also remember as we deal with the prospects what Dan Bel us says: "The objective is not to defeat the prospect but to convince him if he makes the purchase he's going to be happier and better off as a result."

Another thing to remember is this basic formula that Cavett Robert described: As objections are raised, regardless of the kind of prospect you have, al the way from the gul ible to the hostile, we first of al should act delighted about the objection and assure the prospect this objection is not going to be a problem when he has seen the remaining portion of the presentation (objections thrive on opposition, but they die with agreement).

Second, we treat the objection as a question and then use that question as the catalyst to get the prospect involved in the sales process. Third, we get the commitment-this is the only question-and fourth, when possible, use the objection as the reason he should buy and urge him to go ahead and do exactly that.

Don't misunderstand: No single formula or procedure can or wil fit every sales situation or objection you are going to encounter. However, this basic formula or procedure, when completely mastered, wil give you a solid foundation which permits you to move easily into those situations which are not tailor-made for the formula itself.

As we delve further into the objections, and as we have already done with some in this book, I hope you notice we general y, but not always, fol ow that basic formula. I urge you to keep this formula in mind, because as we deal with the various objections, it would be redundant to keep reminding you of it.

Prospects Want to Say Yes

I remind you that prospects do not want to say no, because no is final and, as stated earlier, the prospect is just as eager to have his needs met as you are to help him meet them. This is something most people are reluctant to do.

Remember that objections are not a reflection on you and you should not take them personal y. Keep your cool and your chances of making the sale are greatly enhanced.

I also ask you to remember that you are not a lecturer when you are dealing with the prospect. It's not a question of you talking and the prospect listening. The best way to make the sale is to get the prospect involved. That's why the question technique is used throughout this book. That's the technique used by good doctors and good lawyers as they probe and search for the best ways they can identify the problem so they can come up with solutions.

These Are Easy

Let's start with the easy prospect first. "Gary Gul ible" himself. Bless his heart, he's the one who gives al of us hope because he certainly brightens our day when we encounter him. He's the kind who stil believes the moon is made of green cheese. You deal with him in an open, straightforward way. Tel him lots of human-interest stories. He's more likely to buy because he likes and trusts you than for any other reason. He responds to persuasion but is offended with speed and pressure. Deal with him gently but confidently.

The second prospect is "Sidney Skeptical," who demands a bacteria count on the milk of human kindness and is so cynical he thinks someone pushed Humpty Dumpty. Not only is he skeptical, but in many cases he wil be argumentative as wel . I especial y remind you on this one that the skeptical, antagonistic prospect wants to be right and he wants to be understood. With this in mind, when he raises a dogmatic objection with a little anger, cynicism, or sarcasm hidden underneath it, you should respond by saying, "I'm delighted you raised that question, Mr. Prospect, and to make absolutely certain I clearly understand what you're saying, would you mind repeating it?"

This does two things: It indicates an honest effort on your part to be fair, and it also indicates you place considerable importance on what the prospect is saying.

Additional y, when he repeats his objection, chances are good he wil substantial y reduce the tone of the objection.

y reduce the tone of the objection.

In dealing with skeptical, antagonistic prospects, it's important you not try to argue or contradict what they're saying, even if they are wrong. First, let them finish saying what they have to say; get it off their chest; blow off that steam. Once that is out of their system and they've seen that you are interested and concerned about them, your chances of penetrating their minds and closing the sale, as the late John M. Wilson would have said, are increased substantial y.

When the prospect brings up a dogmatic or strong statement in objection form, you pleasantly say, "Your question pleases me, Mr. Prospect, because it gets to the very heart of the matter, and since that is what I like to do, it indicates we are on the same page."

The third prospect (soon to be known as "Hostile Helen") is cut from the same bolt of cloth, but one important thing to remember is that she is probably hostile for a reason. It could be because she's been abused or misled by a salesperson in the past. It could be something as simple as a previous salesman's not listening to her complaint.

One of the secrets is to get "Hostile Helen" talking. As she expresses her anger you fal back on one of the oldest of the old (known to sales trainers as the

"Three-F principle") as you say, "I know exactly how you feel. Others in the past have felt the same way [pause]. They found when they had al the facts there was some justification in the procedure which was fol owed. They felt any mistake which might have been made was a mistake of the head and not of the heart.

"Incidental y, Mrs. Prospect, one of the things that pleases me about what you're saying is this: I have found that most people who are as frank and open [don't you dare say "angry" or "hostile"] as you are turn out to be more receptive. They are open and fair-minded when they have their questions answered, so I'm pleased you bring your concerns forward in such an open manner."

He Can't Decide-on Anything

Then there's "Indecisive Ivan," who wanted to start a procrastinators' club but decided to wait until later. Ivan simply cannot make a decision. He's somewhat like the fel ow who went to the psychiatrist and the psychiatrist said to him, "I understand you have trouble making decisions." The fel ow responded, "Wel , yes-and no." The indecisive prospect is the kind of person who is in many ways the unhappiest of al people. He can't decide what to have for lunch, much less decide on a major purchase such as a home, a car, a major investment, or a life insurance program. He takes a pep pil to get charged up to do something, then mixes it with Valium so if nothing happens it won't bother him.

The way to deal with him is to win his confidence, which you do, as I've repeatedly said, by being the right kind of person. Demonstrate considerable empathy; move to his side of the table; let him know you're on his side; reassure him that, yes, he is making the right move. Your own conviction and belief that your product is what he should buy wil be the determining factor. Remember, he's having trouble deciding if he should buy. If you have any doubts that you should sel , you can rest assured that he won't buy. Push him-be firm but not harsh.

Inner pressure is a key factor. You apply this by asking even more questions than you normal y would. Later in this segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale, I wil demonstrate in considerable detail exactly how you ask questions and I wil give you numerous examples. Incidental y, at this point I have used over five hundred questions in this book. I'l bet that surprises you, doesn't it? That was another question, wasn't it?

Another type of prospect, identified by Jim Savage as "Betty Bargain Hunter"

and sometimes known as "Cautious Charlie," always wants a little better deal than anyone else. She considers every purchase a "contest." She's got to feel she is the "winner," and she won't be happy unless she gains some kind of concession. You can handle this one in two ways: First, you say to her that one of the beautiful things about working with this company is the fact that you treat everyone in the same manner. She can buy your product with the complete assurance that no one-but no one-is going to get a better offer from the company than she did and that her offer makes her a winner. General y speaking, that's what she wants-the assurance that she is the winner-that she is the smart one-that she got your best offer.

Second, you can tie it down if there is something you as an individual can do for her personal y which not only guarantees no one got a better offer but that she got the best offer because she got you. It can be a personal service: "One thing I wil do for you that I normal y do not do is I wil personal y take your order to shipping and see that it is handled-at no extra cost to you-for immediate shipment today." Or "I wil personal y walk your credit through and save at least twenty-four hours for delivery." Or "Since I am going to be heading your way, I wil personal y be present when the equipment is instal ed to make certain it is to your exact specifications."

He's Painful-Make Him Profitable

The next prospect is "Oliver Obnoxious," the loudmouthed know-it-al . General y speaking, the obnoxious of the world are suffering from serious self-image problems and feel the only recognition they can gain is of a negative nature.

Attention is what they crave, so give them attention but in a firm and positive way. You also chal enge that individual. Aside from al of his bluster, in many cases underneath he is soft and mushy. He, too, wants to be right-he wants to be understood-he wants to be appreciated.

You chal enge him with statements like, "Our research indicates that only 3

percent of the population is in a financial position to purchase this product." Or

"These payments are going to be large, Mr. Prospect; can you handle one of ..."

Then quote the amount.

These obnoxious, know-it-al people also like to have their pride appealed to.

"This is a particularly nice suit," or "an especial y beautiful landscape theme. It certainly fits in with your taste and with your character because it puts you in an especial y elite group." This is real snob appeal, which is important to them.

Along these lines it is good to point out that the local television personality or sports hero also has "this particular model." (Say

this only if it is factual. As the late Bil Gove, one of the real pros in sales training, used to say, "Never lie or `loop."') The "I'm in a Hurry" Prospect To this list add "Heloise Hurry-up," the prospect who doesn't want to be bothered with the details. She wants the "facts, just the facts, I've got things to do, I'm in a hurry!" Many times these people real y are more interested in saving time than they are in saving dol ars. Be brief; be to the point; be businesslike; close the sale as quickly as you can; assure her that you'l handle the details, you'l take care of the delivery, you'l personal y see to it she gets exactly what she wants; then make absolutely certain you fol ow through.

Next comes "Jol y Jimmy," the playful, good-natured prospect who in many ways can be the most frustrating of al because on occasion he is impulsive and indecisive. He is far more likely to buy from someone he likes and enjoys being around. Make friends with him-laugh with him-be casual. Then-as a friend-encourage him to go ahead and take action now so he can enjoy the benefits now.

The Know-It-All Prospect

"Nora Know-It-Al " is out to impress you, so let her. You've certainly got nothing to lose. One word of caution: She might want to bend your ear al day, so be aware of the time factor. You might let her impress you by paying cash for the order and, in fact, a chal enge to do so could be the key in getting the order.

The same basic approach should be used with "Bobby Big Shot." He wants to feel important, so by al means, make him feel important. He wants to be on center stage, so let the spotlight shine on him. By the same token, he likes to know he is not dealing with "one of the boys," but rather someone who is qualified to handle his account. If you've set a few sales records or if you have accomplished something significant, work it in in a nonthreatening way so Mr.

Big wil know he's dealing with someone who is qualified to handle such an important person.

Just as we have the timid procrastinator who can't make a decision, we also frequently encounter "Impulsive Irene" who wil say yes or no in pretty short order. Once you've got her agreeing with you and you've headed her toward a sale, go ahead and close with conviction and with firmness. Get the order signed while she's at the top of her impulse.

while she's at the top of her impulse.

The Toughest of All

Sales trainer John Hammond identifies the toughest prospect as "Agreeable Al,"

the one who doesn't object at al . He "yeses" you al through the interview, smiles, nods, and agrees with everything. John handles him in this way: When he instinctively feels, early in the interview, this prospect is that kind and that he is not going to buy, John stops right in the middle of a sentence, smiles, leans forward, and says, "Mr. Prospect, do you mind if I ask you why you have decided not to accept this opportunity to take advantage of the benefits our product offers?" Then he stops-doesn't say another word.

"Agreeable Al" wil do one of two things. He wil say, "It's because. . ." and then he wil give you an objection which you can deal with, or he wil say,

"What makes you think I've decided not to buy?" If that's the case, you just ,go ahead and write his order. Good strategy, John.

There Are All Kinds of Prospects

I suppose if we made an effort, we could list a hundred different kinds of prospects: slow thinkers, fast thinkers, wrong thinkers, and nonthinkers; big spenders, conservative penny pinchers, criticals, bargain hunters, timid, assertive, impulsive, needler, argumentative, nonlistener, stone face, harassed executive, etc.

Then there are the old, the young, and the middle-aged; the male and the female; the rich and the not-so-rich; and everything between. Regardless of the prospect, everyone wants to be right, to be understood, to be appreciated. Al have physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. Our objective is to meet those needs so these prospects wil be our customers instead of remaining under a label as prospects.

Of course, as Bil Gove would laughingly say, "The problem with making a sale is you've just lost your best prospect."

One thing to remember is many times when prospects bring up objections in a dogmatic, antagonistic way, it is often a defense mechanism. Your prospect, for example, might suggest that "al salesmen are a bunch of crooks." The point is that as a salesperson you shouldn't take offense. One or two unfortunate

that as a salesperson you shouldn't take offense. One or two unfortunate experiences might have led him to this conclusion. Chances are excel ent he wants to find a truly professional salesperson who wil convince him that he has reached an erroneous conclusion. He might even want to buy something now.

That means the chances are excel ent he wants somebody to sel him something, and since you're there, it might as wel be you.

26

The Salesman's Friend

In handling objections, one of the most important things to do is ask questions.

As I've stated on several different occasions, questions help you to persuade the person to take action. Questions enable you to uncover the prospect's dominant buying motive, which you must do if you're going to be effective in sel ing.

Caution: Many times it is easy, when the customer vehemently brings up a complaint, for you to be too ready to agree with the prospect and take sides against your company. I urge you to proceed with extreme caution in dealing with the complaint. Fol ow the techniques we've been talking about. Act pleased that he has brought it up. Hear him out. Agree with him that, yes, there is a problem. Find out if that is his only problem. Assure him that you, the company, and in al probability the other salesperson want to clear the air and solve the problem to everyone's benefit. Then use that complaint as the main reason he should do business with you and your company.

After a strong complaint say, "Mr. Prospect, would you repeat exactly what happened so I can be certain I understand the situation and we can solve the problem?" You are acting as an arbitrator, as a go-between. You've not denied the right of the prospect, and neither have you put your company in an awkward position. That's good because when al the facts are known, the prospect could be (and often is) grossly overstating the case. If that is so and you make promises which you cannot keep, you wil look foolish, the company wil be further discredited, and the customer wil be even more "anticompany."

With this procedure you diffuse much of his anger without going behind the back of the other salesperson. This keeps his-and the company's-credibility intact.

The more violent the objection, the more critical it is that you fol ow this procedure, because reasonable people general y are not overly bel igerent or

procedure, because reasonable people general y are not overly bel igerent or vehement in their protests.

Objection or Question?

In dealing with objections, we need to make certain we're dealing with an objection and not a question. The way you tel the difference is simple. A question is an inquiry seeking information. How much does it cost? How long wil it take me to get it? Do you have it in green as wel as in yel ow?

Do you have a more expensive or a less expensive model? Do you have a bigger one or a smal er one? Those are questions which you answer.

General y speaking, questions are a sign of interest and are asked in the body of the presentation.

Under normal circumstances I've always believed in answering questions when they are asked, provided they do not completely disrupt the sales presentation itself. Example: If in the first part of the presentation the prospect asks, "What does it cost?" you might or might not want to answer it at that point, depending on whether your product is competitively priced or whether you're the top of the line. Experience, common sense, and judgment should dictate your approach if you have a definite price advantage.

If your product has definite quality and feature benefits but is not competitively priced, if possible you should avoid answering the price question until you have explained or demonstrated some of your benefits.

Here Are the Words

A direct answer to the prospect when he asks the price could be this: Smile pleasantly and say, "I'm coming to that in just a moment." Or "I'm pleased you're interested in the price. In a few minutes when I cover it you'l be glad you asked."

If the prospect persists, you might say, "I'd be pleased to answer, Mr. Prospect, but it would be somewhat like having to pay for a suit before you saw what you were getting. Al I want to do is make certain you see exactly what our benefits are so you can appreciate what a bargain you wil be getting."

Yet another answer, provided this fits, could be, "There are so many factors involved in price, such as size, model, terms, and delivery, I hesitate to answer before we have narrowed down the choices I can offer you."

When the prospect asks the price before you have had an opportunity to establish value or explain benefit, you could also handle it this way: Look at him, smile, and say, "That's the part you're going to be delighted with. I'm pleased that you are already interested enough to inquire about the price.

I'l get to it in just a moment." Then I would move along into the presentation itself.

Stay Tuned In to Your Prospect's Timing

The speed with which you move is important. Don't act like you're on the way to the races, but when you say you'l get to the price in a moment, quickly describe some attractive features and benefits that wil justify the price.

Let me emphasize that some prospects by nature are short on patience, and if they demand an answer in another minute or two, you could take this approach:

"Mr. Prospect, I appreciate your concern, and please know that I am not evading the issue. However, until we determine, as a result of our discussion, what your needs are, it would be impossible for me to give you a figure. My answer at this point might be too high or it might be too low. If it's too high, you might lose interest. If it's too low, then when I give you the true figure you would be disappointed."

At that point you move back into the presentation. If, however, the prospect again demands the price, I do not believe you can stal the issue any longer, so meet it head-on by giving him the highest possible price, including al the features, attachments, extras, or benefits which go with your product or service.

Do this by saying, "The highest possible price is," and then quote the figure.

"However, chances are good the actual figure wil be less when we've determined your exact needs. I suspect your primary concern is that the product meets your needs, isn't it, Mr. Prospect?" Wait for his answer, then move back into features and benefits.

If the prospect indicates the price was about what he had expected or even less than he thought it would be, you ask the closing question. "Since the product meets your needs and is easily within your price range, would you like to have me instal the equipment right away or do you have a specific date in mind?"

You Don't Have to Overcome All Objections

Throughout any interview or presentation you must remember that you are not in the "objection-answering" business. You do not have to answer al objections in order to make the sale. Realistical y, seldom, if ever, wil there be a situation in which your prospect likes everything about your product, goods, or services.

Fortunately, your prospect doesn't have to like everything in order to buy your product. Al the prospect has to do in order to be a customer is to like what you sel more than he likes what he wil have to exchange for it.

Example: I bought a suit despite the fact there were two things I didn't like about it. First of al , I wasn't too happy about the price, but with a little help from my friend (and then clothier) Doyle Hoyer and the Redhead, I was able to justify the price. (Everything is expensive, quality costs, long-lasting, you need to look successful, etc.) Second, I didn't like the fact that I would have to wear a belt with the trousers, but that was minor.

Despite those two objections I bought the suit because I real y liked the color and the way the suit fit. Additional y, when I slipped my suit on, my Redhead, who has got to be the world's number one hugger, snuggled up real close and said the suit felt good. 'Nuff said.

My major point is this: Often there wil be objections you'l be unable to answer.

There is even a slight chance the objection or question wil have no answer, so don't worry too much about it. When the prospect does bring up an objection, let me remind you that you are in the sales business and the objection, when properly handled, is a friend which can help make the sale.

You Are Not in the Objection-Answering Business

Many times young salespeople (in sales experience, not birthdays) or insecure salespeople acquire the mistaken idea they're in the objectionanswering business.

As a result of this misguided thinking, they actual y encourage or chal enge the prospects to raise additional questions or objections. This is especial y true if the salesperson gives a sharp answer (in his own opinion, of course) to a tough question or objection. As a sales trainer, I have seen the salesman almost literal y fold his arms and stick his chin out, or by some other body language say to the prospect, "And I'l guarantee you I can handle the next one, too, so go ahead and shoot another one at me; just try me!"

With this attitude the sale is often lost because the prospect invariably gets the feeling the salesperson has an ego problem and is more interested in parading

feeling the salesperson has an ego problem and is more interested in parading sales knowledge than in solving his (the prospect's) problem.

Rephrase and Soften the Objection

Many times an objection can be softened a great deal by rephrasing it. For example, the prospect might say, "The quality of your product certainly leaves a lot to be desired. I don't believe it would last three weeks, much less the three years your warranty covers!" Pretty strong-but it can be largely neutralized or defused by rephrasing it. You do this by lowering your voice, looking directly at your prospect, and saying, "If I understand you correctly, you want to be certain the product has lasting quality and you're going to get dol ar value for every dol ar you invest. Is that your question, Mr. Prospect?" Or you could shorten it and say, "So your question is Is that right?" (Never say, "To answer your objection

...") Chances are excel ent he wil accept the rephrasing of his objection. (Most people overstate objections, especial y if at that moment they're not real y interested. This often discourages the salesperson and causes him to withdraw, which is what the prospect had hoped for.) From this softer, friendlier base you're in a much better position to move in a positive direction toward the sale.

This way you are using your sel ing skil s as a tool to persuade and not as a club to subdue. This works to the mutual advantage of you and your prospect.

Be Gentle When You Go on the Offensive

The comment most frequently made by the prospect is, "I'm just not interested."

Voice inflection and tone wil determine whether this is a mild objection, moderate objection, or strong objection.

If the objection is mild to moderate, you say, "I'm a little surprised to hear you say you're not interested, Mr. Prospect, because this would [state your product's major benefit]. However, I'm certain you have a good reason for your lack of interest. Would you be wil ing to share that reason with me?"

Once again, the bal is back in his court.

Sales trainer John Hammond says that since he started using this approach in 1957, only two prospects (he vividly remembers the details) have refused to give him their reasons for not being interested. John says this eliminates the guesswork as to why the prospect is not interested and enables you to deal directly with the real objection.

If the prospect's tone is harsh and dogmatic when he says, "Not interested," you

If the prospect's tone is harsh and dogmatic when he says, "Not interested," you should adopt the policy of the late Charlie Cul en and be a little audacious.

Repeat the words not interested in such a way you are making a statement and asking a question. (There's that voice inflection again.) By handling it this way you effectively force your prospect to deal with your statement, rather than having to be defensive yourself. It's much more effective.

When the prospect brings up any objection and you don't real y know why he brings it up, instead of guessing, you should ask, as sales trainer Lee DuBois suggests: "Obviously, Mr. Prospect, you have some good reason for saying that

[or "feeling this way"]. Do you mind if I ask what it is?"

(Stop-and wait for his answer.)

Think about It. Chances are excel ent if you've been in the world of sel ing for three days you've already dealt with a prospect who, after you have made your presentation, states, "I want to think about it." To put this into perspective as wel as to reveal something to you about human nature and prepare you to close the sale, let me share with you a procedure I fol ow when I present this information to a group.

I ask the group, "How many of you consider yourselves reasonably honest?" (Al hands go up.) Then I ask, "How many of you reasonably honest salespeople have ever told another salesperson that you wanted tòthink about it'?" (Again, al hands go up.) Then I ask, "How many of you reasonably honest salespeople, after you told the salesperson you were going tòthink about it,' honestly, legitimately, seriously, and careful y thought about the offer which had been made to you?"

At this point few, if any, hands go up. Then I ask, "Were yoùhonest' salespeople by any chance trying to get rid of that salesman?"

The answer to-that-question could wel be yes or no. Actual y, sometimes the prospect does want to terminate the interview or get rid of the salesperson. The statement "I want to think about it" or "talk to my lawyer, my banker, my partner, my mate, etc." is a simple way to graciously end the sales interview.

However, there is another possibility.

Most people hate to use the word no because, as previously stated, it is so final.

When the prospect says no, that spel s the end of that relationship, and so, in an effort to avoid the use of the word no, they wil often come up with a number of made-up excuses. As salespeople, if we can understand this basic fact, it puts us in a stronger sales position, because as long as the prospect does not emphatical

in a stronger sales position, because as long as the prospect does not emphatical y say no, the possibility of a sale stil exists.

At this point it is important that as salespeople we must always remember we also are consumers and we need to be able to think as a buyer as wel as a sel er.

Obviously, this is the empathy I talk about in chapter 8. With empathy you are not part of the problem, but you understand the problem, which you can help solve if you understand the thinking of the prospect.

Actually, He Won't "Think It Over"

Don't overlook this major point. Your prospect who wants to "think it over," in the vast majority of cases, wil not actual y do that, just as you yourself probably wil not seriously think it over by weighing and evaluating al the pros and cons of the offer. In short, most prospects who want to "think it over" don't real y do that, so in far too many cases they are eventual y going to say no.

Obviously, circumstances vary. Again, common sense and experience should always be a factor, but as a guideline let me assure you that a no today is better than a no tomorrow. Obviously, ayes tomorrow is better than a no today, but I emphasize, when they don't want to make a decision for no apparent reason, in most cases they wil say no tomorrow.

It's better to have the no today than tomorrow for the simple reason it clears your mind. You can now pursue new prospects and not count on that one for a future sale. Once you count on a no prospect for a future sale, you fal into the trap of not prospecting for new prospects, and the sale you miss today wil cost you sales tomorrow.

Handle It This Way

There are a couple of ways you can effectively handle the "think about it" stal .

First, you can smile and say, "That's great! I'm delighted you want to think about it, because obviously you would not waste your time thinking about our offer if you were not interested. Therefore, I assume you want to think about it to help reduce the chances of error whether your decision is yes or no. Is that a valid assumption, Mr. Prospect? [Get an answer.]

Would you agree that the length of time you think about something is not the important point? If I'm reading you right [I use this phrase a lot] and I think I am, your prime objective is to be as certain as possible that you make the right

your prime objective is to be as certain as possible that you make the right decision, regardless of whether you think about it two minutes or two days. The right decision for you is what you're seeking, isn't it, Mr. Prospect?

"Businesspeople and efficiency experts agree that the best time to make accurate decisions is when you have the necessary facts which are unclouded with other issues of the day. This way you can be more certain your thought process is aimed at making the correct decision, based on factual information which is fresh in your mind. Forgotten facts or confused information wil almost always lead to a faulty decision. With this in mind, could we think together for a minute to make certain you arrive at the right decision, which is what you want, isn't it, Mr. Prospect?" (Wait for answer.)

The "Four Question" Close

"Actual y, there are only four questions you need to answer in your own mind and you've already voted yes on three of them. [Pause after each of these questions.] Do you like it? Do you want it? Can you afford it? The only remaining decision is: When do you want to start enjoying the benefits?

Obviously, you are the only one who can answer that question, but, Mr.

Prospect, may I ask you another question? [Pause.] The price wil remain constant or possibly increase. Since benefits and enjoyment can start only when you acquire the product, your only decision boils down to when you want to enjoy the benefits, doesn't it, Mr. Prospect? [Pause.] With this in mind, doesn't it make sense to vote yes for now benefits?"

Executive Mark Gardner, who was with E. F. Hutton and Company, Inc., in Houston, Texas, when this book was original y released, was more direct with this question: "Do you want to think about it because I may have overlooked some salient point in my presentation?" or "What is it you real y want to think about?" "Would you elaborate on this?" (After the answer, Mark continued.)

"Mr. Prospect, wouldn't you say that in order to make an intel igent decision you must have: 1. good access to the information;

2. expertise in order for you to evaluate;

3. perhaps a personal acquaintance with the management?

"Mr. Prospect, that is exactly what has been done here. What we are discussing

"Mr. Prospect, that is exactly what has been done here. What we are discussing are important business decisions.

"Very often people like yourself might say, `Let me think about it,' or `Let me cal you back.' What they are real y saying is that they don't like the idea. Let's speak frankly for a moment.

"Please-don't just be polite. Is there something you feel uncomfortable about?

Something else you want to know?

"As a businessman it's important for me to know. .

Here's another approach. If your prospect has a sense of humor and says he wants to think about it, you look at him, smile, and with an exag gerated hand motion, thrust your arm out to expose your wristwatch and say, "Go!" The late Dick Gardner, founder of the National Association of Sales Education (NASE), taught me that one and it general y gets a good, solid laugh. More importantly, it serves as a tension breaker and sales are made. Use this technique with discretion, but it's a safe bet that unless you are sel ing a life-or-death product, any time you can make your prospect smile or chuckle during the closing process you're ahead of the game.

Here's another, especial y if you're sel ing a lifetime product. "Mr. Prospect, it's just as inexpensive to have it al your life as it is to own it part of your life. With that in mind, it wil cost you a lot less per year, per month, per day, to own it from now on instead of waiting five years or even five months and then getting it. With that in mind, don't you think you ought to start enjoying the benefits now?"

Start Logically-End Emotionally

Remember that when you are dealing with a prospect who brings out objections, you need to start with a logical answer but you close with an emotional one. Our thinking brain is only 10 percent as large as our feeling brain. People are moved to buy more from an emotional point of view than they are from a logical point of view.

When objections are introduced and you handle them one by one in such a way the prospect likes you and trusts you, you can general y tel when you begin to make progress toward the sale. The prospect starts getting friendly, goes back for another look, picks up the product one more time.

another look, picks up the product one more time.

Sometimes he simply gets quiet and starts reading the agreement or some of the promotional literature which you have placed in front of him.

Suppose the prospect brings up a question or objection which you cannot answer. You respond this way: "That's obviously an important question, Mr.

Prospect, or you wouldn't have brought it up at this point in the interview. I commend you on your insight, but since no one else has ever raised the question, I don't have the complete answer. Since it is important to you, and quite frankly, to me as wel , I'd rather personal y get the information from our support personnel at the home office to make certain it is completely accurate. If that's satisfactory, I'l get back to you the first of the week."

Incidental y, you never say, "Do you understand what I'm saying?" Instead you ask, "Have I made myself clear?" or "Have I clarified this point to your satisfaction?"

27

Using Objections to Close the Sale

How Many Do You Answer? Many times I am asked, "How many objections should you answer before you attempt to close?" In my judgment, two to three should be the maximum number, and in most cases it wil just be two (remember-there is a difference between questions and objections).

When your prospect raises either the second or third objection (it wil vary according to the circumstances), look your prospect in the eye (your training in tone and voice inflection covered earlier wil be invaluable at this point) and say,

"Mr. Prospect, let me ask you a question. Is this the only thing which stands between you and ownership of or is there something else you need to consider?"

If the prospect says, "No, this is the only thing I'm concerned about," at that point you cover the objection and make a positive statement in question form. "I believe that answers your question, doesn't it?" If you get no response or a positive response, you continue, "I'm delighted I was able to answer your question, because I know you are going to love the product!" You assume the close because the prospect had said only one objection stood between him and ownership and you had secured agreement from him that the barrier (question,

ownership and you had secured agreement from him that the barrier (question, objection) had been removed.

The "Talking Pad" Close

Many times a prospect has more than one question or objection, so he could respond to the question in the last paragraph like this: "Wel , no, in addition to not being convinced the price is fair, I seriously question your ability to service the account, and frankly, your guarantee leaves much to be desired." When your prospect has expressed these three objections, you reach for your talking pad and write them down in abbreviated form as you say, "If I understand you correctly, Mr. Prospect, your prime questions are, number one, price." (Write the word price.) "Number two, you are concerned about our service." (Write the word service.) "And number three, you question our guarantee." (Write the word guarantee.) Now you have only three words on your talking pad: price, service, and guarantee. Look your prospect in the eye and say, "In other words, Mr.

Prospect, if you could convince yourself the price is competitive, that we have the ability to properly service the account, and our guarantee is more than fair, you would be comfortable in making ayes decision concerning our product. Is that what you're saying?" Get a commitment.

If the prospect says yes, then you go to the price objection and deal with it. I remind you that in chapters 5 and 24, I have dealt in great detail with how to handle this objection, so at this point you utilize that information. When you complete the handling of the price objection, you look at the prospect and make the statement in the form of a question: "Surely, Mr. Prospect, this satisfies you on the price, doesn't it? If it does, Mr. Prospect, then with your permission I would like to remove "price" as one of the questions. Is that al right?" (Nod your head as you cross out the word price.) Incidental y, "Is that fair enough?" "Does that make sense?" and "Is that al right?" are three of the strongest trial closing questions.

Remove the Barriers One by One

Next you deal with the service question or objection. At this point there is nothing more convincing than letters from satisfied customers who have specifical y dealt with the service aspect of your business. (These are the testimonials Mike Frank told us about in chapter 14.) Since this is a question of company stability and integrity, your membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, as wel as references to the size, age, and

and the Better Business Bureau, as wel as references to the size, age, and integrity of your company, is important. As you get the verbal and body-language feedback from your prospect, you conclude the service presentation by asking, "Does this answer your question as it relates to our service reputation?"

If it does, then ask, "May I then remove the question concerning our service capability?" As you ask the question, you assume a positive answer and literal y cross it out with your felt-tip or bal point pen.

"The third question, Mr. Prospect, had to do with the guarantee which we offer.

Let me start by saying that any guarantee is only as good as the company which offers that guarantee. As I have already demonstrated, we do represent a viable, solid business establishment. One thing I emphasize, Mr. Prospect, is that unless the guarantee is fair to both buyer and sel er, it has no value. If we, as a company, couldn't live with it, we would be out of business. Then, regardless of how extensive the guarantee might be, it would have no value. Our guarantee protects you from virtual y everything but human error and carelessness, as wel as abuse of the product. Our product, as I have demonstrated, is built for use but not abuse. We protect you from al manufacturing defects as wel as normal use. I believe, Mr. Prospect, that's your major concern, isn't it?"

Parade Your Strengths

Because each company has its own strong points, I urge you to learn what yours are and handle them accordingly. The prime consideration in dealing with objections like this is not to become defensive or in any sense of the word attack your prospect or raise your voice. "Mr. Cool" is the phrase here. Calm, quiet assurance is what the prospect is seeking. To repeat myself, it is at this point in the negotiation that your qualities as a person are just as important as your sales skil s. If you're the right kind of person and have acquired the professional skil s, you should lose very few sales because of objections.

After you have covered those objections, including that third one, look the prospect in the eye and say, "I believe, Mr. Prospect, in your own mind you feel pretty good about our guarantee, don't you?" Again, you assume the positive answer and, with a big smile, cross out the final objection.

At this juncture, you wil have utilized the information provided for you by your own company trainer and your company literature. One more time, Secrets of Closing the Sale was written primarily to reinforce your company efforts, not to replace them.

replace them.

When you have covered al three of the objections, you look at the prospect and say, "You know, Mr. Prospect, I wish everyone I deal with was as concise with their questions as you are, because if a person knows his own feelings, it makes it easier and more fun to demonstrate our products. I know that you are going to love this product!" With a big smile you extend your hand as you assume the sale.

Caution: Don't "overanswer" any one objection. First, it could indicate, in the mind of the prospect, you are defensive to the point you are uncertain about your product. Even worse, you could so overwhelm the objection that your prospect could be made to feel like an idiot for mentioning it. As we'd say down home,

"That ain't the way to sel 'em!"

The "Safety Valve" or "Punt and Pray" Close In handling objections, I personal y believe we al need to have what Dick Gardner cal ed "safety valves." Hal Krause cal s this the "Punt and Pray"

approach. Al experienced salespeople have been asked questions or have been confronted with objections which they know how to handle but, unfortunately, can't recal at the moment of need. When this happens you can't just clam up for a couple of minutes. Nor is it advisable to say, "I know the answer but can't think of it, so give me a minute or two and I'l give you the answer." Since you know the answer (assuming you do), you should develop some "safety valves" or "punt and pray" fil ers.

Here's the way they work. The prospect asks the question or raises the objection for which you have an answer but cannot immediately recal , so you "punt and pray" by saying, "I'm delighted you raised this question, because in my mind it is quite important. I commend you for having the interest and insight to explore this facet of our offer. [Obviously, if you can't sincerely say this, then the "pray"

part of "punt and pray" needs to be literal.] This interest and insight wil enable you to more completely utilize the services which we offer so you'l get the maximum benefit." By this time you should have recal ed the specific answer to the objection, so go ahead and answer it.

The same approach can be taken when you have the answer ready for use but you want to phrase it in the best possible way. For example, a doctor might need to think through the gentlest manner in which to deliver distressing medical news. A loving parent or mate wil want to soften distressing or upsetting news,

news. A loving parent or mate wil want to soften distressing or upsetting news, so voice tone, words, and manner play an important part. You know the answer, but delivering that answer is the tough part.

Play It Cool-Use a Safety Valve

Occasional y a prospect wil make a dogmatic statement which necessitates a built-in safety valve. For example, your prospect might say, "I wouldn't do business with that outfit you represent in a hundred years!" He's dogmatic, even a little vehement in his statement. Your "safety valve"

procedure is simple and effective. Lower your voice, look him in the eye, and say, "Mr. Prospect, it's obvious you feel quite strongly about this issue, so you must have an excel ent reason for feeling as you do. Would you mind sharing with me why you feel this way?"

Very soft, very quiet, but when you fol ow this procedure you wil remove much of the vehemence and emotion from the scene. Interestingly enough, in most cases you wil discover the problem involves a personality conflict, a communications gap, or some insignificant detail. However, regardless of its actual size, if it's big in the eyes of the prospect-it's big.

Regardless of its size or significance, this procedure brings the objection into the open so that you can deal with it. The key to this approach is not to take it personal y when the prospect attacks your company, its procedures and policies, or a past incident. Remember, if you lose your cool, you lose the sale.

The "Alternate of Choice" Close Revisited Much of this has been dealing primarily with the direct or in-house salesperson who has more time and who works under different circumstances from the salesperson who is in a regular retail outlet; hence, the answers and procedures are different. There also is the factor that virtual y al direct sales, whether in cosmetics, cookware, life insurance, vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias, some types of commercial printing, Girl Scout cookies, raffle tickets, etc., are general y sold on a one-cal basis.

If the prospect is in a retail store, after you have answered the objections you handle the final part in a slightly different way. You assume the close but you do so with an alternate of choice by saying-always pleasantly-"I'm delighted I was able to answer that particular question, because it's our function here at

able to answer that particular question, because it's our function here at Company to give our customers the best possible service. I know you wil enjoy this product a great deal, and of course, we're here to service it should there be any need. Now let me ask you, would you like to take the product with you or would you prefer that we deliver it to your door [assuming it's a product the customer could take with him or merchandise that you deliver]?"

Other alternates of choice on the close: "You seem to be leaning toward the red, or do you prefer it in blue?" Yet another: "Did you want us to use your charge card or were you going to handle it by check or cash?"

The "Wheeler Which" Close

The "Alternate of Choice" Close was original y identified during the 1930s by sales trainer Elmer Wheeler, who cal ed it the "Wheeler Which." He was commissioned by the Walgreen Drug chain to help their business. In those days al drugstores had soda fountains which contributed considerably to the profit structure as wel as to the flow of traffic in the store.

Malted milks, which sold for fifteen cents, were an extremely popular item in those depression years. One of the things they added to malted milks was eggs.

The price of each egg was an extra nickel, and since Walgreen's bought them for fifteen cents a dozen, the more eggs they sold in malted milks, the greater their profit.

When a customer ordered a malted milk, Elmer taught the clerks to hold up two eggs, smile, and ask, "One egg or two?" In the vast majority of cases, though they had not planned to order even one egg, the customers would take the easy way out and say, "One."

Walgreen's discovered that as many customers said "two" as said "none." The number of eggs they sold ran into hundreds of crates each week.

The impact on their profit structure was dramatic.

Sometimes the Alternate of Choice involves a very simple decision which wil carry a major decision. Example: In the sale of a home the real estate person can say, "One of the things I like to provide for my customers is a beautiful door knocker with your name inscribed on it. Tel me, Mr.

Prospect, would you want it in Olde English, Modern American, or Corinthian

Prospect, would you want it in Olde English, Modern American, or Corinthian Script?" Automobile salesmen, especial y those who sel the luxury cars, can and should offer personalized monograms for the dashboard or door, using the same basic approach.

Obviously, no one buys a home or luxury automobile to get a door knocker or monogram, and no close wil real y work if the customer does not want to buy.

What this close, as wel as the other closes, does for those people who want to buy and plan to buy is simple. It gives them an additional nudge in the form of a reason or excuse to go ahead and take the action now. In short, a good close is designed to get a decision and get the decision in your favor. Real y good closing makes every customer feel that he's buying, you're not sel ing. That feeling is what helps make him a permanent customer.

The "Alternate of Choice" Close is used hundreds of times every year by al of us. Again, regardless of what your job or profession might be, you sel every day.

Parent to child: "Do you want to cut the grass or wash the windows?"

Teacher to student: "Do you want to settle for a B or would you prefer to complete the assignment?"

Physician to patient: "Would you like to live longer or keep smoking?"

Attendant to car owner: "Would you like for me to rotate the tires and give you an extra five thousand miles or leave them as they are?"

Suitor to date: "Shal I pick you up at half-past seven or would eight o'clock be better?"

Waiter to diner: "Would you like soup or salad with your dinner?"

Patrolman to speeder: "Would you like to pay the speeding ticket now or do you prefer to go to court on the first of August?"

Point: Since al of us sel every day, doesn't it make sense to learn how to do it more effectively?

Specific Objections

One question frequently asked in my personal visits with salespeople around the country and during seminars when I'm having an open discussion on objections

country and during seminars when I'm having an open discussion on objections is this one: How do you deal with a prospect who is currently buying from an old and trusted supplier who offers virtual y the same product at roughly the same price, gives approximately the same service, and has the added advantage of being a friend or relative with many years' experience in satisfactorily handling the account?

This is a tough one, and what I'm going to say wil not answer al of the objections, nor wil it get the sale every time. But I am convinced it wil enable you to make some of the sales and wil always give you the feeling you are at least in the bal park of possibility. In short, hope is there.

When the prospect says basical y the things I've mentioned above, the worst thing you can do is attack the credibility of the supplier or the quality of his product. That guarantees you wil never make the sale, nor wil you have much of a chance with a frontal assault. However, I believe the possibility for a sale is good with this next approach. It's the method discussed in two or three different sections of the book, and it involves asking a lot of questions.

The "Obligation" Close

You might convince a person with a frontal assault that you have some advantages, but the only way you are going to get his business is to persuade him. As previously mentioned, you persuade only by asking questions, so the prospect literal y leads himself into a yes decision.

In this particular instance you handle it this way: "Mr. Prospect, if there were a way for you to buy the same product from your current supplier at a better price and get better service in the process, you would be interested in knowing how to do that, wouldn't you?" Wait for an answer, which undoubtedly wil be, "Yes, how could I do that?" You: "Before I answer, Mr. Prospect, two more questions, please. Number one, at this precise moment do you feel any obligation whatever to buy anything from me, a complete stranger whom you've never seen before?"

(Wait for answer. It's going to be no.)

"Second question, Mr. Prospect. Do you feel any obligation or inclination to continue buying from your current supplier, who is a close friend and with whom you've been dealing for umpteen years?" (Wait for answer. It's going to be yes or some.) "Basical y, Mr. Prospect, it goes without saying that your first loyalty is to yourself and your family and not necessarily what is best for any supplier. Would you agree with this premise, Mr.

supplier. Would you agree with this premise, Mr.

Prospect?" (If you can get him to agree with this, you've taken one smal step toward the sale. If you can't, then obviously you're not dealing with someone who has an open mind.)

I'll "Try Harder"

When you get the answer you respond: "Then, Mr. Prospect, since you are not obligated to me but feel obligated to him, does it make sense that I would be wil ing to work harder, give you better service, and take care of the account in a more anxious-to-please manner? Doesn't it make sense that I would keep you at the top of my list of priorities so that I can earn your business in the only way open to me, which is giving you a good product at a good price with even better service?" (This kind of logic has got to hit a hot button somewhere.)

"Without being presumptuous, Mr. Prospect, would I be wrong to assume you have considerable interest in the bottom line? [Get answer.] Then if you could get a better price, better quality, and/or better service, any one of those three things would have a direct bearing on your satisfaction and your profitability, wouldn't it? Now, Mr. Prospect, two of them would have a big bearing and three of those factors could make quite a difference in the bottom line.

"With this in mind, Mr. Prospect, and since you've already recognized your first loyalty is to yourself, don't you feel it would be in your best interests to at least give me a chance to prove I can and wil give you more for your money? This way I have to earn the business, which automatical y makes you a winner.

"Please understand, I'm not asking for al of your business. I am simply encouraging you to give me a chance to earn part of your business. You do have a lot to gain and nothing to lose.

"When you receive the shipment, you should display it in a prominent spot so your current supplier wil be absolutely certain to see it. When he does, one of two things wil happen: (1) He wil determine in his own mind that he's got to do a better job or give you a better price in order to keep your business, or (2) you wil discover we real y can give you better service and/or a better price.

"Could we start you with one gross or would you go for three and the larger discount which goes with it?"

That's What Bill Said

Many years ago Bil Gove, one of my early mentors, covered a simple and effective way to handle this "I'm buying from a friend or relative"

objection. However, it wasn't until John Hammond offered it as a suggestion for this book that the real impact hit me. Here it is:

"Mr. Prospect, I understand what you are saying and I can appreciate your interest in maintaining that relationship. I'm not suggesting you take business from him and give to me. However, from time to time I have ideas which I believe wil increase your business, which increases the need for my products. If I share those ideas with you, which I'm wil ing to do, would you be wil ing to give me the extra business which my ideas generate?

This way everyone wins. You continue to do business with your friend and your business increases so you and your friend both win. The increase in your business means you must buy more of the product I sel , and so I would benefit because of your increase. Does that sound like a good idea and a fair exchange, Mr. Prospect?"

The "Similar Product" Close

Occasional y a prospect wil say, "Your product is just like . . ." and then name another product. When this happens, you don't disagree completely or categorical y state that your product is total y different. Instead you find an area of agreement, which is easy to do. You calmly look at your prospect and say,

"Yes, I agree with you there are some similarities, which I believe is what you are saying, isn't it, Mr. Prospect? [Get answer.]

Along these lines, let me state that the visible difference between an original Rembrandt and a reproduction or imitation is smal . However, if you put the imitation and the original up for sale, there would be a substantial difference in price, wouldn't there? With this in mind, Mr. Prospect, let me show you the little differences which make ours the "Rembrandt" of the field as far as performance and quality are concerned. You do want the best product at the best price, don't you, Mr. Prospect?"

If your prospect has a good sense of humor and he states that "your product or service is just like ...... if you're a salesman, you go back to the

"similar" approach and say, "Yes, they are similar, but I might also point out that my wife and I are very similar. Each of us has two arms, two legs, and a head, but there are some intriguing differences. To tel you the truth, it's the differences which got us together and it's the differences which are keeping us together!

"It's true there are similarities in our products, but it's the differences which make our product the best buy for you." Now identify the differences, spel out why those differences make your product the best buy, and close by saying,

"You do want the best for your money, don't you, Mr.

Prospect?"

There are many objections and even more answers, but in the final analysis it boils down to this: If you are the right person sel ing the right product at the right price and you are convinced the customer is the big winner, then you are in the driver's seat. Now to this add the professionalism of knowing and using the right words with the right voice inflection, the right intent, and the right fol ow-up, and you wil increase your closing percentage.

The "Right Experience" Close

Getting a job obviously involves "sel ing." This example of handling a major objection is primarily aimed at the teenager entering the job market, but with some variations much of it is applicable to any job applicant.

Since I have emphasized from the opening chapter that the salesperson is the most important part of the sales process, I am going to start with the basic assumption the applicant has been taught the importance of honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty. He has also been taught to accept responsibility, to be dependable, and to have a good attitude.

Objection: "What Is Your Experience?"

The typical teenager has had no sales training, so when he is asked, "What is your experience?" he is likely to reply: "I don't real y have any regular job experience. I've done some baby-sitting and looked after the neighbors' pets while they were on vacation, but this wil be my first job."

A young person may think that is the only answer he can give to such an objection. And as long as he thinks that and replies in that way, he wil find it very difficult to secure a job because he hasn't answered the primary objection of

very difficult to secure a job because he hasn't answered the primary objection of this would-be employer.

But the truth is, he does not have to reply as above. If he has received some sales training or attended the I CAN or Coaching to Change Lives many classes we offer in many public and private schools in America, he can say:

"Thank you for asking me about my experience. I realize that's important to you.

You want to know if I'm real y the kind of person who can do the job so that your customers get the best possible product and service. Do I understand you correctly? [Wait for an answer.]

"Sir, I've had a lifetime of experience which wil help me be a better employee.

For example, I've learned the importance of being dependable and tel ing the truth in everything I do. In addition, I've learned the importance of getting along with other people, and I know by experience that everybody does his work better when he's getting along with others.

"I also know that certain things wil be expected of me if you hire me. I expect to do the work you give me to do, with a positive attitude and in a responsible manner. I know also that if I want a raise I must be wil ing to come in early, work a little harder, and stay late if necessary.

"Another thing I understand is that businesses have to make a profit in order to stay in business and pay their employees. It's clear to me that if the employees do a good job, chances are excel ent the company wil make a profit. In order to keep my job, and get ahead in my job, I am ready to work hard and do my very best. I believe your business and every business needs that kind of experience."

You Told Your Story-Now Close the Sale

Once he has said that-and it only takes a minute or two-this "experienced"

teenager can go for the close. I suggest a statement and a question:

"Sir, I need a job and I'l make you a promise. I'l work hard for you and you wil never regret having hired me. In fact, you wil be proud that you were the one who gave me my first job and training. I'm ready to go to work immediately or whenever it best suits your needs. When do you want me to start? Right away, or would the first of the week be better?" (Say no more. The bal is in his court.) This "sales talk" won't guarantee a job, because that company might not have an opening, but if you give that presentation enough times, I'm confident you'l get a

opening, but if you give that presentation enough times, I'm confident you'l get a job fairly soon.

Obviously, I don't expect a teenager (scared to death) on his first job interview to calmly give that sales talk, but I do believe this: If you, as a teenage job applicant, wil convey that information, I don't believe there's an employer in the country who would not be impressed. He might not hire you, but if you work hard enough to learn that presentation, I believe he wil do everything he can to send you to an employer who wil give you a job.

I also believe if you are temporarily unemployed and there are no openings in your specialty or your field, you can use this basic approach to get a job in other fields. You do have the kind of "experience," and lots of it, that thousands of employers need. They wil buy you and your experience if you sel yourself to them.

Like al other sales jobs this one might require that you make a lot of cal s, but this approach wil put your name at the top of a number of lists for the next job opening. If you wil learn this basic approach (remember, I'm assuming you have the characteristics you claim in the presentation), you wil be considerably more relaxed and confident going into the interview, which means you wil be able to show your product (you) at your best. This fact wil dramatical y increase your chances of getting the job.

28

Reasons and Excuses for Buying

Sell on the Tangible-Close on the Intangible

In overcoming objections it is often necessary to offer the tangible as the reason for buying but emphasize the intangible as the excuse for buying.

For example, you might be sel ing a beautiful lot on a lake, an outstanding retirement home, or even one of the vacation packages known as "time share."

Each one of them definitely offers something tangible which prospective buyers can put their hands on or "sink their teeth into."

However, if the lot on the lake or golf course is typical, it wil sel for many thousands of dol ars. From a purely logical point of view, to spend that many dol ars on a parcel of land which is restricted (to put it kindly) is not real y the

ars on a parcel of land which is restricted (to put it kindly) is not real y the logical thing to do. The lot is tangible, so there's the reason for buying, but if you're going to get the sale, you need to switch it to the intangible so they also have an excuse for buying.

Example: "In addition to your own beautiful lot, Mr. Prospect, you're getting this marvelous spring-fed lake, which is wel stocked with bass and bream. You have the ful -time use of the golf course, as wel as the peaceful nature trails to either walk or cycle on as your wishes dictate. Perhaps best of al is the fact that you have the quiet serenity of being in an area with people who also desire the quietness of a semi-isolated area such as this. The restfulness and activity at your pace, away from the heat, smog, noise, congestion, and confusion which you encounter in the city, wil add joy, peace, and relaxing fun to your life."

The "Deserve It" Close

You have now taken it from the tangible and moved it into the intangible. More appropriately you have taken a tangible base, the property itself, and given the prospect what he real y wants in the package. You've given him a reason for buying (beautiful lake lot-real property) and an excuse for buying (gracious living, less stress, etc.).

You close the sale by saying, "Al of your life, Mr. Prospect, you have worked and put much into the world and into the future. Don't you think you now deserve to start enjoying some of the fruits of al those years of labor and effort?

You owe it to yourself to do this.

"If I'm reading your wife correctly, she is giving her permission; I'm certainly giving my permission; al that's necessary is for you to give yourself permission to enjoy what you've worked for al of your life. What about it, Mr. Prospect?

You do like the property and you do enjoy both golfing and fishing, don't you?

Can you real y think of any reason you should deny yourself the realization of this dream that you've worked for al of your life?"

Remember-He's Scared

As you talk with your prospect, whether he's buying the lot on the lake, the retirement home, the time share, or anything else, you need to remember four basic things: First, he needs the reassurance that it's al right for him to take this step, that what he's buying is fairly priced, that you represent a legitimate organization, and that your integrity is solid.

organization, and that your integrity is solid.

The second thing you need to remember is that every prospect, almost regardless of what he's buying in an area which could be defined as nonessential or even luxury, has the haunting fear that he's paying an inflated price and what he's getting is not worth the asking price. You can partial y put his fears to rest by having solid evidence of comparative pricing, but ultimately his fears wil be put to rest primarily because of his confidence in you as a person. You are the bridge over which the prospect must cross if he is to move from fearful prospect to confident buyer.

Number three, you must remember that your prospect's sense of fairness is involved (you are the expert-he is the "innocent lamb"). Perhaps he has been taken advantage of in the past and he certainly does not want it to happen again.

Sometimes fear or an unpleasant experience wil cause your prospect to act in an unreasonable or antagonistic manner. This is why you, the salesperson, must keep your cool, be completely ethical, and total y believe what you're sel ing has real value and is fairly priced.

Number four, you must remember your prospect is not only buying for himself but also is buying with other people in mind. He's concerned about what others wil think. This is true regardless of the image he attempts to project. He's concerned about what his family, his friends, his fel ow employees, and his neighbors think.

That's one of the reasons little phrases like, "You wil be the envy of the neighborhood," "Your family wil be proud of you for making this move," and

"Your fel ow workers wil be delighted to see you're final y going to give yourself a treat," are so effective. Just remember that there wil be some who wil kid him about the purchase and you need to arm him with things to say to them or you might end up with a cancel ation.

Remember-Prospect Buys Future Enjoyment

To tie these things down, just remember the prospect does not buy what it is, he buys the future enjoyment of what you're sel ing, regardless of the product.

Remember also that he doesn't buy the house on the lot, he buys the shade of the trees in the yard, the warmth of the fireplace in the cold winter months, the convenience of the telephone in the bathroom. He buys the coolness of the evening on the lake, the exhilaration of the downhil skiing experience with his

evening on the lake, the exhilaration of the downhil skiing experience with his family, the joy of his motorboat on the lake, the luxury of the dip in the heated pool. Again, al of these are the intangibles made possible by the tangible property which he's buying. Now do this: Go back two pages and underline and become especial y aware of the warm sel ing words and word pictures I have used.

Note: At this point you should put Secrets aside, pick up your notepad (discussed on page 13), and write down the reasons and the excuses you can give the prospect for investing in your goods, products, or services.

Give Prospect an Excuse and a Reason

If you give a prospect a reason for buying, he might buy. If you give him an excuse to buy, he might buy. But if you give him a reason and an excuse for buying and then make it easy for him to buy, your chances for a sale are dramatical y increased, as the folks at A. 0. Smith Harvestore wil tel you.

A Team of Professionals

The morning before I spoke at one of A. 0. Smith Harvestore's national conventions, I had the privilege of spending several hours with one of the real professionals in the world of sel ing, Carl K. Clayton. I had previously spent time with him in our Born to Win seminar, but that morning I learned a new side of Carl as he shared al the exciting information about their Harvestore structure and what it did for the farmer. It actual y is a system which farmers use as a storage unit but which has some decided advantages over the old-fashioned silo.

This unit enables the farmer to store the grain before it is completely dried.

The farmer gathers the grain from the field when the moisture content is 25 to 30

percent. He loads the structure with grain from the top of the Harvestore unit.

The unit has a pair of "lungs" at the top. This simply means that during expansion and contraction al the air is out of the unit and the farmer is able to dramatical y reduce spoilage. With the moisture in the grain, the livestock wil eat less grain, which they are able to digest more completely. This saves from 10

to 15 percent on the grain while increasing the meat productivity 10 to 15

percent. It truly is a remarkable concept which is a big dol ar saver for the farmer.

The "Reason-Excuse" Close

Another tremendous benefit to the farmer is the fact that by using this system he

Another tremendous benefit to the farmer is the fact that by using this system he does not have to bale his hay. He simply gathers it and puts it into this Harvestore system (I mention only one of their products). The farmer knows that having to bale hay has run more young men off the farm than any other single reason.

In the presentation to the farmer, the Harvestore salesman can give him some exciting data. Number one, on the average the unit wil pay for itself in reduced losses and increased productivity in seven years or less. Number two, the farmer has to work considerably less with the Harvestore system than with other systems whereby the farmer has to bale the hay or gather the grain after it has dried out or have it artificial y dried, which is expensive and causes shrinkage.

To sum it up, they're able to sel the unit because the reason they give the farmer (which he gives to his banker for the necessary financing) is that the unit literal y is cost-effective and wil save al that money. The reason the farmer uses is the financial one.

Carl told me the real excuse most farmers buy is they've talked to Harvestore customers who testify that the work saved gives them more free time and they can even take vacations. Best of al , the children they are raising wil be far more likely to stay on the farm because it makes for a much easier and more modern operation.

As I say, give a person a reason for buying and he might buy. Give him an excuse for buying and he might buy. Give him a reason and an excuse for buying, then make it easy for him to buy, and chances are substantial y increased he wil buy.

The Toughies Are the Teachers

Over the years, I suppose I have spent as much time on a sales cal as most salespeople. It's not that I'm stubborn or hardheaded, though I confess to a degree of that, nor is it entirely due to the fact I'm that persistent, though I'm guilty of that, too. It's not because I'm so competitive that I just hate to miss a sale, though the Redhead would disagree with that particular statement.

There is at least one other reason I have stayed on some cal s as long as I have, and that simply is because the tougher the prospect, the better the teacher. The more objections they give me which I overcome, the better able I am to handle the next sales interview. The more roadblocks that are placed in front of me, the

the next sales interview. The more roadblocks that are placed in front of me, the sharper I hone my skil s. I feel this "firing line" training has enabled me to uncover some great sales truths which I now share with you. I needed lots of

"teaching from the toughies" in order to be able to write this book.

You, too, need lots of teaching from the toughies if you are to grow and mature into the kind of salesperson you are capable of being. Howard Bonne]] points out that often a prospect wil start with an adamant "I won't even consider it"

rejection. However, his next objection is weaker and subsequent objections grow progressively weaker.

When the salesman senses the prospect's wil is weakening, he is encouraged and his own resolve grows stronger. I want to say again that I'm not talking about

"winning" a contest and imposing the salesman's wil or merchandise upon the prospect. I established in the beginning that the professional real y believes he renders a service and does the prospect a favor when he sel s. In my own case I can emphatical y state that the major reason I made every legitimate effort to sel anybody anything was because I sincerely felt I was moral y obligated to sel the prospect a product which was good for him.

There is one specific point, however, when I throw in the towel and withdraw my efforts to close. That point is when the prospect makes it clear-after seeing the benefits-that he has no interest and cannot or wil not buy. Until that point, however, I am going to make an honest effort to close the sale.

As I've already indicated, I do this with pleasant persuasiveness, which I wil deal with again later on in the book.

As you move into the additional closes which I share with you, do so in a natural manner. The close is part of the process, just as the hands and arms are a part of you. You should move into the close smoothly, natural y, and above al else, without any hesitation. You do this as you attempt to impart a sense of urgency for "action now" on the part of the prospect. Incidental y, urgency is part of al professionals' repertoire.

The doctor might wel say that your gal bladder is not in the best of shape, "but there's no real emergency-yet." What you have to decide is when you want to have it removed. Wil it be at your convenience and according to your schedule, or according to when it ruptures and creates considerable pain and require immediate surgery?

The mechanic imparts urgency when he says the brake drums are not ruined-yet.

What you need to decide is whether to spend a few dol ars now while your car is already in the shop, or to delay and take the chance of ruining the brake drums and endangering your life. Yes, urgency is a part of the vocabulary of al professionals.

I wil continue to remind you that your customers wil buy from you because of anticipated future enjoyment or satisfaction. The customer who says yes certainly won't destroy your career, and the one who says no won't destroy your career. However, there are two things which can destroy your career: The first is the people you do not see, and the second is the people who say "maybe" or "I'l think it over." With that in mind we attempt to so thoroughly cover these areas of sel ing throughout this book that "think it over" is changed to "sign me up."

29

Using Questions to Close the Sale

Question: How do you persuade people to take action? Answer: You persuade by asking questions which lead the prospect to a conclusion which demands that he take action because it becomes an idea which he (the prospect) originated.

This is pressure which the prospect puts on himself.

It's internal pressure and it's powerful.

To paraphrase Socrates-who may have said it best-"If you make a statement to which your prospect wil readily agree (cannot refute), then ask a series of questions based on that agreement, and then ask a concluding question based on those agreements .... you wil force the desired response." This is precisely the method used by successful trial attorneys to transfer their feelings to juries.

Selling Isn't Telling-It's Asking

The ability to ask questions-much like the ability to modulate and use your voice properly-is a skil which is badly neglected and underdeveloped in the world of sel ing. It's a skil which we as people have unlearned. I say this because the average six-year-old child, under normal circumstances, wil ask something like four to seven hundred questions a day, while the average col ege graduate wil ask approximately thirty. If you know anything at al about life or if you've been around children at al , you surely know the six-year-old child is getting more

around children at al , you surely know the six-year-old child is getting more than the col ege graduate. Asking questions is an important skil that can be learned.

I'm going to give you a number of questions and some of the circumstances under which they can be used. Again, I urge you to adapt these to your situation because al of them wil not completely fit you. Nevertheless, in many cases the idea would be appropriate.

Some questions tie in with the assumptive attitude; others have to do with imagination and impending events and any number of other techniques.

Example: In the showing of a home you could, after getting acquainted with the family, simply ask, as sales trainer Tom Hopkins suggests you do when you enter the living room, "Where would you place the sofa in this room?" In another room, "Where would you put Johnny's bed? Would you prefer it against the wal or more in the center of the room?" I remind you there is no way the prospect can get irritated with you at an answer he gives you. Another question: "If this beautiful home had only this gorgeous view or if the tour of the home ended with this magnificent living-den and kitchen, it's already exciting to see, isn't it?"

Or "If this house had nothing but this location, it would merit consideration, wouldn't it?"

To set up a closing situation for later in the interview, sometimes you can use this as a lead-in: "Mr. Prospect, many years ago Andrew Carnegie, the man who was responsible for developing forty-three mil ionaires when mil ionaires were truly rare, said, `Show me a man who can make a decision, act on that decision, and stay with that decision, and I'l show you a man who wil succeed.' Successful businessmen are almost unanimous in their agreement on this principle, but what's your personal feeling about this?" Most wil agree.

You wil use this one when you are talking with a businessperson about an investment in equipment, machinery, or efficiency systems. It would not work if you were sel ing a young couple some furniture they weren't sure they could afford.

Sixteen "Question" Closes

Almost identical to a real estate situation, if you're demonstrating a computer or a piece of equipment, you can ask, "If this were the only feature this machine had, it would be wel worth owning, wouldn't it?"

had, it would be wel worth owning, wouldn't it?"

Question: "When we instal this equipment, would you like for me to demonstrate the major features again?"

Question: "Would you prefer we deliver today, or would next week fit your schedule better?"

Question: "Would you like for me to mark this one SOLD while we check on the most agreeable terms to finance it for you?"

Question: "Do you need to consult with anyone else before you place the order?"

Question: "Is the purchase order issued from this department?"

Question: "Would you like to have your bank finance this, or would you like for us to work out the financial arrangements?"

Question: "Since the item is in short supply, would you be wil ing to wait three weeks for delivery?"

Question: "Would you want to make a large deposit so the monthly deposits are smal er, or would you prefer a minimum deposit and slightly larger monthly deposits?"

Question: "Would you prefer this in green, or does the red appeal to you more?"

Question: "Shal we ship it by UPS or air express?"

Question: "Do you want the lot registered in your name or your wife's name?"

Question: "Do you prefer the lot on the golf course, or does the one on the lake appeal to you most?"

Question: "If you saw that it was to your advantage to own this product and the terms we work out are satisfactory, would you have any objections to going ahead today?"

Question: "Can you see the financial advantage to reducing the use of those powerful overhead lights which provide unneeded light in some areas in favor of using point-of-impact lighting during certain times of the day?"

Question: "Do you believe it's wise to invest in solidly constructed equipment which wil give you long, trouble-free operation for the lifetime of the product?"

Questions for Decisions

Many questions real y are "thinking" questions and actual y lead the prospect to the decision.

Mark Gardner, whom we mentioned earlier, like al professionals, asks a lot of fact-finding and closing questions. Here are a few which are self-explanatory: Question: "Are you investing in the stock market at the present time?"

Question: "Are you seeking capital gains or income?"

Question: "Could you give me a measure of the degree of risk you wish to take?

Are you aggressive or conservative?"

Question: "What does your portfolio consist of?"

1. Biggest winner

2. Largest position

Question: "Please, if you wil , give me an example of your last transaction? And when?"

Question: "Usual y we are looking for commitments anywhere from dol ars to _

dol ars. How much capital do you normal y commit?"

"Mr. Prospect, I would like to make an agreement with you as one businessman to another. First, I'm not going to waste your time. Second, when we come back to you it wil be with a major strategic suggestion. For these reasons we want you to give it serious consideration for a major commitment. Now, Mr. Prospect, given al these parameters of the investment, would you be in a position to make a prompt decision?"

This series leads directly to a close:

"Of the stocks you own, do you have any that have not lived up to your expectations? How long have you held the stock? I know I am asking you to

expectations? How long have you held the stock? I know I am asking you to make a very difficult decision. Why have you not sold this when it hasn't performed? Why? Because: 1. There is a loss involved.

2. A common mistake by most investors is that you hope the stock wil somehow come back.

"Wouldn't you agree with this?

"In the real world, not every situation we invest in works out. Isn't it best that we recognize it hasn't worked out, for whatever reasons, and make the decision to rectify this situation by moving out of and positioning into ?"

These Questions Close Sales

The late Charles Roth, describing how a leasing agent for swanky offices in New York City handled the question-assumption approach, gave this example. The salesman would take the prospect to a beautiful view of the Hudson River and ask, "You love this view, don't you?" The prospect would invariably answer,

"Yes, it's beautiful." Then the salesman would lead him to a suite on the other side of the building and ask the question,

"Do you like this view as wel as the other?" The prospect either did or didn't.

Assuming he didn't, the salesman would say, "Then the other suite is the one you want, isn't it?" And the sale was often closed.

The "Choice" Close

When I was in the table-appointments business, sel ing single girls china, flatware, and crystal, one of our most difficult and important tasks was to lead the girl in the selection of the right pattern and yet make certain it was her choice.

We started with china, and since we had seven patterns, we handled it this way: The first pattern we offered was one we knew she would like, a

"safe" pattern. Whether she necessarily loved it or not was another matter. After we'd displayed and "romanced" it, we reached for the second pattern and demonstrated it. After showing the second one we asked the girl, "Mary, if these were the only two china patterns in the whole world and you had to make your choice right now as to which one you were going to choose, which one of these two would you choose?"

two would you choose?"

After she made her choice we put the other pattern away.

We fol owed this procedure through to the last pattern, and in most cases the final choice was relatively easy. As she chose that final pattern we gave her one more choice as the close: "Mary, would you want this in the five-piece or the seven-piece place settings?" When we got the answer we proceeded to fil out the order.

Years ago, when my friend Mike Ingram was president of Tufts & Son out of Oklahoma City, I laughingly referred to him as "America's Number One Rat Bait Salesman," because he was. Mike and his company used a number of ideas to promote rat bait sales, but one of the things they promoted with their dealers was a. 22 rifle. Mike had trained his people to close the sale after explaining the promotion with this question: "Did you want the six-case promotion or would you prefer the one with nine cases and get this beautiful .22 rifle as the promotional gift?" By using this promotional procedure, Tufts & Son broke every sales record in history sel ing-that's right-rat bait!

Question: "Did you want this single light globe, or would you like three for the 15 percent discount?" In many cases you can move the customer to a larger order by simply asking that or a similar question. The entire questioning process is an involvement procedure, and as Harry Overstreet so eloquently expressed it, "The very essence of al power to influence lies in getting the other person to participate. " Get 'em involved-your chances of the sale dramatical y improve.

Question: "If I show you something that could save you or your firm a great deal of money, are you in a position to act on it now?"

Incidental y, one question you don't ask a prospect is, "What do you think about this?" As I said earlier, the "thinking" brain is only 10 percent as large as the

"feeling" brain and people general y do not buy logical y. They buy emotional y.

They buy what they want and not necessarily what they need. Ask, "How do you feel about this?" and you've got an infinitely better chance to make the sale.

The "Tie Down" Close Revisited

The late Doug Edwards perfected and taught the fol owing technique, which he cal ed the "Tie Down." He used it with great effectiveness.

Frequently a customer wil ask a question such as, "Does this come in green?" If you say yes, you stil are no closer to the sale. If he asks, "Does this come in green?" you ask him a question: "Do you want it if it comes in green?" When he responds to that question-he's bought. You nail it down with, "We can have it for you in three weeks, or would you prefer that I put a rush on it so you can have it in just two weeks?"

If he asks you, "Do the draperies come with the house?" you ask, "Do you want it if the draperies come with the house?" Or "Wil you take it if I can make arrangements for the draperies to come with the house?" You're tying him down with that question. Doug would automatical y or instinctively end his questions or statements with a tie-down such as: "This is beautiful in red, isn't it?" "The added weight gives much greater comfort, doesn't it?" "The extra horsepower is a real bonus, isn't it?" "This extra economy wil steamrol the competition, won't it?" "The additional color gives it an added dimension, doesn't it?" "This evening view should give you a lot of beautiful memories, shouldn't it?" Each tie-down is emotional y committing the prospect to taking action on your offer, and when you wrap your offer in an obligating question, the sale is more probable than possible. (Your next reading of Secrets wil make you even more aware of the tie-downs I've used throughout the book, won't it?) Of special importance in the tie-down procedure is the fact that you should use contractions to emphasize certain points. Sales trainer Phil Lynch said you should avoid the use of not at al costs. Use isn't, shouldn't, wouldn't, can't, couldn't, doesn't, won't, etc. Avoid is not, should not, would not, cannot, could not, does not, wil not, etc.

Now you go to work and start developing specific questions for your product and customers. Remember: The professional salesperson works at learning how to be more professional. It is not easy-but the emotional satisfaction and financial rewards are enormous.

The "Permanent Customer" Close

If you sel in a furniture store, a clothing store, or any kind of retail outlet where customers come in and say, "I'd like to see a suit," you smile and say,

"With pleasure; men's suits are over here." Start in that direction, take about a half-dozen steps, turn, and say, "It wil be helpful if I know whether this suit is for a special occasion, or would you like for it to blend with the rest of your wardrobe so that you can get maximum mileage out of your clothing dol ars?"

This approach not only helps you make the immediate sale, but it also plants the suggestion that you are capable of and interested in helping him solve any future wardrobe problems. You are displaying a strong professional approach and a sincere interest in being a problem solver. Your initial question is the opening to the "Permanent Customer" Close.

An almost identical approach is effective in most retail outlets (furniture stores, specialty shops, general merchandisers, etc.). In a furniture store the prospect might come in and express an interest in a lamp, rug, or sofa. You smile and say,

"I'l be pleased to help you; they are right over here." You start in that direction as you say, "By the way, did you want this as an individual item or did you want it to blend with the rest of your decor so you get maximum mileage from your furniture dol ars?" This procedure leads your prospect to make a decision of more significance than just the momentary one of buying the particular item he asked about.

I deal with and use questions in every segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale.

There is no doubt in my mind that your career as a salesperson wil move forward faster as a direct result of-learning how to ask questions and how to use the proper voice inflection than from any other skil s you might develop.

Most salespeople know the importance of asking questions, but too many of them make a couple of serious mistakes in the questioning process.

First of al , they take the "police investigator" approach and are a little too aggressive and assertive. The salesman's attitude is critical. He must remember the service attitude is the one to take. He should never ask the first question without getting permission. You get permission this way:

"Mr. Prospect, in order for me to determine how we might be able to help you, I need to ask you a few questions. Do you mind if I ask them now?"

This procedure not only gets the positive response, but it also tel s the prospect why you are going to ask the questions. This clears the way for asking the questions and subconsciously obligates the prospect to answer them.

30

For Direct Sales People

This chapter is primarily aimed at those who are in the world of direct sel ing.

This chapter is primarily aimed at those who are in the world of direct sel ing.

However, I encourage you, regardless of what you do or sel , to read these next few pages at least once, because the odds are good you wil get some ideas or techniques which you can adapt to fit your specific situation.

Know What to Do-Do What You Know

Many years ago, so the story goes, a fox and a rabbit were having a "cool one" in the local pub. Talk turned to their common enemy, the hounds of the local hunters. The fox rather boastful y stated he held no fear of them because he had so many means of escape. He pointed out that if the hounds should come, he could bolt up into the attic and hide until the danger was safely past, or quick as a flash he could run out the door and no hound alive could catch him. He could head for the nearest stream and run in it for a spel until the hounds completely lost track of him. He could even go in circles and backtrack a few times and so completely confuse the hounds that he could then climb a tree and watch them in their quandary as they sought to find where he was. Yes, his methods were many and his confidence was high.

On the other hand, the rabbit rather timidly and with some embarrassment confessed that if the hounds should come, he knew only one thing to do, and that was to run like a "scared rabbit."

As he said those words, they heard the baying of the hounds. The rabbit, true to his word, hopped up and ran out the door like a scared rabbit. The fox hesitated as he debated whether or not to bolt up into the attic and hide, dart out the door and depend on his speed to get away, head for the stream and lose the scent in the water, or take off and confuse the hounds with backtracking and circling before he climbed the tree. As he debated which method to use, the hounds rushed in and ate him.

The moral to the story is fairly simple. It's better to use one effective procedure or close if that's al you know than it is to know al the techniques in this book and not use any of them.

Secrets of Closing the Sale includes an extremely large number of closes and procedures for several reasons. For one thing, people who sel -and the products they sel -come from al over the board. Every conceivable kind of person with every imaginable personality sel s an incredible assortment of goods and services. Obviously, I can't deal with al of them, but the techniques and principles covered in this book are quite broad in scope and yet specific in

principles covered in this book are quite broad in scope and yet specific in objective. Much of what I have written is designed to help salespeople from al walks of life be more professional and successful. Many different approaches are taken because there are many, many different kinds of salespeople sel ing to an even wider range of prospects.

One thing you have probably noticed is that most of the closes and procedures used in Secrets of Closing the Sale are educational. Remember, the prospect wil general y say no when he doesn't know enough to say yes, so we need to give additional information containing reasons and excuses (logical or emotional) as to why the prospect should, in his own interests, say yes. In the process we need to remember, as Gerard I.

Nierenberg said in an interview published in Personal Sel ing Power, "Customers want to learn but they resist being taught."

Since you've come this far in the book, I have every reason to believe you have already learned and are using the closes and techniques we've already covered. I also believe you are excited about learning and applying the procedures and techniques we wil cover in the remainder of the book.

Here's a Good Old "Oldie"

This particular close is used primarily by direct sales people, but with certain variations it can also be used for automotive, real estate, appliance, or major-purchase items in department and specialty stores. It is to be used after value has been established but before al the information about your product has been given to the prospect. (Don't spil your popcorn in the lobby before the movie starts.) There are several facets to this close.

To begin with, it is educational since it discloses al the details of the transaction.

It's another one of the "oldies" which is old because it's good. It works. If it didn't work, it would be dead. When I entered the world of sel ing, it was known as the "Granddaddy" Close. Some sales trainers refer to it as the "Order Book"

Close, while others cal it the "Basic" Close.

The close is old, but Gene Montrose, a sales trainer from Portland, Oregon, renamed it the "Disclosure" Close, and as I "disclose" it to you it wil be apparent why this is a much better name.

The "Disclosure" Close

Once the value has been established and the salesperson moves into the close, he does it with these words: "Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, as you know, Uncle Sam is now involved in many facets of our lives. Some of his involvements are good and some of them are not so good. One of his laws which I believe is a good one is the requirement that companies must disclose to each buyer al the details of the transaction. This way there can be no hidden costs. Ethical salespeople and companies applaud this particular law.

"Our company, Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, goes the government one step better by requiring al the information-not only on every sale but on every offer for sale as wel . That way there can be no confusion in anyone's mind as to what we are offering and what the costs are. Also, if you should discuss our offer with one of your neighbors, you wil find the offer we make you is identical to the one we make to your neighbor. It wil undoubtedly please you to know you're dealing with a company that is fair and open with everyone."

(Now if you wil reread the last paragraph, you wil note I told them we "disclose"

al the information concerning our offer to everyone. Translation: "I am now going to write your order.")

To the Order Form

"The order which you and I have discussed, Mr. Prospect, is number eighty-seven. [At this point your order form is in plain view and on an appropriate portion you write #87.] The investment for this order is three ninety-nine ninety-five. [I say it that way and I do not put a dol ar sign by the figure. Not earth-shattering, but it is one of those "little" things which make a difference.]

Shipping and handling is twenty, which brings us to a total of four nineteen ninety-five. The government charges us for al their good help, so the tax comes to thirty-three fifty-five, for a grand total of four fifty-three fifty."

At this point the prospect wil often grow concerned and say, "Now wait a minute, I didn't say I was going to buy anything!" To this or a similar comment you can legitimately respond, "Wel , of course not. As I explained, I simply want you to see the exact terms of the offer we're making.

Personal y, Mr. Prospect, I believe you are the kind of person who would never say either yes or no to anything until you knew what you were saying yes or no to. Isn't that right, Mr. Prospect?"

to. Isn't that right, Mr. Prospect?"

Here's Voice Inflection Again

(It's tough to predict what prospects are going to say unless you're in a training room and role-playing, but general y speaking, they wil agree with that premise.) You continue by saying, "By the way, Mr. Prospect, if [and you real y emphasize with strong voice inflection the word if] you were to consider this program, would it be more convenient to handle it on our twenty dol ars per month investment program, or do you general y handle amounts like this on a sixty-day cash plan?" (Wait for answer.)

In many, many cases he wil say, "Wel , if-and I did say if-I were to buy this, I would put it on the twenty dol ars per month program." To this you respond,

"Oh, one thing I neglected to mention, Mr. Prospect, is that with this order you're given a choice of the knife sharpener or the floor polisher.

[You just moved into the "Alternate of Choice" Close.] Or you can choose between the flatware and the stoneware."

For those companies who do not offer extra merchandise as "buy now"

incentives, you stil have the "Alternate of Choice." "I neglected to mention this, Mr. Prospect, but this is available either in two-tone brown or solid gray. Which would you prefer?" This time the strength of your voice inflection is on the word would.

I can personal y tel you that in many cases the prospect wil say, "Wel , if I were going to get it, I would prefer the solid gray." You write the word gray on the order form and say to the prospect, "In [and you mildly emphasize the word in]

getting this, would it make any difference whether the deposits fel on the first or the fifteenth, or would the twenty-fifth be better?"

Again, right out of the book. I cannot tel you how many times I have had the prospect say, "Wel , I don't real y suppose it makes a lot of difference, but why don't we make it the twenty-fifth?" At this point, for the first time, I personalize the order by asking, "This is Mr. J. J. Johnston, isn't it?" and I proceed to finish writing the order.

The "Minor Decision" Close

There are several factors here. Number one, when you move into the "Alternate

There are several factors here. Number one, when you move into the "Alternate of Choice," you are getting the prospect to make a minor decision which often wil carry the major decision. Number two, even if the prospect does not buy at this time, your efforts are stil significant because you have now educated him by clarifying the order, the terms, and the options available.

This is important because the prospect needs this information before he can make an intel igent or even comfortable decision. The clarification process gives the prospect confidence he at least knows what he is making his decision to do.

Yes, clarification gives confidence.

Also, many times a prospect needs "soaking time." On several occasions I've missed the sale at this point, but later, as I was elaborating on other features, the prospect would come back and ask a question relating to the "Disclosure" Close:

"Were those payments for twenty months or eighteen months?" "How long wil it take for delivery?" "Suppose I set it up on the monthly program and then elect to pay it off. What's the penalty?"

Many times the prospect says no at this stage of the game, but after some

"soaking time" and additional information, he makes a new yes decision.

He's Balancing the Budget

On numerous occasions I have been explaining additional features and the prospect was not hearing a word. He was thinking about other payments which would soon be finished and then he could handle this new payment. That's one of the reasons the "Disclosure" Close needs to be used fairly soon after you have given the prospect enough reasons to justify a purchase. This close clarifies the prospect's thinking and gives him the solid, basic information for making the decision he needs to make. It is not designed to manipulate anyone into buying something he does not need, does not want, or cannot afford. It is effective when dealing with legitimate prospects who are hesitant and need a little gentle persuasion to act in their own best interests.

The "Tennis Racket" Close

I'm confident I am accurate with the statement that every veteran salesman has completed a presentation to a husband-wife team only to be confronted with this dialogue: Husband: "What do you think, honey?" Wife: "Wel , that's entirely up to you." Husband: "No, you'd be the one to use it."

Wife: "Yeah, but you'd be the one to pay for it," and he says ... and she says ...

and he says ... and back and forth it goes.

When this happens, you can rest assured that one of the three situations exists.

Number one, both of them want to say yes; number two, neither of them wants to say yes; or number three, one votes yes and one votes no. However, you can be even more certain that neither one of them wants to make the decision. Each one keeps knocking the bal back to the other one's court by saying, "You make the decision."

Since they are knocking the bal back and forth across the net, we cal this one the

"Tennis Racket" Close. It's important you understand that if you just sit on the sidelines and watch the "game" and permit them to knock that bal across the net more than a couple of times, one of them (and most of the time it's the husband) wil smile and say, "I know we're going to buy your product, but unfortunately, she can't make up her mind."

Handle It This Way

Here's how you avoid that situation. After the couple has knocked that decision bal back and forth across the net a couple of times, hold up your hand and say,

"Scuse me." (In some sections of the country where people have peculiar accents, they might say "Ex-cuse me," but that is wrong.

Yes, for those of you who take everything literal y, my tongue is in my cheek!)

"Maybe I should not say this, but I wil . At this point I do not think that either of you folks should make the decision. Now before you think I'm presumptuous, let me explain. At the moment both of you are emotional y involved, and that is the worst possible time to make decisions.

"The reason is simple. If you say yes, sometime later one of you might wel say,

`Wel , I tried to get you not to buy that thing!' If you say no, sometime later one of you might say, Ìf you remember, I tried to get you to go ahead.' Regardless of whether you say yes or no, because of the emotional involvement it could be the wrong decision."

The "Ben Franklin" Close

I include this close in the chapter primarily designed for direct sales people, but

I include this close in the chapter primarily designed for direct sales people, but to be candid I cannot think of a single sales situation-and very few situations in life-in which this approach would not be practical. I chal enge you to put your imagination to work on this one and use it in your life.

When you are choosing a house, car, job, school, vacation site, church, or anything else, this approach can be extremely helpful. With this lead-in, do I need to remind you that your prospect wil also find it helpful in making the right decision? I have no idea where this close was born or who originated it, but my friend Bil Cranford taught it to me in 1947. Now on with the close.

"Instead of handling the decision emotional y, let me suggest we borrow a page from the life of one of the wisest men our country ever produced.

His name was Benjamin Franklin. When he was confronted with a difficult decision, he would take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left-hand side he wrotèReasons For,' and on the right-hand side he wrote Ìdeas Opposed.' (This was altered slightly by the late Percy Whiting, author of The Five Great Rules of Sel ing.)

"What I suggest, Mr. Prospect, is that we fol ow the same procedure, which in its simplest form is to look at the facts for and against the purchase and then let the facts make the decision. By fol owing that procedure, folks, neither one of you can be wrong and, regardless of what you decide, you both wil be right. Does that idea appeal to you, Mr. and Mrs. Prospect?" (You can depend on it-it does!) Here's Why You Should Go Ahead

(At this point you take your talking pad and draw a line down the middle and print "Reasons For" on the top left side and "Ideas Opposed" on the top right side.) "There are many reasons you should go ahead."

You say, "Number one, you like it." However, you don't number the reasons for or against the purchase until you sum them up. You do not number the "Reasons For" because it provokes a numbers contest between "Reasons For" and "Ideas Opposed." The prospect might construe this as a chal enge to try to come up with more reasons against. Some of the "Ideas Opposed" could be utterly ridiculous, but their very mention creates a ludicrous and therefore potential y losing situation, regardless of which side has the largest number of reasons.

You make "You like it" number one because people buy what they want-not necessarily what they need. "Number two [remember, you say "number two,"

necessarily what they need. "Number two [remember, you say "number two,"

but you don't write the number], you stated you feel our product wil save money." (Continue this process as you list al the reasons for buying.) Now you go to the "Ideas Opposed." You start this list by saying, "One of the reasons you should not buy today is ..." (now you list the major objection they have harped on during the presentation). You need to bring out the dominant reason or objection they have been giving you. If you don't, they wil -and it removes some of the sting if you bring it out. Then you keep quiet and let your prospect list the other reasons why not. If you've done your job, you wil have far more yes reasons than they wil have no reasons.

You Assume the Sale

Now you add the totals as you say, "Let's see, that's one, two, three," etc. Write the number in a large, bold figure (let's say it's ten) and circle it several times.

"The Ìdeas Opposed' are one, two, three," etc. Write the number for the total (let's say it's seven) and circle it several times. At that point, according to Percy Whiting, you turn the pad toward the prospect and ask, "Mr. Prospect, which of these weighs heaviest? ThèReasons For' going ahead or the Ìdeas Opposed'?"

(Let him answer.)

At this point, as the late Charlie Cul en would say, you add a little audacity as you look up from your talking pad and into your prospect's eyes, stick out your hand, and say, "You know, Mr. Prospect, if al the people I deal with used such a logical, commonsense approach to making decisions, my business would be even more fun than it is! You're going to love this product!"

Many times salesmen ask, "Zig, does that kind of stuff real y work?" The answer is, "No, not al the time. But it wil work some of the time." That's the prime reason the presentation or conviction part of the sales process should start with the strongest benefit and end with the second-strongest benefit. This is important because the prospect is more likely to remember what you said and did as you opened and closed your presentation.

A couple of pertinent observations are in order. Number one, the prospect can come up with just one reason why not and stil say, "I'm not going to get it; I don't care how many reasons `for' you've got!" Number two, prospects don't buy anything for ten reasons. In most cases, they buy for one major reason and one minor reason.

This Sells the Kinfolk, Too

The reason you make the list is so the prospect can see the logic of the concept.

This could have a bearing. Also, many times when people buy they need reinforcement, so when they discuss their purchase with husbands, wives, relatives, friends, etc., they have some additional facts to give them. Many people happily buy and then later cancel because their acquaintances either kid or ridicule them for having made what they consider a poor decision. This process of listing these reasons in this "Ben Franklin" Close not only helps to make the sale but many times helps to keep the sale.

Because of this I encourage you to fol ow the process. Later I cover what I cal

"emotional logic" and wil give you more of the reasons why I strongly encourage you to use it.

Every close should be an educational process, and although this one does not give any new reasons for buying, it does sum up the ones previously covered.

This helps to reassure the prospect and give him added confidence that his new decision (in the event he earlier had said no) is the right decision.

There are two other important factors. First, a prospect can be given al the facts concerning goods, products, or services and stil miss the major point. Second, a prospect can get al the facts and stil make the wrong decision. The "Ben Franklin" Close helps to make certain the prospect doesn't miss the major point, and the summation process further reduces the chances of the prospect making the wrong decision.

The "Pedestal" Close

This is one you use in a husband-wife situation when the wife rather forceful y speaks up during part of the demonstration or close and says, "We can't afford it!" When this happens, general y speaking, one of two situations exists. She either rules the roost (or as we would say down home, she wears the pants in the family), or she is at the other end of the scale and is completely dominated by the husband.

If hers is the latter situation, she makes the statement for point-scoring and/or self-sacrificing purposes. She is trying to curry favor with her husband by showing him she is wil ing to "give up" something which he might think she wants in order to gain future favors and benefits which would be worth more to her.

her.

In either event, if you're going to get the sale, you're going to have to put her on a pedestal for her husband to see and so you can deal with her from a more advantageous position.

When she says, "We can't afford it," you smile as you turn to the husband and say, "You know, Mr. Prospect, it always excites me when I hear a wife make that kind of statement. I say this because I believe she made that statement because she's afraid you might buy this just f or her. Frankly, Mr.

Prospect, I don't believe your wife wants this product just for herself. It's refreshing to know there are folks like your wife in our country, isn't it? [What can the man say but something nice?] You, Mr. Prospect, are certainly fortunate to find such an unselfish helpmate. Of course, she's fortunate, too, because I'm going to bet you're the kind of man who is going to express your appreciation for having such a special wife in a very real and concrete way."

The "Right" Words Plus Good Voice Inflection Equals Sale Let's pause now and look at the position in which you have placed both of them.

First, you have placed her on a pedestal. From here on in, that lady is going to think you're a very astute salesman. She wil be wil ing to listen to you because you make sense and, most importantly, you have made her feel important.

You're in pretty good shape with the husband, too, because not only have you chal enged him to be his best self by supplying his wife with a want/need but you've also complimented him.

With this thought in mind, you continue the sales process. "Actual y, Mr. and Mrs. Prospect, nobody is making any kind of sacrifice for anybody, because even though the wife might be the one to use the product, everyone in the family is going to benefit and it is the entire family we're concerned about, isn't it?

"Yes, Mr. Prospect, it's obvious that your wife wants the product [Now here are the key words. Lower your voice, look the husband in the eye, and say], but worse than she wants it, she wants you to want her to have it. Isn't that right, Mrs. Prospect?"

I can't tel you the number of times I've had the lady say, "Wel , yeah, it would be nice to have," and then before she can say anything else, I offer a handshake to the husband and say, "Mr. Prospect, I'd like to congratulate you twice-first for

the husband and say, "Mr. Prospect, I'd like to congratulate you twice-first for having married this kind of lady and second for being the kind of man who expresses his appreciation in a very positive way. You are going to love this product!"

Does That Stuff Real y Work? The answer is yes, these procedures work-some of the time. Remember, too, that each close you use gives your prospect another chance to go ahead and make a new decision. He now has more facts for a new decision or more emotional involvement, which means the prospect is exerting inner pressure on himself to buy.

I remind you, too, that each close should be a process which raises the value of the product or service in the prospect's mind. Obviously, if you keep raising that value in the prospect's mind, if you know and use enough emotional and/or educational closes, you wil eventual y have value higher than the price, and therefore theoretical y you wil always make the sale.

That is actual y what would always happen if your prospect were a computer.

Obviously, he is a person and not a computer. So much for the theory.

But this I promise. The closing procedures I'm describing wil increase your closing percentage, and in many cases that increase wil be substantial.

Remember, too, if you are strictly on commission, each 1 percent in increased closing effectiveness wil increase your net income from 2 to 10

percent, because your costs remain almost exactly the same.

The "Hat in Hand" Close

Many times in the sales world, try as you might, you wil be unable to "smoke out" the real reason the prospect is not buying. It's frustrating to sense the presence of a sale and yet miss it because the prospect won't level with you.

There is obviously a limit as to how far you can go with a prospect before you not only cause him not to buy but permanently lose any chance of having him as a future customer. When it becomes obvious that you are backing up and your probing, persistence, and questioning approach is not producing results, the "Hat in Hand" approach has been known to work. I learned the basic procedure from Bil Cranford, my first sales trainer. Later, Doug Edwards and Dick Gardner added the refining touches.

Here's the way it works.

When it is clear you have missed the sale, you "fold your tent" by putting your samples or your papers into your briefcase. In yesteryear al salespeople wore hats, so the name "Hat in Hand" Close was born in those days. Today some sales trainers cal it the "Lost Sale" Close. As you pack your papers, giving every indication of leaving, you express your appreciation to the prospect for his time and express the hope that at some future date you wil be able to do business with him. You get up to leave and as you head for the door, you turn to the prospect and say, "Mr.

Prospect, I'm embarrassed to ask you this, but it would mean a lot to my career if you would help me by answering a question [an amazing number of people are wil ing to help and wil indicate this wil ingness]." You then say, "Obviously, you have not done any business with us today and that's al right. I certainly don't sel everybody. I had hoped you would buy because I thought our product fit your needs. However, you have chosen not to buy and I feel badly about it because I did not explain it thoroughly enough to make the benefits more obvious. It would real y be helpful to me, as I cal on other people, if you would identify the mistakes I made and where I dropped the bal as a salesman."

You wil get an amazing number of answers, but in most cases they wil say, "It wasn't your fault at al . We didn't buy because. . ." and at this point they wil bring up the real reason. When this happens, you clap your hands or snap your fingers and say, "Oh, boy! Did I ever blow it! No wonder you hesitated to act until now! Had I been in your shoes, I would have done exactly the same thing.

How could I have made such a mistake?"

You quickly open your briefcase, give him the answer to the objection, and close by asking if this makes the difference in his decision. This doesn't happen often, but from personal experience I can tel you there is the occasional sale which can be gained with this method. When it happens, it's a total bonus because it was a sale which, for al practical purposes, had been completely lost.

Two things I emphasize: First, make it extremely brief, and if you don't immediately get the order, it's time to graciously make your departure.

Second point: If you truly believe you and your product can serve the prospect, then you real y are acting in his best interests. This procedure requires a degree of audacity or boldness, but one way to be an "old" salesman instead of an ex"

of audacity or boldness, but one way to be an "old" salesman instead of an ex"

salesman is to be a bold salesman.

Suppose the Prospect Says Nothing

From time to time a sales situation arises which can be frustrating and difficult.

The salesperson asks an obligating question and the prospect says absolutely nothing. It might have happened to you, and if it hasn't, I can assure you that your day is coming.

After asking the obligating question, you sit there and say nothing. He sits there and says nothing. In short, nobody says anything. Years ago there was a school of thought which taught that the one who spoke first was going to lose. Fifteen or twenty years ago that might have been true, but today, with one exception, which I cover in chapter 35, that is general y not true. Here's why: The buyers of today are more knowledgeable and sophisticated and the ask-the-obligating-questions-acid-keepyour-mouth-shut approach has been around so long that many prospects are aware of it. There is also a good chance the prospect wasn't listening or didn't clearly understand the question. He might have been thinking about other things and suddenly realized you were quiet and wondered why.

Another reason this approach may not be sound is that the prospect might feel you are using pressure, resent it, and decide to "wait you out." That could be time-consuming.

The "Mother" Close

Here is a better approach. When you ask the obligating question and get no response, wait a reasonable length of time. How long is that? I have no idea, because it wil vary. Experience and your commonsense feeling wil dictate the length of time, but it wil general y be from ten to sixty seconds.

However, I can tel you this: When you see the red start up the prospect's neck, before it gets to his earlobes it's time for you to say something. Look him in the eye, smile, and say, "Mr. Prospect, when I was a little fel ow [or a little girl], my mother told me silence gave consent. Mr. Prospect, do you think my mother was tel ing me the truth?"

This breaks the silence and puts the bal back in the prospect's court. The question is, what is the prospect going to do? I don't think he wil say,

"No, your mother was a liar!" You might wonder if this is "pressure sel ing."

Could be-but its primary purpose is to help the prospect put pressure on himself.

Could be-but its primary purpose is to help the prospect put pressure on himself.

The next story wil be helpful in further clarifying the point while teaching you how to get permission from the prospect to help him apply that pressure to himself.

The Chuck Adkins Story

From time to time, despite our preconceived ideas, pet formulas, and set approaches, along comes an individual who upsets al our theories and ideas.

Chuck Adkins was such a man. Chuck didn't "look like" a salesman. Twenty minutes after he shaved, he looked like he needed to shave again. He was not a fat man, but he had an extremely large stomach which hung wel over his belt. He wore loafers which had never seen the soft side of a brush or shine cloth.

Stealing a line from the old Pepsodent toothpaste commercial, you didn't

"wonder where the yel ow went" when you saw Chuck smile.

He should never have been hired, because he didn't have a car and he didn't "fit"

with the rest of the salespeople. However, he did have a bicycle and the six-dol ar bond fee. Considerably more important, hiring Chuck represented a promotion for an ambitious young dealer.

The rules were clear that dealers had to have five people in production to qualify for the promotion, and the young man who hired Chuck had four and needed only one more. Chuck was given a contract with the ful expectation that he would be in and out of the business in about three days.

However, Chuck fooled us al . Not only did he stay but in short order he was the leader among the five. Then he quickly became the leader in the entire area, then number one in the state, number one in the entire South, and number seven in the nation.

Despite his physical appearance (actual y, he "cleaned up" pretty good), Chuck was a hard worker and had this "difficult to put your finger on"

quality cal ed "charm." I watched the growth of Chuck strictly through the reports and through phone conversations with his manager. When he took over as the number one man in the South, I decided it was time to go see what he was doing. By then Chuck had moved to Georgetown, South Carolina, and was working for a dealership promotion himself.

I arrived in Georgetown bright and early Monday morning so I could watch him

I arrived in Georgetown bright and early Monday morning so I could watch him handle al phases of the business. I observed how he booked demonstrations. I observed him putting on a demonstration, and I watched him closing sales. I tel Chuck's story because there are three lessons which wil help al of us be more productive in our chosen field. I'l get to those lessons in a moment.

Never wil I forget the demonstration I viewed that evening. Chuck and his helper cooked a ful -demonstration meal for several couples. Personal y, I was embarrassed to be there. Never have I seen such a messy, sloppy demonstration.

I was delighted that I did not have to eat any of the food.

Nevertheless, the couples seemed to enjoy themselves, and Chuck did a good job of getting his points across. When the demonstration was over, he made appointments with the couples who had been invited, and when they had made their departure, Chuck sat down to close the sale with the host and hostess.

On the surface, Chuck was friendly, jovial, easygoing, and apparently even lackadaisical in his approach to life in general and business in particular.

However, when it came time to close the sale, Chuck went straight for the jugular. I was real y amazed that I had worked with the man al day and had not seen even a hint of this "kil er instinct" which leaped to the surface. He real y sat on the host and hostess and in the process threw common sense and judgment out the window. As a net result, after a few minutes the host almost literal y exploded as he slapped his hand down on the table, hopped up, and with considerable heat, proceeded to tel Chuck he did not respond to any such "high-pressure tactics," and he would never buy from any high-pressure salesman.

The "Pressure Permission" Close

As I sat there in some amusement, some fright, and some embarrassment, I wondered how Chuck was going to extricate himself from this situation. In my mind there was no way Chuck could do anything other than save his hide. The possibility of a sale was so remote that it was-to my way of thinking-nonexistent.

What happened next was something I'l never forget. Chuck remained as cool as anyone I've ever seen in my life. He simply sat there with a stunned look on his face. Then he slowly shook his head from side to side. Halfway talking to himself and halfway talking to me and the prospect, he said,

"Mr. Prospect, I wouldn't have had this happen for anything in the world! I am terribly, terribly embarrassed. Mr. Zig [that's what he cal ed me] is my boss, and

terribly, terribly embarrassed. Mr. Zig [that's what he cal ed me] is my boss, and I'm afraid he's going to think that I am a high-pressure salesman like you say I am. Actual y, Mr. Prospect, I hate high-pressure salesmen worse than you do, and if you thought I was using pressure on you, I don't blame you a bit for getting upset. I would have done exactly the same thing. I especial y hate it because here I am, a guest in your home, and you were kind enough to invite in your friends and neighbors to see a demonstration as a favor to me, so I am just terribly, terribly sorry and embarrassed about the whole thing. I don't in the least blame you for getting upset, because if I thought somebody was using high pressure on me, I would get upset, too."

This little speech probably took about two minutes, but Chuck's calm manner and sincerity-combined with the fact that he had kept his seat-worked miracles on the prospect. After a moment or two, he sat back down and Chuck asked,

"Mr. Prospect, wil you accept my apology, and can we stil be friends?" With that, the old farmer smiled and said, "Wel , I don't guess there's any harm done,"

and with that Chuck extended his hand and the two men shook on the friendship agreement.

What happened next is one of those things which you see and hearand please believe me when I say I was al eyes and ears-but even after you see it and hear it, you ask yourself, "Did I real y see and hear what I saw and heard?" At this point Chuck said, "Mr. Prospect, I guess I just got carried away, but would you mind if I asked you a question?" Prospect: "No, go ahead." Chuck: "Mr.

Prospect, if I saw that you were about to make a mistake which would cost you money and cause your wife to do a lot of extra and unnecessary work, would you appreciate it if I told you about it or would you just figure it was none of my business?" Prospect: "If you saw me about to make a serious financial mistake that would also cause my wife to do extra work, I'd want you to let me know about it."

At that point Chuck gave him the big of Pepsodent grin and, with the innocence of a newborn babe, said, "Wel , Mr. Prospect, that's exactly what I was trying to do-and you got upset with me. Now I'm wil ing to try it one more time if you'l promise me you won't get upset with me." To my utter astonishment, the man promised to keep his cool and Chuck proceeded to close that sale.

In reflecting on the situation, Chuck Adkins, this man who was functional y il iterate, had taught me an important sales lesson. He had literal y asked for permission to apply pressure to the prospect-and the prospect had wil ingly

permission to apply pressure to the prospect-and the prospect had wil ingly granted that permission. The question "Mr. Prospect, if I saw that you were about to make a serious mistake which would cost you lots of money and cause your wife to do unnecessary work, would you appreciate it if I told you about it or would you figure it was none of my business?" asked for permission to use pressure. It worked. Chuck made the sale.

The second great lesson I learned from Chuck Adkins was the importance of positive expectancy when you deal with every prospect. As I've indicated, Chuck's education was limited. He could fil out an order if the customer gave the standard order with standard payments. If the customer substituted a coffeemaker for a juicer, bought an extra utility pan, changed the payments in any way, or made any other changes which were not precisely detailed in the chart, then Chuck was lost. Ful y onethird of the orders Chuck sent us did not have a total as far as the size of the sale was concerned. Chuck handled those orders this way.

"Mr. Prospect, I don't know exactly what your total is, but it's about $ , so just go ahead and give me forty dol ars as the deposit and Mr. Zig wil figure out the exact amount of the order." Incredibly enough, virtual y no one ever argued with or questioned Chuck. They gave him the money and Chuck wrote the order because Chuck expected the customer to give him the order.

The third great lesson Chuck taught me was that al of us can learn valuable lessons and techniques from some unlikely people. The fact that Chuck taught how to get permission to use a little pressure does not mean that Chuck knew more about sel ing than you and I know. It does mean that Chuck knew at least one technique which was new to me.

Message: Learn whenever and wherever lessons are being taught.

PART 6

The Keys in Closing

OBJECTIVES

To sel you a philosophy as it specifical y relates to the world of sel ing and to give you the keys in closing or persuading.

To share additional ideas, methods, techniques, and procedures that wil increase your sales effectiveness on a daily basis and enhance your career for a lifetime.

CLOSES AND/OR PROCEDURES

The "Sure Sale" Close

The "Neiman-Marcus" Close

The "Assumptive" Close Revisited

The "Kreepy Krauly" Close

The "Smel Good" Close

The "Proper Dress" Close

The "Look and Listen" Close

The "Enthusiasm" Close

The "Presidential" Close

The "Three Question" Close

The "Greatest Salesman" Close

The "Dinner Out" Close

The "Dinner Out" Close

The "Hep 'Em Git It" Close

The "Impending Event" Close

The "Pressure Belief" Close

The "I Can Get 'Em" Close

The "I'l Treat You Right" Close

The "And Then Some" Close

The "Integrity" Close

The "Signature" Close

The "Narrative" Close

31

Four Ideas and the Keys

to Sales Success

I start this segment with four ideas which you need to buy.

First idea: There is not now, there never has been, and there never wil be an outstanding salesperson, one who climbs to the top, one who breaks the records and sel s more than anyone else; there's never been a real sales champion who was "normal." In every single case they are a little bit

"warped" in their belief in what they are sel ing.

It is beyond their wildest imagination how anybody could possibly even remotely entertain the idea of thinking about saying no. Because they feel this strongly about what they sel , by the very force of their convictions, by the depth of their belief, by their enthusiasm, they are able to persuade many people who are not real y hot prospects to go ahead and buy.

However, despite al their zeal, enthusiasm, and belief, they inevitably wil

However, despite al their zeal, enthusiasm, and belief, they inevitably wil encounter that stubborn, hardheaded, nonbelieving individual who is stil going to say no. When this happens it could create a problem in the mind of the salesperson. His belief in what he sel s is so deep he rationalizes that no prospect would say no if he clearly understood and believed the salesperson's claims about the product. He therefore rationalizes that the prospect is not saying no to the product-it's too good-but rather the prospect is saying no to the salesperson.

In short, with this attitude the salesperson is going to-if he or she is not careful-feel rejected.

Refusal or Rejection

Second idea: The salesperson must clearly understand the difference between refusal and rejection if he's going to keep his ego intact and be able to sel his product effectively. My son has clearly understood this difference from the time he was about three years old. When he asked for something and I said no, he did not feel rejected. He simply felt his dad had missed the question. He waited two or three minutes and gave me another chance to correct an obvious mistake.

When the prospect says no to you, you should be as nice to him as my son was to me and as your children probably are to you (if you have children). Give him (your prospect) the benefit of the doubt; give him a chance to correct what surely is an obvious mistake. In your mind, when he says no you should definitely feel it is a mistake and proceed from there, giving him a chance to correct that mistake by saying yes.

No "Born" Salesmen

Third idea: You do not have to be a "natural born" salesperson in order to be a good one. As a matter of fact, I've traveled almost al over the world and I've seen that women have given birth to boys and I've seen that they've given birth to girls, but thus far I've never seen that a woman has given birth to a salesman.

Now, I've seen that salesmen die, so if they're not born but they do die, then obviously somewhere between birth and death-by choice and by training-they become what they decide to become, namely, trained professional salesmen.

Message: Don't come up with the "loser's limp" that you are not a "born salesman." That's true. But you definitely can be trained to sel and this book is playing a part in that training.

Fourth idea: You must remember who wins in the sales transaction. I covered

Fourth idea: You must remember who wins in the sales transaction. I covered this in the second chapter. If you recal , I asked if you stil had al the money you had earned in the last year of sel ing. Next I asked if you had prospects who stil benefited from something you sold them more than a year ago. The answer was obvious. Hopeful y, you recal that you came to the conclusion the prospect was the big winner. When you ful y understand and believe the prospect is the big winner, you can close more enthusiastical y and forceful y because you understand that the sales process, when fol owed with integrity, is something you do for someone, not to someone.

Tie Logic and Emotion Together

Seldom is any effective close or procedure going to utilize only one technique or principle. Here's an example that ties emotion and logic together with a

"reduction to the ridiculous" procedure.

Remember, when a person brings up a logical objection you answer it emotional y, and when he brings up an emotional objection you answer it logical y.

At one time I represented a bicycle company and was responsible for much of the training of their salespeople. A common objection was the price of the bicycle, which was about twenty dol ars higher than other bicycles that were approximately equal in quality. This particular company emphatical y claimed their bicycle had the finest brakes in the industry.

When the price objection arose, we taught the salespeople to focus on the brakes, explaining their effectiveness, durability, and most of al , their dependability.

Frequently the customer stil came back to the price objection. At that point we instructed the salespeople to get involved in this dialogue: Salesman: "Mr.

Prospect, approximately how long do you think your child wil ride this bicycle?"

Prospect: "I don't know. Several years; probably five, maybe even longer."

Salesman: "OK, let's take five years-and if this bicycle only costs twenty dol ars more, that means it's costing you four dol ars per year for the best brakes in the industry." (We also taught the salespeople to bring out that familiar little talking pad so the prospect could see that the price was four dol ars per year.) "Since there are three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, Mr. Prospect, you're talking about little more than a penny per day for the finest brakes available for your child's bicycle."

The salesperson was instructed to pause for several seconds, then quietly say, "If these brakes enabled your child to stop when a car backs out in front of him one

these brakes enabled your child to stop when a car backs out in front of him one time in a five-year span, they would be worth far more than twenty dol ars, wouldn't they?" The procedure was effective because the salespeople were absolutely convinced of the truth of the statement-or was it a question? There was logic in the approach that a penny a day was

certainly insignificant, but the emotional impact was even greater. In the prospect's imagination, he could visualize his child always being able to stop his bicycle quickly to avoid danger.

The Keys in Selling

There are eleven keys in sel ing which wil make you more professional and help you close more sales. These keys involve attitudes, procedures, and techniques.

In some cases al three wil be involved, and in rare instances none of these wil fit you or your situation (if I could think of even one, I'd share it with you).

As we look at the keys in closing, the very first key we're going to look at is what I cal the "Key of Positive Projection." I want to emphasize as strongly as I know how that your business is never either good or bad-out there. Your business is either good or bad between your own two ears. In your mind you should have made the sale before you even talk to the prospect. Whether he comes in to see you or whether you go out to see him, you've got to understand, you've got to sel him in your mind before you actual y physical y sel him. The eleven keys in sel ing are: 1. Positive Projection

2. The Assumptive Attitude

3. Physical Action

4. Enthusiasm

5. The Subordinate Question

6. Listen

7. The Impending Event

8. Persistence

9. Inducement

9. Inducement

10. Sincerity

11. The Narrative Event

Just Looking!

If you work in a retail outlet, chances are good you've had a prospect come in and slowly look around, and as you approach him he says, "I'm just looking."

The question is, did you believe him when he said he was "just looking"? I hope you did, because that's exactly what he was doing! Just looking.

I didn't realize that fact for a long, long time, but in 1973, Julie, our youngest daughter, graduated from high school. For graduation we had promised her a new automobile, and buying that car was an exciting event.

Now let me confess that I've never sold automobiles, but if you were to ask me to write a description of a super-good automobile prospect, here's the way I would describe that prospect: A daddy with a daughter who had just graduated from high school. He publicly announces he's going to buy her a car and gives some indication he has the money to do it. From where I sit, I'd say that's a pretty good prospect!

Don't Offer Charity

I had been at work when we went down to look at cars, so I was dressed in a business suit. My daughter hadn't been to bed the night before because she had been getting dressed for the big event.

This was to be her first car, and she was al dol ed up in her "Sunday go to meetin" best. I was driving a fairly new "Ninety-eight" Oldsmobile, so between the two of us we gave some indication of being at least mildly prosperous. When she got out of our car, Julie wasn't walking-she was floating into that dealership.

Despite that fact, the young salesman came to us and offered charity. He asked,

"Can I help you?" Despite his charitable offer, we were in a hurry, so I didn't beat around the bush. I responded, "My daughter just graduated from high school and we're looking for a car for her as a graduation gift."

Word of honor, he looked at us and said, "Wel , if you see anything you like, let

Word of honor, he looked at us and said, "Wel , if you see anything you like, let me know," and he turned around and walked away.

I have no idea if the young salesman stayed in the business another day. I do know that regardless of how long he stayed in the business, he never had a better prospect. Like most prospects, we had started with the dealership which sold the cars my daughter was interested in.

The young salesman "blew it." I thought he was pretty bad until we got to the next dealership. This salesman said exactly the same words, and in addition he had B.O. The third dealership was almost as bad, but when we went to the fourth dealership we got lucky.

Yes-They Are "Just" Looking

What do I mean, "we got lucky"? Very simple. My daughter had dated the salesman, so we had a connection with the dealership and were able to buy a car.

This helped me to understand two things which I had not previously understood: First, I understood why we were having a recession. We couldn't get waited on!

The second thing I understood was that when a prospect comes in and says,

"We're just looking," or "I'm just looking," you can bet your last nickel they are

"just looking"-but it's desperately looking! For a salesperson! To sel them something-so they don't have to keep on looking!

Think as a Buyer and as a Seller

Now let me go back to chapter 8 on empathy and sympathy. You want to hear what the prospect says and what he is saying. I want you to think as a sel er and as a buyer. When you go shopping, would you rather find what you want in the first store or the tenth store? Odds are about forty-three to one you would much prefer to find what you want in the first store, wouldn't you? As a sel er, the next time somebody comes in to see you and says he's "just looking," it should bring a smile instead of a frown. Careful-don't overreact. Don't grab and hug just smile.

If the shopper seems to be shy and introverted, as you smile take a step backwards (you must come across as nonthreatening and nonpushy) and say,

"We're delighted to have you with us. Look as long as you like. My name is , and if you would like some help, it wil be a pleasure for me. [And as an afterthought] Oh, and incidental y, if we don't have exactly what you want, I could probably tel you where to find it. Is that fair euough?"

could probably tel you where to find it. Is that fair euough?"

If the customer is obviously an outgoing, extroverted, hail-fel owwel -met kind of person, you should smile broadly and say, "Congratulations! You have just found someone who is interested in helping you find exactly what you want. If we don't have it, I'l suggest the place or person who can solve the problem. Is that fair enough?"

"Is that fair enough?" is a very vital question to ask. Our nature is such that we have a wish, even a need, to be fair. The "Is that fair enough?"

question wil almost always bring a yes answer, which means you have just scored your first points in a sales game designed to produce two winners: you and the prospect. To repeat myself, when the prospect says he's "just looking,"

you real y ought to be grinning al over.

The "Sure Sale" Close

This next story dramatizes the power of the Key of Positive Projection.

Several years ago a smal East Coast printing company started an expansion program. Every six months a new salesman was hired and started his training in the office with product knowledge and procedure. Next the new salesman went into the field with an experienced sales trainer who taught him sales skil s and technique. Final y, the new salesman got his sales "wings" after an interview with the company president, who gave him that last little pep talk.

On one occasion the company hired a young salesman who was especial y green and lacking in self-confidence. As a matter of fact, he was so scared the boss figured he'd better give him a little extra help. After the fairly standard "you can do it" pep talk, he said to the salesman, "Son, I'l tel you what I'm going to do. I'm going to send you across the street to see a'sure sale' prospect. This is where I always send our new salesmen for one very simple reason-that old boy is a buyer. He always buys something. But, son, let me give you a word of warning.

He's mean, nasty, ornery, and foulmouthed. He's going to make you think he's going to bite your head off, chew it up, and spit it out in little bitty pieces.

"Put your mind at ease, son. He's al bark and no bite. Regardless of what he says, I want you to hang in there and say, `Yes, sir, I understand, but I have the finest printing offer in this entire city and this is what you ought to get.' It makes no difference what he says, you stand your ground and come back at him.

difference what he says, you stand your ground and come back at him.

Remember-he always gives our new salesmen an order."

Go Get 'Em, Tiger!

Our charged-up hero crossed the street, walked in the door, introduced himself and his company, and for the next five minutes those were the only words our young salesman had a chance to say. That old boy real y tore into him. He told him how the cow ate the cabbage in no uncertain terms.

He introduced that young man to a segment of the English language which he had never known existed. However, our hero, because he had been prewarned, hung in there. He said, "Yes, sir, I understand, but this is the finest printing offer in this entire city, this is what you ought to have." Back and forth they went and after about thirty minutes he made the biggest sale in the history of the printing company.

Natural y, the young salesman was excited about the order. He picked up his briefcase, made a mad dash across the street, threw the order on the boss's desk, and said, "You were right about that old man! He is mean, nasty, ornery, and foulmouthed, but I'l tel you something else about that nice old buzzard [our attitude is affected when the prospect buys, isn't it?]-he is a buyer! I've got the biggest order in the history of this company, just look!"

The boss looked at the order in astonishment and said, "Oh, my goodness, son!

You cal ed on the wrong man! That old man is the meanest, nastiest, orneriest, most foulmouthed old goat we have ever dealt with! We have been trying for over fifteen years to sel him something and he's never bought a dime's worth of anything from any of us!"

Make the Sale-in Your Mind

Question: Where did he make the sale? Now I don't think there's a doubt in your mind, is there? You know the salesman made the sale in his mind before he crossed the street. He was using the Key of Positive Projection. Al the young man did was go across the street, total y prepared, even wil ing to take some abuse because he knew he was going to make the sale.

Suppose the boss had said, "Now, son, I'm going to send you across the street, but I don't real y know why. I've been sending my best people over there for fifteen years and that old buzzard's been chewing them up and nobody has ever

fifteen years and that old buzzard's been chewing them up and nobody has ever sold him a dime's worth of anything!" How much chance do you think he would have had to make the sale? None! Al I'm saying is that you must make the sale in your mind before you ever talk to the prospect. This is true whether you solicit your business on a direct basis or you run a retail business with your customers coming in to see you.

Dril -Practice-Rehearse-Project. Your planning, preparation, and projection before you see the prospect wil determine, to a large degree, what happens after you see the prospect. It's more than just a cliche that spectacular performance is preceded by unspectacular preparation. In the classroom a sales wreck (mistake) is an inexpensive learning experience. The same wreck (mistake) with a good prospect not only is expensive for the salesman and his company but is discouraging as wel . If it is repeated too frequently or over a period of time, it wil end the career of the salesman. Physical and mental preparation, complete with dril and rehearsal, wil get you technical y and emotional y ready to sel .

This is practice without pressure. To go with this you need that mental projection of making that sale in your mind before you see the prospect. The beautiful things about mental practice, as Dr. Maxwel Maltz said, is that you gain perfection on the playing field of your mind. You do everything exactly right, respond to every question with the best possible answer, meet every objection in the best possible way, and end up with the sale.

On this playing field of your mind you can develop enormous confidence and courage. If there is anything consistent with al of the supersalespeople in the world, it is that they do have confidence they can succeed. They put this confidence into action with courage.

If you're going to be a successful closer, you've got to mental y see yourself as a closer before you physical y close the order. You write the order in your mind when you first get out of bed every morning. You start writing and you continue to write those orders in your mind al day long. The professional salesperson is observing, thinking, sel ing, and closing al the time. Closing becomes a part of him. He burns it into his subconscious mind. On every sales interview he projects successful results so that inevitably the end results are a foregone conclusion.

Just in case you think I overstate the importance of making the sale in your mind before you see the prospect, let me point out that a study done by S.M.E.I. (Sales and Marketing Executives International) revealed that the number one reason

and Marketing Executives International) revealed that the number one reason salesmen fail is their tendency to prejudge the prospect and decide in advance that he might not or even wil not buy. As I stated earlier, you should prejudge the prospect, find him guilty, and convict him of buying before you see him.

I'm not certain the salesperson in the next story "saw us coming," but based on the way she handled the transaction, I'm convinced she "tries and convicts"

every prospect who walks into her department and "sentences" them to buy.

The "Neiman-Marcus" Close

Several years ago the Redhead and I were at a department store doing some Christmas shopping. We rode the escalator to the mezzanine floor, and as we stepped off, we saw a beautiful fur coat on a mannequin. I looked at the fur and at the Redhead. She looked at the fur and at me. Both of us knew without either one of us saying a word that we were looking at her coat. We both stopped at the same time to give it a good once-over. I looked at one part of the coat and she looked at another part. I'l bet most of my readers can tel me which part each one us of examined. The Redhead grabbed the sleeve and looked at the price tag. I unbuttoned the coat, looked at the lining, felt the fur, and said, "Sweetheart, this is magnificent." By then she had seen the price and said, "It ought to be!" And with that, she turned around to walk away.

When she turned around she literal y bumped into one of the sharpest salesladies I've ever seen anywhere. She was a short, pleasant, grandmotherly type whom you would instantly like and trust. She looked right at my wife and with a twinkle in her eye said, "Honey, that is a beautiful coat, isn't it?" Sugar Baby: "It ought to be!" Saleslady: "Wel , you apparently only looked at the price tag. Let me show you what you should have looked at." Very quickly she took physical action (I cover the Physical Action Key in sel ing in chapter 32) as she opened the coat and said, "Look at the Eliot label. When you see that name, especial y when combined with our reputation, it means quality and satisfaction. This coat wil be with you a long time, and it wil be beautiful and practical every day you wear it." Then smoothly and easily she slipped the coat off the mannequin as she said, "Let's try it on, just for size." (Now she is physical y getting my wife completely involved.) The Redhead (protesting ever so mildly) slipped the coat on and the saleslady asked, "How does it feel?" Sugar Baby: "Wel , it feels good, but it ought to!" (She's stil thinking about the price.) Then the saleslady did something which was truly beautiful and professional as she said, "Wel , honey, what you ought to do [and she didn't have a pad to talk with in this situation] is take that price tag and divide by ten. You wil wear that coat five or six years and

take that price tag and divide by ten. You wil wear that coat five or six years and then your husband wil probably have a clutch cape or jacket made from it and you'l wear the new garment another five or six years. Actual y, you can wear this beautiful fur for less than a cloth coat would cost, since you would have to buy a cloth one every three or four years.

And," she said, "honey, this is quality, and on you it looks natural." (Love that word in this situation!) Pressure? Sure-but So Gentle It Felt Good!

Then she looked right at my wife and then at me. As she took her eyes off my wife to look at me, she glanced back and caught my wife gently stroking the fur.

When she saw this she broke out in the biggest grin you've ever seen. She knew, and she knew that she knew, she had the sale.

(Despite her verbal protests, my wife's body language-which cannot lie-had revealed her true feelings.) She looked back at my wife and said, "You know, honey, you're one of the lucky ones. There are an amazing number of wives who come in here and drool over a coat like this. Unfortunately, their husbands are not cut from the same cloth as yours [I hadn't said a word, but apparently my body language had also given me away] and are unwil ing to get something this nice for their wives."

Guess who left with a coat? That's exactly right! That dear lady had put me on such a high pedestal I just couldn't let her down, could I? It wasn't too hard to convince the Redhead that she should "let me get it for her."

Does It Work?

Even though the entire transaction lasted less than five minutes, there were several important principles involved.

Number one, the salesperson was alert, on her toes, and in love with her job. She observed the little twenty-second drama that took place as my Redhead looked at the price and I looked at the fur. She might have heard me comment on the coat, but I can't definitely state that she did.

Number two, she immediately got my wife physical y involved (she saw that I was sold, so she figured it was one down, one to go!). Number three, she knew my wife real y wanted the coat but apparently didn't feel it was practical.

Number four, she broke the cost down on a "reduction to the ridiculous"

approach so both of us could see it was practical and affordable.

approach so both of us could see it was practical and affordable.

She gave us a reason to buy (it was practical) and an excuse to buy (the Redhead real y did want the coat). One more time. Any time you can give a prospect an excuse and a reason for buying, and make it easy for him or her to buy, the odds are great the sale is yours for the asking.

32

Selling and Courting

Run Parallel Paths

The second key in closing the sale is the "Key of the Assumptive Attitude." As a starting point for this key, let me suggest that sel ing and courting run paral el paths. For the ladies who read this, I apologize in advance because this analogy won't have as much value to you as it wil have for the guys. Actual y, you are the ones who could write the book on this particular subject. But, fel ows, let me urge you to stay tuned in because I honestly believe this wil have considerable value for you.

I'm convinced that if you know anything at al about courting, you already know a great deal about sel ing. Question for the guys: When you were single and courting (or if you stil are), did you ever ask your date, "Honey, can I hold your hand?" "Do you mind if I put my arm around you?" "Is it al right if I kiss you?

Just one time, that's al I want, just one kiss?"

If you did or do court that way, chances are pretty good you are stil single. Next question: Did you ever kiss a girl? Chances are good if you are a guy you answered in the affirmative, which means you kissed her without permission.

Question for the distaff side: Did the suitor in the above example kiss you without permission? Yes No Note: In a seminar situation, when I ask this question the girls wil invariably respond with a big, laughing yes. At that point I playful y cal them a bunch of liars and they al laugh.

Actual y, in most cases the guy probably had permission to kiss the girl long before he took advantage of it. Chances are even better, however, that the girl didn't pucker up and say, "OK, partner, now plant it there!" That's not the way it's done!

it's done!

To tie this courting example directly to the sale of a product or service, I can guarantee you that when you knock on a prospect's door, whether it's his home or office, he's not going to open the door and enthusiastical y proclaim, "Oh, thank goodness, you final y got here! I've been waiting for one of your people to come by for years! Come on in! I'l go get my checkbook while you start writing the order!" You couldn't pay the light bil on the profits from prospects who

"bought" like that.

In Selling and Courting You Assume and Imagine a Lot Then how does the prospect say yes? Exactly the same way the girl said yes. Fel ows, did you ever try to hold hands with a girl and she said, "No!"

then a few minutes later you were walking down the street holding hands? What she was saying initial y was, "Based on the information you've given me thus far, I can see no justification whatsoever in indulging in a handholding exercise with you."

Obviously, she didn't verbalize that, but that's what she was saying. By her actions she was saying, "Now look, Charlie Brown, the night is young. Be patient. Take your time-and SELL!" In sel ing we can sel more if we transfer what we learn in the world of courting to the world of sel ing by remembering that in the world of courting and in the world of sel ing, you do a great deal of assuming and imagining.

In courting you assumed when you asked the girl for a date she was going to say yes. You assumed if you treated her properly on the date, when you got her to the front door you were going to get the good-night kiss. However, you didn't get her to the front door and say, "Honey, I'l tel you what.

It's getting late. Why don't I stop by tomorrow afternoon at half-past five on the way home and get my good-night kiss then?"

Here's Why

There are two basic reasons you would not do this: Number one, you are

"motivated" by being with your date and you've spent an entire evening hoping to get her in the same condition. To bid her good night at that point would negate the effort you had expended for that evening. The second reason is you know

the effort you had expended for that evening. The second reason is you know that the next day you would have to start al over. As a matter of fact, after thinking about it overnight, you might be further behind than you were when you started the day before, because your date might have had second thoughts about granting that good-night kiss.

There are a lot of guys and gals in the world of sel ing who make that mistake in the sales process. After making the ful presentation and going through the demonstration, completely establishing value and covering al the sales bases, when the prospect brings up one lousy little objection or excuse, the salesman often panics, backs away, and says, "OK, I'l see you tomorrow or next week or next month."

Let me tel you something, my sel ing friend. In the world of courting and in the world of sel ing, you must assume from the beginning when you approach the prospect he's going to be delighted to talk to you. You assume you're going to get the appointment. You assume you're going to put on a powerful, professional presentation. You assume he's got the money to buy and you assume he is going to buy from you now. From "hel o" to

"good-bye," in courting and in sel ing, if you assume a lot you wil sel a lot.

You should see the prospect signing the order and transferring a portion of his monetary resources to your estate. You should see in your own mind the transfer of your goods or services to him. In every step of the sales process you assume and see the desired end results.

Visualize and Assume

Sel ing and courtship do run paral el paths. You guys undoubtedly remember when you were young and single and first started dating. You vividly remember exactly what you planned to say when you approached that pretty little girl about going out with you. You rehearsed it in your mind a thousand times and changed your "sales talk" just as often. However, in your excitement and enthusiasm you visualized her nodding and agreeing after a slight demurral that, yes, she would honor you with her presence that evening.

You remember, fel ows, how you planned exactly what you were going to wear and exactly what you were going to say when you picked her up. In your mind you vividly painted the picture a thousand times as to how she was going to be dressed, how she would greet you when you arrived for the big occasion. You

dressed, how she would greet you when you arrived for the big occasion. You drew the picture of that initial little squeeze when you extended your hand to her, and how she would smile and say she was glad you had gotten there. You clearly saw yourself opening the front door for her and chatting as you walked out to the car and then opening that door for her.

You had already careful y planned where you were going to go and what you were going to do. You planned, or should I say "plotted," how you were going to stretch after you were seated in the theater and let your arm kind of "natural y"

end up on the back of her chair and ultimately, "accidental y,"

end up on her shoulder. Then you were going to pat her a couple of times and leave your arm there (you clever rascal!).

You careful y planned how you would stop for a Coke, an ice-cream sundae, or a pizza after the movie. You visualized the slow drive back to her home and, yes, you visualized, as a result of al your graciousness, wonderful conversation, sparkling personality, enthusiastic appreciation of her, and al the other good things, that you were going to be able to-maybe-on that first date, get a good-night kiss. Yep. You planned it al . You visualized it al . You could see it happen. You were on a very important sales cal .

You, Too, Girls

And, girls, with few exceptions you were doing the same thing from your side of the fence (on occasion you do go out with a guy because you have no "better" or

"other" offer and going out with Charlie Schmo beats watching TV). For the guy who made your pulse beat faster, you did a little subtle maneuvering as to how you could regularly, "accidental y," be at the same place as your dream guy. You careful y planned exactly what you would say when he asked you out. Then you visualized what you were going to wear and how you would greet him. You visualized how you would respond when he "accidental y" found his arm around your shoulders. You visualized how you would plant those subtle little hints and suggestions through al of the little maneuvers you girls learned at the knees of your mothers. Actual y, it's a sales process for the boy and the girl, with the girl being more adept because she, from an early age, learned to think as both a buyer and a sel er.

Just Keep It Up

Question: Now that you're sel ing products, goods, or services, why don't you fol

Question: Now that you're sel ing products, goods, or services, why don't you fol ow identical y the same procedure? Oh, I understand the prospect wil not be quite as cooperative as the girl and wil certainly not "plot" to aid you in your sales effort. However, need I remind you if what you sel solves a problem or fil s a need for him, then he, like the girl, is just as interested as you are in "getting acquainted" with that solution. If you real y believe the sales process is something you do for a prospect and not to the prospect, and if your sales technique is as sound and as careful y planned as your courtship process, then more and more of the prospects wil enter into the process I discuss.

Now let's take the courtship process (as in boy/girl) and translate it into the sales process (salesperson/prospect). In the sales process you need to clearly visualize, memorize, dril , and rehearse exactly what you are going to say in the initial approach. You need to visualize the prospect's response. If you are new in sel ing, the chances are excel ent your company has already given you the approach to use and the expected response of the prospect.

In your mind you need to see the prospect responding with, "Yes, you can make your presentation." You need to visualize the presentation as you're going to make it as wel as the response of the prospect. You need to see him nodding and agreeing that, yes, he does have a problem and, yes, your product wil solve that problem. You need to visualize him enthusiastical y receiving the good news about the service you can render.

Yes, the sales process-like the courtship process-is a visualization procedure. If you think the sales process through and apply the same enthusiasm, imagination, and visualization that you applied on those first few dates you had, I can assure you your sales results wil substantial y improve.

Throughout the entire process, whether you are "sel ing" your date or sel ing your prospect merchandise, you assume the ultimate end result. That's easy and natural in the courtship process, but apparently it has to be relearned in the sales process.

Most proposals are not in the form of "Wil you marry me?" and most sales are not in response to "Wil you give me an order?" The end results are brought about by a far subtler assumptive approach. In courtship the suitor, after he has made his presentation, drops little thoughts like, "When we're married we won't have to be in so early," or "Our children wil be so good looking," or "One of the things I'm going to get you when we're married is ." The list is endless but the phrases are al aimed at the same target. They are assumptive closes.

phrases are al aimed at the same target. They are assumptive closes.

The "Assumptive" Close Revisited

One of the most effective assumptive closes I've ever experienced involved one of my pastors, the venerable Dr. W. A. Criswel .

In late 1981, some members of the church approached me about teaching a particular Sunday school class known as the "Auditorium Class."

This class was held in the main auditorium between the two Sunday morning sermons. It was a large class and represented a significant commitment on the teacher's part. I had serious reservations about my qualifications as a Bible teacher.

With this in mind, I expressed my gratitude to the church members for the invitation but also expressed some of my doubts. I told them I would give it careful consideration and would be much in prayer about it. They told me this was the message they would deliver to the pastor.

The next day (I've never seen Uncle Sam so efficient) I received a letter from our pastor thanking me for accepting the assignment and expressing his confidence the class would be an outstanding success. That's the "Assumptive" Close, and in this case it worked to perfection because I wasn't about to say no to Dr. W. A.

Criswel , especial y since I real y wanted to say yes.

Point: Assume the prospect wants to buy because he probably does, then assume he is going to buy and he probably wil . The "Assumptive" Close makes it easy for him to buy. As a professional, that's your job.

The "Kreepy Krauly" Close

In the summer of 1983, Tom Brickman, an enthusiastic young Kreepy Krauly salesman (you read it right!), came knocking on our door. I was jogging, and as I passed in front of our house, I saw Tom and the Redhead busily engaged in serious conversation, so I aborted my jogging for the day to see what was going on. Tom quickly explained that the Kreepy Krauly was a robot with only one moving part and he was demonstrating its effectiveness in cleaning swimming pools.

pools.

A few questions, a little chitchat, and Tom had an appointment to clean our pool.

The key to getting the appointment was Tom's enthusiasm and sincerity, combined with a few wel -placed questions: (1) Would I be interested in a device that dramatical y reduced algae buildup in my pool while saving up to 50 percent on my pool chemicals? (2) Would I like to have the cleanest pool in the neighborhood and spend less than ten minutes a week in the process? Both questions produced the expected answers.

Tom brought a new Kreepy Krauly, so the assumption was clear that he expected to leave it in our pool. He used a dialogue guaranteed to arouse interest ("invented by an engineer from South Africa who grew tired of cleaning his own pool or using ineffective devices." The engineer part assured the acceptance and credibility. The South Africa part and "just being introduced in the Dal as area"

gave it an aura of intrigue and snob appeal. "Tired of cleaning his own pool"

rang an empathy bel .). I give Tom an A for opening effectiveness. Incidental y, he covered these points while he was taking "Kreepy" out of the container.

During the demonstration, Tom talked about Kreepy almost as if it were a person. He explained that we would soon regard Kreepy as a silent, hardworking member of the family (a little corny, but Tom's infectious grin made it very effective). Throughout the demonstration, Tom was answering questions and showing me exactly what to do to keep Kreepy functioning effectively (assuming al the time). The single step that real y stood out, however, was the way he used the "Assumptive" Close:

Tom: "Best of al , Mr. Ziglar, we keep a permanent record of the shape and dimensions of your pool so if, for any reason, Kreepy is not keeping al of your pool clean, a telephone cal to our service department wil solve the problem. Now let me make a sketch of the exact size and shape of the pool so our service department can give you the best possible service" (this is a completely natural assumptive close). He quickly drew a sketch, asking me the dimensions as he drew. When he had finished he asked if it was accurate. I assured him it was.

Tom: "Mr. Ziglar, as you can see, Kreepy is doing a thorough job on your pool and this one is new, but I'l be glad to take this one out and put in a brand-new one. Would you like for me to do that?" Zig: "No, this one is fine" (I had bought). Tom: "Do you want to give me a check or do you prefer to put it on a credit card?" (two of the "Alternate of Choice" Closes in succession).

Remember Why They Buy or Give You the Kiss At this time I'd like to share my own courtship experience with you-up to a point. I learned very early in my courtship career that the girls I was dating were not kissing me for my benefit. As soon as I realized they were having fun, too, I started kissing more girls! (For what it's worth, I never kissed my wife until after we were married. Of course, she wasn't my wife until we got married, was she?) As a salesperson you need to understand that nobody's going to buy from you so you can win a trip to Hawaii (oh, your mother might, but you can't make a career of sel ing to Mom); nobody's going to buy from you so you'l win the new car; nobody's going to buy from you so you'l be number one.

People are going to buy from you because of the benefits to them as a direct result of buying what you're sel ing. So from "hel o" to "good-bye" you assume they're going to buy from you now.

The "Smell Good" Close

The third key to help you close more sales is one which I desperately hope you are already using. It's one which I'm embarrassed to mention, but painful experience and observation tel me I must. I'm talking about the "Key of Physical Action." It's the first part of this key I'm embarrassed to talk about.

The Key of Physical Action starts with physical cleanliness. You start every sel ing day by taking a bath or shower (especial y if you're using this new twenty-three-hour deodorant. The company which makes it figures everybody's entitled to some time to themselves!) After the bath or shower you use a good deodorant.

You need to smel good and you also need to make certain you do not have halitosis. (Some people say that halitosis is better than no breath at al , but don't bet the family jewels that the prospect would agree with that!) It's terribly difficult to offend people and influence them at the same time. You should use a mint or some kind of breath freshener about every hour so you do not offend the prospect. Physical action begins with physical cleanliness.

No Bath-No Sale

In 1969 the company I represented and served as vice-president was approached by an organization sel ing executive retreats and seminars. The primary concept was that anyone who qualified to attend was a chief executive officer of a company or earned in excess of a hundred thousand dol ars a year. The seminars featured lectures by outstanding people, and each one was structured so there

featured lectures by outstanding people, and each one was structured so there was a considerable amount of free time for these executives to visit with each other for brainstorming and sharing of ideas. The salesman who cal ed on us wore an expensive tailor-made suit, drove a luxury automobile, and wore a large diamond ring. He was persuasive and articulate but he never came close to making the sale. His body odor was so offensive that after a few minutes in a room with him we simply could not tolerate the odor. The interview was terminated in short order and the salesman missed the sale.

I'm not certain we would have bought under ideal circumstances, but we were intrigued with the idea. The salesman never had a chance to make the sale, even though his sales knowledge and basic procedures were excel ent. His preapproach was good. He knew something about us. He was professional in his introductory remarks, was enthusiastic about his product, and did many things right. His lack of personal hygiene completely eliminated any chance of the sale.

On the other side of the coin, I have seen some salespeople go to the other extreme. I have been in the company of some who used such an overwhelming amount of an expensive aftershave or cologne that the odor nearly knocked me over. Some of the ladies use entirely too much perfume and/or makeup. Taste and judgment enter the picture. In this case, as in al cases, I'm convinced that most salespeople who are guilty of halitosis, B.O., or too much aftershave or perfume are simply careless and unaware of what they're doing. There is no excuse for this. Be aware-and you'l sel more.

P.S. To husbands, wives, or sales managers: If your mate or salesperson is ever guilty of being "odor offensive," you need to gently suggest that something be done about it.

The "Proper Dress" Close

Physical action includes how you dress. There are no "set in concrete"

instructions on this one. The dress wil vary according to the time of year, section of the country, and product or service you sel . You start by dressing within the structure of the industry and part of the country in which you live. Obviously, an individual sel ing computers, securities, or estate planning would dress differently from the salesman who sel s feed and fertilizer on a direct basis to the rural areas of the country.

As a speaker, I fol ow one rule which makes sense to me: I try to dress so my

As a speaker, I fol ow one rule which makes sense to me: I try to dress so my audience does not notice what I'm wearing. If you leave one of my presentations raving about that "beautiful suit he had on," I believe I have been improperly dressed. If you leave thinking to yourself, Gee, you would think the guy could do better than that! then I have been improperly dressed. In my judgment, I should dress so your focus is on my face and what I'm saying rather than on the clothes I'm wearing. That's a pretty good guideline for you. If you are too elaborately dressed or too shabbily dressed, you distract from your presentation.

In the case of you ladies, if you are seductively dressed, it's going to cost you as a professional. You wil , perhaps, get extra attention, but it wil not be the kind that leads to more sales and the building of a sales career.

Get Help-It's Available

Your dress is so critical y important I urge you to do two things: First of al , buy a book such as John T Mol oy's Dress for Success or his New Women's Dress for Success. There are other books available on the subject as wel in which you wil find many excel ent guidelines.

Number two, make contact with a professional clothing salesman in a good clothing store. Get to know him or her; seek his advice; work with him on a wardrobe concept; make friends with him and encourage him to keep you informed about any style changes or sales which wil enable you to dress more professional y.

The same advice obviously applies to ladies, but if anything, it is even more important for you. Here's why: There is a fine line between good taste and being overdressed and an equal y fine line between casual and careless, gaudy and imaginative. Also, quality and style are not as clearly defined for the female business professional as they are for the male. By al means, you should make friends with sales professionals in several department stores and specialty shops.

Encourage them to keep you informed about sales and style changes. This approach is to your advantage as wel as to the advantage of the salesperson from whom you are buying, but it is especial y to your advantage.

A study done by Edward Young of Emory University revealed that when salesmen in a Montgomery, Alabama, men's store wore suits, the average value of their sales was 43 percent higher than when they wore shirtsleeves and ties, and 60 percent higher than when they wore opencol ar shirts.

The old cliche is stil true: You never have but one chance to make a first

The old cliche is stil true: You never have but one chance to make a first impression. You want to make certain that first impression is a good one. It is true you don't judge a book by its cover, but if the cover isn't appealing, you probably won't bother to find out what the book is al about.

If you're sel ing a legitimate product or service at a legitimate price, you need to concentrate on being dressed so you "blend" rather than "offend."

You wil also want to remember that the people you go to for advice (doctors, attorneys, C.P.A.s, ministers, bankers, financial consultants, etc.) are general y neatly and conservatively dressed. As a matter of fact, how would you feel about their credibility if they were wildly or sloppily dressed?

Would you take them or their advice as seriously? Point: If you want your prospects to take your advice ("Buy my product"), you should dress as an adviser.

You have probably noticed that on several different occasions I have suggested you "look your prospect in the eye." You can't do this very effectively if you are wearing dark glasses. The statement "I don't trust a man who won't look me in the eye" has been ingrained in most of us. With our everincreasing drinking and drug problems, the average person wants to see "the whites of the eyes" of any salesperson who is trying to persuade him to take action and buy something. On unusual y bright days, tinted glasses are fine while you are outside a building with your prospect, but once you sit down at the negotiating table, those glasses must come off if you are to be most effective.

In Gold and Selling, Position Is Important

Physical action, according to sales consultant Donald Moine, includes establishing trust by reflecting the customer's personality. If the customer talks fast, the salesman wil increase his own conversational speed. If he talks in a whisper, the salesman's voice wil quickly drop to a whisper. "His voice and manner say, Ì'm like you. You're safe. You can trust me,'7 says Moine.

Physical action also means being physical y in position to sel . If you're sel ing a high-ticket item, if it's humanly possible to have your prospect seated, then by al means do so. Psychological y, your prospect wil be more comfortable making a decision when he's seated than when he's standing. When the decision involves a substantial sum of money, you want everything going for you.

Physical action means having the right seating arrangement. For example, if you

Physical action means having the right seating arrangement. For example, if you (the salesman) are cal ing on a man and his wife, you should be next to the wife or in front of both of them. Every time you speak to the husband, you should have to look past the wife or at the wife in the process.

Now if it's true the husband is the head of the family, it's just as true the wife is the neck. Since the neck is what turns the head, you want to make certain she is in a position to turn it properly.

This procedure has another advantage. By including the wife in the complete presentation, you are covering one more sales base. On many occasions a salesperson wil have a tendency to do most of the talking to the team member who is giving him the responses he wants and needs.

General y speaking, this is the one who is most enthusiastic and who is agreeing more with the salesperson. The problem with this procedure is many times this

"agreeing" prospect has little or nothing to do with the decision. By including both husband and wife in the presentation, as this physical action step wil do, you are touching one more sales base which gives you a better chance of making the sale, which I repeat is the purpose of the cal .

Those Jealous Hearts

In a sales presentation you should be careful not to get too close to the prospect's wife. He might be a jealous man, and if you either deliberately or accidental y touch the wife, the prospect might think you're trying to sel something other than merchandise. I can guarantee you under those circumstances you're not going to sel him anything.

Incidental y, age does not enter the picture in this particular situation. Whether the wife is twenty-five or seventy-five makes little or no difference to a jealous husband. The one exception to this might be the man who is married to a wife much younger than he is. In this case, he would be inclined to be even more protective and more jealous.

The same advice goes to ladies. We're in a society which is more open today than ever before, but that does not eliminate the fact there are many women who are protective and very jealous of their husbands. To have a salesperson use her sex appeal to try to persuade the husband to buy something is not going to endear that person to the wife. In many cases it wil cost you a sale and you'l never know why. Al of this simply says use good judgment-be careful of where

never know why. Al of this simply says use good judgment-be careful of where and how you sit and physical y deal with your prospects.

Remember, even if one member of the team, whether it's a business team or a husband-wife team, is a dominating one and is the primary decision maker in most cases, the other member, as sales trainer Don Hutson says, can stil veto the sale. Don't take that foolish and unnecessary chance.

When you deal with two or more prospects in an office or at a restaurant, be careful not to sit between them or you wil either look, act, and feel like a referee at a tennis match or you wil give one prospect more attention than the other. If you are talking to the "boss" in the office and he is hidden behind his desk, it wil be difficult to communicate with him, especial y if you work with visual aids or a prospectus. In these cases, according to John Hammond, you need to get permission to move a chair to the side of the desk. Here's how: "Mr. Prospect, I have some things I need to tel you as wel as show you. To do that I need to move this chair to the side of the desk. Wil that be al right with you?"

If you work in a specialty shop or a smal store, it is almost always good strategy to move from behind the counter and get on the prospect's side.

This eliminates a "barrier" and helps to establish trust. Two exceptions to this procedure occur when the shop is busy with customers or your prospect is stil in the selection process and you need to take additional items from the display case.

If you are in direct sales, if it is humanly possible (without making an issue of it) to get the prospect seated at the kitchen or breakfastnook table, you are in the ideal spot to sel . There is something about sitting at the table where bread is broken that makes the prospect more responsive.

General y speaking, most people invite company to visit in the living room; friends and acquaintances visit in the den; and family sits down at the kitchen table. When you sit at that kitchen table, you become, in the prospect's subconscious mind, a member of the family. And we do trust our family, don't we? We also buy from those we trust, don't we?

Physical Action Should Put Prospect at Ease

Physical action means your samples are clean, wel cared for, and in good order.

Physical action means that in the beginning of the interview (primarily in direct sales) you have your order pad in plain view with your presentation book.

sales) you have your order pad in plain view with your presentation book.

In the case of a real estate presentation, I urge you to have the legal document which you fil in to complete the sale in plain view on the front seat of your car.

As you get into the car, hand the husband and wife a copy of the sales form and say, "In our city and state, this is the standard agreement which we use. During our drive to the various properties, you might want to glance through this and see if there are questions which you need to ask."

This is a simple way of getting the agreement into the prospects' hands and, more importantly, putting them at ease as you drive to the homes. It gives them a chance to look it over and is handled in such a matterof-fact, nonthreatening manner it eases the closing process.

Instead of coming across as a "pressure" sales approach, it presents you, in the prospect's mind, as somebody who wants him to have al of the information so he can make a good, sound decision. If there are any questions, he obviously wants them answered, and this approach showcases you as one who is wil ing to answer.

Physical action also means letting your product "sel itself." The next story by Janet Corning, taken from Cheer, a monthly publication of Realtor Larry Fargher and Realcom Associates of Santa Clara, California, il ustrates the point beautiful y.

The Best Salesman Ever

Shortly after Christmas I almost stumbled over a little boy in the middle of the sidewalk who was so busy playing with a toy computer-control ed spaceship and a walking man that he was oblivious to the crowd mil ing around him. His obvious pleasure made me think the same toys would

delight my own youngsters. I asked the little boy where he got them.

"In there," he said, pointing to a shop behind him.

I went in and asked for the toys the smal boy was playing with. "Who is he?" I remarked, as the proprietor wrapped my purchases.

She smiled. "You might say he's my Christmas present. A few days ago he came

She smiled. "You might say he's my Christmas present. A few days ago he came in and stood, staring longingly at the spaceship. `Would you like it for Christmas?' I asked.

"`Mother says there isn't any money for Christmas this year. We lost Dad last spring,' he explained, and turned to go.

"It had been a lean season for me, but it was a week before Christmas. I gave him the spaceship, and he was so delighted that he got no farther than the sidewalk before he sat down and inserted the batteries.

"Then the most amazing thing happened. People stopped to talk to him, and I've never had so many customers. I kept count of the spaceships I sold and when he got up to go I cal ed him in and gave him a commission. I asked him to come back the next day and added the walking man to his playthings. Yesterday his commission amounted to twelve dol ars!"

The story is a very good example of my often-repeated philosophy, you can have everything you want in life if you wil just help enough other people get what they want. It also makes a pretty good point for generosity, "going the extra mile," "having a heart," investing in sales promotion, etc. I hope it's not necessary to remind you that the little guy was "the best salesman ever" because of his obvious ecstasy and sheer delight with the toys (products) he was playing with (demonstrating). He believed in his product, and even though he had no idea as to what a sales technique might be, he "sold" very effectively because he transferred his feelings to the prospects.

33

The "Look and Listen" Close

Physical action means you physical y listen to what the prospect is saying, not just with your ears but with your eyes as wel . You do this by observing him.

Physical action comes from watching what your prospects are physical y doing.

For example, a prospect might say no but is busy stroking the back of the chair.

His mouth says no, but his body language says maybe: "This is real y nice," "Tel me more," or even "I'm interested and wil buy if you wil go ahead and close the sale."

sale."

When this happens just remember a prospect can lie with his mouth but he can't lie with his body. For example, you are showing a home and the prospect keeps giving objections such as, "It's too expensive, don't like the corner lot, too far out of town," etc., but al the time he's standing looking at the beautiful neighborhood or gazing out a back window at the view, admiring the master bedroom or the kitchen cabinets. If he walks back to take one more look at anything, you can be assured that in his mind he is buying the property. You're in an excel ent position to sel . The body doesn't lie and that's just one of the reasons you should learn to lean forward with the complete expectancy of making the sale when you ask for the order.

When the prospect for the automobile says he would never pay twenty thousand dol ars for an automobile but is stroking the upholstery or looking at the performance figures, then you need to understand what his mouth is saying and what his body is saying are two entirely different things. One more time: He can lie with his mouth; he can't lie with his body.

When a prospect says no with his mouth but ends a sentence with a but, you know you've got a prospect. "No, I don't think so, but this real y is nice."

If you are tuned in to what he's doing by watching his body language, you're going to be able to persuade more prospects to take action-now.

The fourth key in closing the sale is the "Key of Enthusiasm." This key, along with the Key of Persistence, is the most misunderstood key of them al .

Many people think that enthusiasm means you're loud. Obviously, you can be enthusiastic and loud, but in its truest sense, enthusiasm has nothing to do with being loud. Enthusiasm comes from the two Greek words en theos and literal y means "God within." Look at the last four letters in enthusiasm. They are I A S

M and are an acrostic for "I Am Sold Myself." If you are sold on the product, goods, or services you sel , then you are going to be enthusiastic as you make your presentation and close.

The "Enthusiasm" Close

Enthusiasm sel s. As I have said from the beginning, we sel because we transfer the feelings we have for what we're sel ing to our prospects.

Sometimes-and I need to warn you about this-too much enthusiasm can cost you a sale. However, if I'm going to miss a sale I prefer to miss it on the positive side rather than on the negative side. I also believe that for every sale you miss because you're too enthusiastic you wil miss a hundred because you're not enthusiastic enough. With odds like that I'l stay with the enthusiasm.

I have no earthly idea as to why this is true, but there are some people who misunderstand what enthusiasm real y is. They equate enthusiasm with pressure or an overpowering compulsion on the part of the salesperson. The prospect might feel that because you're enthusiastic you're trying to dominate or force your feelings, beliefs, and product on him, and therefore he rebels or resists. I emphasize, this doesn't happen often, but it does happen. But I stil feel if I'm going to miss, I'd rather miss because I'm too enthusiastic rather than because I'm not enthusiastic enough.

This Is a Lotta Bull

With an abundance of enthusiasm, you might be just like this young fel ow down home whose enthusiasm caused him to miss. Here's the situation: It was courting night and he was running late. He knew if he was too late his girlfriend would not go out with him. This was in the days before everybody had automobiles and he was one who didn't, so he had a choice to make. If he walked al the way around a large pasture which separated him from his girlfriend, he'd be so late she wouldn't go out with him. If he took a shortcut across the pasture, he might never get there, because in the pasture was twelve hundred pounds of BIG, BAD

BULL.

It was a difficult decision but he decided the prize was worth the risk, so he took the shortcut across the pasture. He didn't want to go too fast and attract too much attention, but he didn't want to stay there any longer than was absolutely necessary-so he was running at a slow trot. Al of a sudden he heard the thundering hoofbeats of twelve hundred pounds of BIG, BAD-and now very MAD-BULL! Our hero shifted into high gear and was doing the hundred in about 6:4, but the bul was doing it in about 4:7. It was a losing situation and the bul was picking up speed with every step.

Our hero knew he'd never make it to the other side of the pasture, so he desperately looked around for a means of escape. Halfway between him and the other side was a big tree. The tree had only one limb on it and it was twenty-two feet off the ground. Our hero shifted into higher gear; the bul was gathering

feet off the ground. Our hero shifted into higher gear; the bul was gathering steam and gaining ground with every step he was taking. As a matter of fact, he could literal y feel the bul breath on his heels.

Now I don't know if you have ever felt bul breath or not, but it's got to rate as one of the most awesome, frightening, fearful feelings of al time!

At the last moment, when it appeared he was going to be gored and trampled, he got within jumping distance of the tree, so he made a desperate leap for that limb-but he missed it! Fortunately, however, he caught it coming down!

If You're Gonna Miss-Make It a Positive One

I'm almost certain that on occasion you'l make a desperate effort for a sale-and miss it. If you do miss, it's better to miss on the positive side because you might stil make that sale-coming down.

Enthusiasm sel s. Chances are excel ent that on at least one occasion this last month you've had eggs for breakfast. The odds are even better you ate hen eggs instead of duck eggs, despite the fact that duck eggs taste better and are more nutritious. One reason you didn't eat duck eggs is probably that they were unavailable.

The reason they were unavailable is a lack of enthusiasm and no organized sales presentation on the part of the duck. When a duck lays an egg, her entire sales presentation is wrapped up in one short "quack," and off she waddles. End of sales talk! Now when a hen lays an egg, she tel s the whole world what she's done in a highly motivated and enthusiastic manner. No wonder we eat duck eggs by the dozen and hen eggs by the bil ions.

Enthusiasm sel s-but enthusiasm without direction is like running in the dark.

That's the reason I sel enthusiasm enthusiastical y but I sel knowledge, procedure, and technique even more enthusiastical y-because those skil s wil increase your enthusiasm, which increases your effectiveness.

I don't believe this book wil have a single reader who hasn't on occasion bought something and later had a friend or relative ask why. The response invariably is,

"It's a marvelous product!" The questioner wil insist on more of an answer.

"What wil it do?" Chances are good you've said, "A lot of things." The

"What wil it do?" Chances are good you've said, "A lot of things." The questioner persists, "Name one." And suddenly it dawns on you that you can't real y name any specific benefit you received by buying the product, goods, or service. What happened was simple. You bought an enthusiastic salesperson.

You bought the idea and the feeling this other person had for the product. You bought his belief in this product. You were sold because the salesperson was sold. It's true. Enthusiasm sel s.

Yes, there are over a hundred closes in Secrets of Closing the Sale, but I fervently believe an enthusiastic salesperson who passionately believes in his product is going to sel more if he uses only a few of them than the salesman who knows al of them but who is not enthusiastic in his presentation of these closes.

Ask-and You Shall Receive

The fifth key in persuading people to take action is the "Key of the Subordinate Question." A subordinate question is any question the answer to which, if positive, means the prospect has bought. If it is not positive, it does not mean he has not bought. My friend Hal Krause used this subordinate question as he headed into the close. "Wel , Mr. Prospect, have you sold yourself or should I tel you more?" Two points: Never ask,

"Have I got you sold?" People don't want you to sel them anything. They'l be pleased and even delighted to buy if they have sold themselves. The framework of the question is important because prospects don't want you to sel them anything.

The answer to the question makes you a winner, regardless. If the prospect says,

"Wel , no, I'm sold," then you write the order. On the other hand, if he says, "No, I'm not quite sold; maybe you should tel me more," that's real y al any good salesperson wants-a chance to tel his story. This approach provides you with that chance.

Many years ago I was scheduled to speak in Greenvil e, South Carolina. I had written for a hotel reservation. I assumed I had one, but when I walked into the lobby of the Holiday Inn, I knew I was in trouble. A sign at the back of the lobby read, "Traveling Men-Avoid Greenvil e, South Carolina, the week of October 11

through 15. It's Textile Week."

During that week you cannot get a room within fifty miles of Greenvil e. Rooms are booked from one year to the next. Nevertheless, I walked up to the counter,

are booked from one year to the next. Nevertheless, I walked up to the counter, reached for the room registration, and boldly said to the clerk, "My name is Zig Ziglar. Would you check my mail, please?" The lady was not impressed. She asked: "Do you have a reservation?" Zig: "I certainly have-or at least I wrote for one." Clerk: "When?" Zig: "A long time ago." Clerk: "How long?" Zig: "Oh, it was three weeks-and would you please see if I've had any phone cal s?" Clerk:

"Mr. Ziglar, I might as wel tel you-"

Zig (interrupting her): "Now just a minute, ma'am," and about that time another lady stepped out from behind the counter. The first clerk was apparently new on the job, so with some relief she turned to the second one and said, "This is Miss Fortune and she wil help you." I looked at Miss Fortune, grinned, and said, "She doesn't look likèmisfortune' to me; she looks like good news al the way!"

The "Presidential" Close

She smiled good-naturedly and said, "Mr. Ziglar, ordinarily I am good news, but tonight-" I interrupted, "Just a minute, ma'am, don't say another word. I've got to ask you two questions." Miss Fortune: "OK." Zig: "Question number one: Do you consider yourself an honest woman?" Miss Fortune: "I certainly do!" Zig:

"OK, question number two: If the president of the United States were to walk through the door and come up to you and say, Ì want a room,' now tel me the truth, would you have one for him?"

She smiled and said, "Now, Mr. Ziglar, you and I both know that if the president of the United States were to come in here, I'd have a room for him."

Zig: "OK, ma'am, you're an honest woman and I'm an honest man. You can take my word for it. The president of the United States is not going to come through that door. I'l take his room!" I slept there that night-not because of what I told her but because of what I asked her.

As an interesting aside, the organization I was speaking for that evening had tried to get me a room and had failed, despite the fact that the secretary to the innkeeper was the wife of the man for whose organization I was speaking. The point is simple: The use of questions often leads to the sale.

I used this identical procedure to get a room at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans. My wife and I, at the last moment, decided we wanted to celebrate one of our anniversaries in New Orleans, but everything was booked. I phoned, used this procedure on the manager, and got the room. It works!

this procedure on the manager, and got the room. It works!

Question: Wil it work for you?

Answer: I can't say with certainty it wil , but Larry Nichols, who at that time was the training manager for the Kirby Company of Cleveland, Ohio, was pleased that it worked for him. Here is the situation: The Kirby Company had a managers' meeting scheduled at the Industry Hil s Sheraton in City of Industry, California, on July 21, 1983. Larry arrived late at night, but when he attempted to check in the clerk told him he did not have a reservation and there were no rooms available.

Larry is a person who believes if something works you shouldn't fix it, so he fol owed the procedure exactly as I had described it on the cassette recording. When he asked the clerk if the president of the United States walked in, would there be a room for him, a pleasant surprise was the result. The clerk smiled broadly and told Larry he would not have a room for the current president, but he would have one for the former president.

"As a matter of fact," the clerk said, "we do have the Gerald and Betty Ford Suite and they are not going to be using it, so it's available for you."

Two points: First, the procedure works. Larry had a nice place to stay. Second, the clerk honestly had forgotten about that suite and Larry's questions jogged his memory. Need I remind you this procedure can be adapted and slightly changed when you seek an item which is in short supply, or when you need a service favor on a holiday or weekend?

My good friend and "brother" Bernie Lofchick instinctively answers every question with a question. One time I asked, "Bernie, why do you always answer questions with questions?" His response: "Wel , why not?"

The "Three Question" Close

One of the simplest and most effective closes is the "Three Question" Close, which you use after you have convinced your prospect that your product or service wil save money, time, work, etc. As an example, if you've been demonstrating the money-saving feature, the three questions are: 1. "Can you see where this would save you money?"

2. "Are you interested in saving money?" (Wait for answer.)

2. "Are you interested in saving money?" (Wait for answer.) 3. "If you were ever going to start saving money, when do you think would be the best time to start?"

The last question ties it down and gets the decision. If you've done your job and the prospect is honest, you just made a sale.

If you're sel ing on health, you use the same three questions. "Can you see where this would be better for your health?" "Are you interested in better health?" "If you were ever going to start taking care of your health, when do you think would be the best time to start?" On convenience: "Can you see where this would save you some time and work?" "Are you interested in saving time and work?" "If you were ever going to start saving time and work, when do you think would be the best time to start?"

In our company everything we produce is essential y geared to improve production in one form or another. When our sales representatives are dealing with a salesperson, we teach them this adaptation of the "Three Question" Close:

"Can you see how using this sales training course would increase your sales?"

"Are you interested in increasing your sales?" "If you were ever going to start increasing your sales, when do you think would be the best time to start?" It's effective.

The Minister "Sells," Too

(The next example is taken directly from the inspiring book The Secret of-Supernatural Living by Dr. Adrian Rogers and is used with permission of the Thomas Nelson Publishing Company.)

A man came to see me concerning his wife. She was suicidal, and he wanted me to counsel with her. I said I would if he would come with her to my study. This man worked in the space industry at Cape Kennedy and held an important position.

The wife poured out her story of a broken heart. She wept as she spoke of her husband's cruelty, infidelity, drunkenness, and gambling. I turned to him and asked, "Sir, are you a Christian?" Mind you, I was not asking for information but turning the conversation toward Christ.

He threw back his head and laughed scornful y. "No, I am an atheist," he said.

"Wel ," I responded, "an atheist is one who knows there is no God. Do you know al there is to know?"

"Of course not," he shot back.

"Would it be generous to say you know half of al there is to know?"

"Yes, that would be very generous," he muttered.

"Then if you only know half of al there is to know, wouldn't you have to admit the possibility that God may exist in the body of knowledge you do not have?" I asked.

"I never thought of that," he said. "Wel , I am not an atheist, then. I am an agnostic."

I said, "Now we are getting somewhere. Agnosticism means you don't know." (I didn't tel him that the Latin equivalent for agnostic is ignoramus.)

"An agnostic is a doubter," I said.

"Wel , that is what I am and a big one."

"I don't care what size as much as what kind. There are two kinds of doubters, you know-honest and dishonest. The honest doubter doesn't know, but he wants to know. The dishonest doubter doesn't know because he doesn't want to know.

He can't find God for the very same reason that a thief can't find a policeman.

Which kind of doubter are you?" I asked.

His face softened. "I never real y thought about it. I guess I never real y wanted to know," he said.

"Did you know that there is a promise to the honest doubter in God's Word?" I asked. I then read to him the words of Jesus Who was speaking to the doubters of His day. "Jesus answered them, and said, `My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man wil do his wil , he shal know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself"' (John 7:16, 17 [Kiv]).

I continued, "In plain English that says that if a man wil surrender his wil completely, God wil reveal Himself to that man." My friend was getting interested.

interested.

I then asked him, "Would you be wil ing to sign a statement like this: `God, I don't know whether You exist or not, but I want to know and because I want to know I wil make an honest investigation and because it is an honest investigation, I wil fol ow the results of that investigation wherever they lead me regardless of the cost."'

After a time of soul-searching, he said, "Yes, I would be wil ing to sign a statement like that. I wil do it. How do I go about making such an investigation?"

We shared together, and I got him started reading the Gospel of John with the commitment that he real y wanted to know the truth and would fol ow any truth revealed to him regardless of the personal cost or consequences.

In a matter of weeks, this same man came back to my study, got on his knees, and gave his heart to Christ. That was many years ago. I had lost track of him until recently, when I received a letter from him. He is now living in a northern state and is an excited witness for Christ.

In his letter to me, he said, "Dear Friend, thank you for being wil ing to spend time with this general in the devil's army."

Now where was this man's real problem? It was not in his head as he first thought, but in his heart. When he surrendered his wil , faith fol owed.

Unbelief reveals a wicked heart.

As you can see, Dr. Rogers asked seven questions which resulted in the decision.

He also dealt with the man's head and his heart.

The next example is a case study on how to ask questions effectively to lead even distraught prospects to a favorable decision.

Selling a Service

In 1982 and'83, our daughter Julie worked for The Beneke Company as the only female public insurance adjustor in the state of Texas. Her job was essential y that of sel ing, so she and I took advantage of many opportunities to discuss sales technique and procedure. I was thril ed with her professionalism and the number of questions she developed to lead the prospect to favorable and mutual y

of questions she developed to lead the prospect to favorable and mutual y advantageous decisions.

Obviously, the company training program provided her with many techniques, procedures, and questions, but she generated some key ones on her own. Her primary prospects were those who had suffered major losses due to weather, fires, floods, or any other natural or man-made catastrophe.

Most of her clients and prospects had suffered losses from fires, and the damage ranged from ten thousand to tens of thousands of dol ars.

When Julie arrived for her "sales cal ," the first question she always asked was,

"Did everyone get out OK?" Please understand that nearly 100

percent of the people she dealt with were emotional y upset. Not only are fires hazardous to your health, but they are also messy and expensive.

Many times the victims had also lost personal items, irreplaceable keepsakes, and family heirlooms. Their need for someone to share in their grief and give them some measure of empathy and understanding was enormous. Julie's opening question demonstrated real concern for the victim and helped create a favorable climate for the interview. That opening question also brought the victim face-to-face with his good fortune in suffering only the loss of "things"

and not a loved one (she never had a client who suffered that loss).

Establish Rapport-Then Ask Questions

Once the prospect had assured Julie that everyone was OK, she made a few comments expressing her relief and her sincere regret for the property loss. Once rapport had been established, Julie asked the second question: "Have you ever had a major property loss before?" (Most of them had not.) "Did you ever have a claim on a car wreck or damage?" If the answer was affirmative, she would ask,

"How did it go?" If the answer was "Satisfactory," she responded positively by saying, "General y speaking, on smal losses the treatment is usual y fair." If the answer was negative, she responded, "Then you are already familiar with how insurance company adjustors work in order to minimize the settlement amount?"

(Her voice inflection made the statement a question.) She would general y wait for a comment.

Julie: "Did you know you have a right to a professional representative when you

Julie: "Did you know you have a right to a professional representative when you suffer a loss such as this?" Prospect: "No, I didn't." Julie: "Do you understand, Mr. Prospect, that whether or not you want to be, right now you are your own claims adjustor?" Prospect: "I hadn't real y thought about it." Julie: "Do you feel knowledgeable enough to negotiate with the expert the insurance company wil send out to adjust your loss?" Prospect:

"Probably not." Julie: "Do you have as high a regard for your money, Mr.

Prospect, as the insurance company does for its money?" Prospect: "Yes, I do."

Julie: "Do you realize they're going to send out a professional to protect their money?" Prospect: "I hadn't thought about it in those terms."

Julie: "Their claims adjustor is a professional, so do you think it would be in your best interests to have a professional protecting your money?"

Prospect: "Yes, I probably should." Julie: "You do understand that the insurance company is not simply going to say, `Send us the bil and we'l pay it,' don't you?"

Each of these questions is designed to make the prospect think in terms of using a professional because the insurance company is also going to have a professional. This is not to imply that the insurance company wants to cheat anyone or is going to be unfair. Realistical y, the homeowner, in most cases, does not understand his rights and in virtual y every case forgets many of the items which are destroyed in a fire.

Other questions Julie often asked: "Mr. Prospect, would it be a problem for you and your wife to take time away from work and family to sift through, sort out, write down, and price everything you lost in your home, from the brooms in the utility room closet to the number of socks in your drawers?"

Prospect: "Yes, it would." Julie: "Would it be convenient for you to meet with the adjustor, restoration people, dry cleaners, and others who need access to your home and belongings?" Prospect: "That depends on when and where." Julie: "In a court of law you have an attorney to represent you, and in front of the IRS you have a C.P.A. to plead your case. Doesn't it make sense that you would do better to have a professional adjustor plead your case in this loss?" Prospect: "Sounds reasonable."

Julie: "When you get down to negotiating the loss, wil you feel comfortable the figures being presented are just and fair to you?" Prospect: "I'm not sure." Julie:

"Mr. Prospect, did you know that our average increase, after the insurance

"Mr. Prospect, did you know that our average increase, after the insurance company's first offer, is thirty percent?" Prospect: "No."

Julie: "Mr. Prospect, our fee is only ten percent, so you stil realize an additional two hundred dol ars per one thousand dol ars by making the right decision to hire a professional. In simple terms, on a loss of twenty thousand dol ars this wil bring you four thousand dol ars extra; on fifty thousand dol ars it would be an extra ten thousand, which is in reality your money, which you wil need to rebuild and replace your loss. These figures are net to you, after our fee. Does that extra money-which is yours-appeal to you, Mr. Prospect?" Prospect: "It sure does!"

Julie: "The exciting fact, Mr. Prospect, is that we guarantee our work. If we don't secure a settlement large enough to cover your repairs and our fee, there wil be no fee. In other words, Mr. Prospect, there's no way you can lose. Is that the kind of situation you'd like to participate in, Mr. Prospect?"

Prospect: "Yes, it is." Julie: "Would you like for us to start working for you today so you can move back into your home at the earliest possible moment, or is there any particular hurry?" Prospect: "We don't have a place to live, so the sooner we can move back in, the better it wil be." Julie:

"If you wil go ahead and OK this agreement, we can get the process started so that despite the grief of the loss, you wil not be faced with a financial burden to go along with it. That is what you want, isn't it, Mr. Prospect?" Prospect: "Yes."

If you count, you'l discover that in the process she asked over a dozen questions.

Her results were excel ent because the questions were designed to lead that person to take the action step to solve his problem.

You Can-You Must-Learn to Ask Questions

Many times people ask me how they can learn to ask questions. The first thing I'm going to tel you is obvious: Study-don't just read-this book. Take al of the questions (there are over eight hundred in this book) and rephrase them so they relate directly to your business. Then record those questions with the right voice inflection and listen repeatedly until they are firmly embedded in your subconscious mind.

This wil clarify your thinking to an amazing degree. It wil enable you to zero in on your target, which is to help crystal ize your prospect's thinking which helps

on your target, which is to help crystal ize your prospect's thinking which helps him in making the right decision. This is critical because your success and the solution to his problem are ultimately dependent on his making the right choice.

Additional y, you should learn how to ask questions by talking with the top salespeople and sales trainers with your company or by asking other salespeople who sel similar products. Ask them the specific questions they use to (1) arouse interest, (2) sel benefits, (3) get appointments, (4) secure prospects, (5) close the sale, (6) tie down the order, and (7) convey conviction. Keep your eyes and ears open when you go out to shop or when a salesperson comes cal ing on you.

Build a sales library and become a student of sel ing. Develop the power to concentrate on one thing at a time. In this case that one thing is how to ask questions. Any time you see or hear an effective sales question, write it down in the question section of your sales notebook. Remember-the truly professional salesperson always keeps his inner ear and his sixth sense tuned in to good sales techniques. He has that true missionary zeal to learn as much as he can so he can spread the word to as many people as possible about his fantastic product or service.

The "Greatest Salesman" Close

Since I am often asked about sources for learning more about asking questions, I'l simply anticipate your question.

There is a manual available in every good bookstore which wil be enormously helpful to you in learning how to ask questions. The manual you'l want to pick up is cal ed the Holy Bible. At this moment this has nothing to do with religion, but any fair-minded person has got to admit that the greatest salesman who ever lived was the carpenter from Galilee.

Get a red-letter edition (Christ's words are in red), and you wil discover that every time somebody asked Jesus Christ a question He always answered with a question or with a parable. So if you want to know how to ask questions, that's the place to learn! (Everything He said in the Bible can be read in about three hours, so He was obviously going right at our hearts with every word.) He was also the greatest sales and marketing manager who ever lived. He took just twelve salesmen-and one of them (Judas) was a loser-and spread the Good News everywhere in short order.

Many times I've heard people say, "You know, I've read the Bible, but I don't

Many times I've heard people say, "You know, I've read the Bible, but I don't understand it!" Personal y, I don't think it's the part theydon t understand that bothers them! Actual y, the Bible is very, very clear. For example, I'l bet you've noticed He didn't cal the Ten Commandments the "Ten Suggestions."

As long as you are reading the Bible to learn how to ask questions, you might as wel read on and learn the answers. One of these days He's going to ask you a question, and if you get it right, you get to stay! My friend, that wil be the biggest sale you wil ever make! You real y should read your Bible. Not only wil it give you peace of mind now, but to tel you the truth, it'l help keep the heat off you later!

The "Dinner Out" Close

Questions are especial y effective if you can tie customer benefits to the question. The "customer" is the person who is buying the idea, concept, goods, service, or product from you, whether it is a sale or a social situation. Never wil I forget one Friday evening when I returned from a tough week on the road. The Redhead met me at the airport and she was dressed to kil . As usual, she had on some of the good, sweetsmel ing stuff that I especial y like.

As we were waiting for my bag to come down on the carousel, she snuggled up real close, slipped her hand into mine (she's powerful friendly, anyhow!) and said, "Honey, I know it's been a long, tough week for you, so if you want to we can stop by the store on the way home and pick up a nice steak or some seafood.

While you relax with the paper I'l prepare a nice dinner for two. Tom is spending the night with Sam, so we'l be by ourselves. Then, honey, after we've had a nice dinner I'm certain you won't want to get involved in cleaning dirty dishes and greasy pots and pans, so you can watch television while I take care of that.

"It shouldn't take me more than an hour, hour and a half, two hours at the most.

[Pause] Or, the thought occurs to me, honey, that you might be more comfortable and enjoy the evening more if I were completely free to devote al of my time and energy to you. I could do this in a real y nice restaurant. Of course, honey, it's entirely up to you. What do you prefer?" (And men cal women "the weaker sex"!) I don't real y think it's necessary to tel you we did not stop by the grocery store or cook that dinner at home. That Redhead "sold" me by asking questions. It is effective persuasion when you ask questions which lead the prospect to a decision that is in his best interests.

34

Listen Really Listen

The sixth key in closing sales is a very significant one. It is the "Key of Listen."

Most salespeople do not real y listen to everything the prospect is saying or asking. Many times the salesperson interrupts the prospect and attempts to anticipate what he is going to ask. Solomon covers this one in the Book of Proverbs when he says, "He who answers before listening-that is his fol y and his shame" (see Proverbs 18:13). And when you listen-listen. Don't just "hear him out" so you can take the initiative and "say something which is real y important." Chances are excel ent if you real y hear what he says and what he is saying, he wil give you the key to making the sale.

An inexperienced or insecure salesperson is the one who asks the question and answers it in the same breath. Example: "Can you see where this would save you some money-of course you can!" "Can you see where this would help you save some work-obviously you can." The salesperson is afraid he's going to get the wrong answer and therefore he does not permit the prospect to give him any answer. When you ask a question, listen for the answer. It wil give you the proper direction to close the sale.

If the prospect raises an objection, that's great! As a matter of fact, any good presentation should be designed-especial y in the early part-to bring out objections. The earlier you can deal with them the more likely you are to close the sale.

Hear Everything-Register Some Things

You need to listen and hear everything, but when the prospect says no, you don't want to register it. Merlie Hoke, a good friend of mine from South Carolina, worked with me for several years in the cookware business. She had a peculiar hearing "problem." I've seen a prospect from a distance of three feet almost shout, "No, Merlie, I don't want to buy!" Merlie wouldn't blink. She didn't "hear"

a word. I've also seen a prospect whisper yes at thirty feet and Merlie clearly heard the good news. Merlie understands that when a prospect says no he doesn't real y mean it. It's only when he says yes that she takes him seriously.

The "Hep 'Em Git It" Close Merlie Hoke has a technique which is truly beautiful. As she starts to close the sale, from her seated position in front of the couple she makes this statement (as she moves her chair to the side of the lady): "Oh, this is so beautiful ... and you deserve it ... and I'm gonna hep [that's h-e-p] ya get it."

As I sat there watching this master saleslady at work, I got the distinct feeling I was witnessing a conspiracy. It appeared that Merlie and the little lady were going to gang up on that big old cookware company because they've got thousands of sets of cookware and bless your heart, little lady, you haven't got even one! "And I'm gonna hep ya get it!"

Good Salespeople Help Prospects to Buy

I got the strong feeling that Merlie Hoke had become an assistant buyer. She had moved to the customer's side of-the table and was interested only in helping that customer own the set of cookware. Now obviously she was going to be using the customer's money. In al the years I worked with Merlie, I never heard her say she "sold" anybody anything. She always said, "I helped her get it," or "I let her have it."

In the final analysis, what we as professional salespeople want to do is find people with a problem which our products, goods, or services wil solve.

We want to become assistant buyers and move to their side of the table. We want to feel their feelings so we can assist them in solving their problem by acquiring our goods, products, or services.

Your careful preparation, sincere interest, and action expectancy wil determine to a large degree whether it's a sale or an "I'l let you know later."

Listen with Your Eyes. As we deal with our prospects we particularly need to listen with our eyes. The eyes are the only sense organ connected directly to the brain. Every other sense organ has to make a round trip before it gets back to the brain, but the "eyes are the windows of the soul,"

and an impulse on the eye is transmitted directly to the brain. That could be one of the reasons al of your life you've heard the two phrases "You can't believe everything you hear" and "I saw it with my own two eyes-and seeing is believing." With this in mind we definitely need to listen with our ears and with

believing." With this in mind we definitely need to listen with our ears and with our eyes.

Here's a simple little formula for listening with your eyes: It's cal ed the "CHEF

Method" of listening. C stands for "chin" or "cheek." When the prospect begins to rub either his chin or cheek or holds either one in his hand, it is a satisfaction/gratification sign. In his mind he's already using and enjoying the benefits of the goods or services you're sel ing. It is a buying signal, tel ing you that now is the time to close.

H is for "hands." Watch your prospect's hands. If he is gently massaging palm against palm or palm against the back of the other hand, in his own mind the prospect has already assumed ownership of whatever you are sel ing. He's tel ing you he is ready to buy.

E stands for "eyes." Watch them. It's a fact that the wider the eyes are open the more intently he is listening, the more he's understanding, and the more he's buying. To magnify this one a bit, many of the advertisements you see today on television have been checked by the use of cameras.

The commercials are shown to a group of people who are never questioned about their sentiments concerning the commercials. Instead, high-powered cameras focus on the eyes of the individuals who are watching. The degree of dilation of the prospect's pupils determines whether or not that prospect is real y buying the idea in the commercial.

Interestingly enough, the prospect might say he loved the commercial, but if the pupils are not dilating, the commercial is rejected. As I say, body language doesn't lie.

You also want to watch the prospect's eyes as they begin to open wider. If there are crow's-feet and they begin to relax, you are getting your message across-you're communicating and sel ing. It's a visual signal to close the sale.

F stands for "friendly." When the prospect smilingly uses such statements as,

"John, you dirty dog! Jesse James used a gun but you're using your pencil, trying to get my money!" he's buying.

to get my money!" he's buying.

He is also probably cal ing you by your first name; he crosses his legs, leans back, and relaxes. On the other hand, he may suddenly become quiet, get up, and walk around the item without even speaking. He may get busy looking at the item you offered or he simply might look out the window, light a cigarette, or get a cup of coffee. Those are buying signals. Close the sale.

Act on the Signals

As the prospect gives you these "buying signals" (a "visual" buying signal is defined by John Hammond as anything the prospect does that indicates he has accepted the product), you want to take advantage of them. You do this by quietly asking questions. For some reason, according to Wil Rogers, people seem to listen more intently and believe more completely anything which they hear in a low tone of voice or a whisper.

Obviously, you do not want to overlook these visual buying signals. The prospect might, for example, ask you to go over exactly what he gets with the purchase. Comments like, "I've never had this particular style [size, model]."

Questions like, "How long is the warranty?" "When would the first payment be due?" "How much is the deposit?" "How long wil it take me to get delivery?"

"What is your service policy?" "Where do we get spare parts?" "Do you have a warranty?" "How much did you say the deposit was?" "I've never used this brand." "What do you think, dear?" "What is the real rate of interest?" "How long would it take to get it instal ed?"

Yes, the Key of Listen is a critical y important key. The ability to be a good listener is vital y important in communication. Many people wil buy primarily because you display an interest in them as individuals. They buy because you listen to some of their hopes and ambitions and apply your product or service benefits directly to them.

The Key of the Impending Event

The seventh key is the "Key of the Impending Event." What is an "impending event"? It's something that is going to happen in the future and has direct bearing on the price, performance, service, desirability, or availability of the goods or services you are sel ing.

Almost without exception I can assure everyone who reads this book that whatever they're sel ing today wil be more expensive tomorrow. There wil be

whatever they're sel ing today wil be more expensive tomorrow. There wil be some notable exceptions (computers, electronic devices, etc.), but by and large things are going up. With this fact as a base, once we've committed ourselves to serve our customers, we need to offer them the most goods at the best price with the best possible service. Since price increases are inevitable, if we can persuade our prospects to take action today, we wil be acting in our prospect's best interests.

Actual y, we have a moral obligation to acquire as much professional expertise as possible to enable us to persuade more people to take action today for their benefit. If we do help them (our prospects), then obviously our sales wil go up.

When I entered the world of sel ing, one of the first things my good friend and sales manager, Bil Cranford, told me was that if I could effectively deal with the

"I'l buy it later" stal , I would be successful in the world of sel ing. Over the years I came to realize and appreciate the value of that observation. I also saw convincing evidence as to why prospects hesitated and wanted to "think it over."

They feared they would lose financial y or look foolish for having bought.

That's the reason that, in the early pages of this book and on several other occasions, I have pointed out that the salesperson is more important than the sales process, though the process is certainly important. To repeat myself, if you're sincere about building a career and helping others, you wil protect your integrity at al costs while learning as much technique and process as possible so you can more effectively persuade your prospects to take action.

The Key of the Impending Event is a key you can use to help your customers, which obviously means you'l be helping yourself as wel . This is especial y true when you're sel ing a product to the customer that has resale value and hence the prospect is investing for profit or investment purposes. Typical, of course, are real estate, fine arts, securities, commercial-grade diamonds, and stocks and bonds. Obviously, your sales effort wil be to convince the prospect that economic trends are such that the investment he makes today wil be worth more in the tomorrows of his life.

Here is an example of the "Impending Event" Close. Prospect: "The price on this house is too high." You: "Yes, I'd be inclined to agree with you. The price on this home-like most everything else-is too high. But you, Mr.

Prospect, are the one who set the price."

Prospect: "What do you mean, I set the price?" You: "Actually, it was you and all the other people who are in the market for homes who really set the price of the homes. For example, if 90 percent of the people who are in the market for a home were to suddenly stop looking, I can assure you that in a matter of six months the price of this house would be considerably less.

However, everything indicates more-and not fewer-buyers will soon be in the market for a home, and the law of supply and demand sets the price.

"As you well know, real estate has consistently increased in price. It's my firm conviction that a year from now or ten years from now, should you elect to sell this home, you will be able to get substantially more for it than the current price. If you go ahead and invest in this home today, you will profit from the impending increase in price brought about because of the demand for homes created by you and thousands of others."

Another Impending Event opportunity is the fact that anyone who lives will have more birthdays and consequently they need to look at retirement or taking care of their old age. Your prospect is going to want to enjoy some good things in the future when he will not be working quite so hard. As an example, if you're selling a retirement home, beach, or lakeshore property, the close could go like

this: "Mr. Prospect, since you've been putting so much into life for so long, don't you think it's time you prepare to let life put something back in you?

This property I'm talking about will do exactly that."

Don't Let Them Dazzle You with Their Footwork

Mental alertness is a critical necessity if you expect to scale the sales heights, so let's take a little test to see if you're with it. (It's OK to figure in the margins.) Here we go.

You're a bus driver and you're headed south with fifty-five passengers on the first leg of your trip in your bus. You go four and four-tenths miles, then you turn east in your bus on the second leg of your trip and you go three and three-tenths miles. On the third leg of your trip in your bus you turn back to the south and this time you drive your bus exactly two and two-tenths miles. On the last leg of your trip in your bus you turn east and you go exactly one and one-tenth miles.

miles.

On this trip you've driven your bus in two directions but you've made three turns for the four different legs of your trip in your bus. You actual y drove 4.4 + 3.3 +

2.2 + 1.1 miles, which comes to exactly 11 miles.

Here's the question (no fair looking back!): Based on the information which I've just given you, please write the bus driver's age in this blank (I repeat, it's OK to figure in the margin.) Go ahead-participate. Figure it out. That is the way we learn. You'l find the answer on the next page.

Don't Let Them Lead You Astray

If you missed it, the chances are good you did because I dazzled you with my verbal footwork. I kept you diverted by talking about unrelated items such as

"Turn east, south, and east again." I talked about fifty-five passengers, 4.4, 3.3, 2.2, 1.1 miles, etc. At this point, you've got to be wondering, What does this have to do with closing a sale? Answer: A lot. Many times when you've got the prospect motivated and interested in what you're sel ing, he suddenly realizes he is headed straight for a purchase and it hits him that this purchase is not in the budget.

This is a problem. He fears he is now going to make ayes decision and he's not certain he should. His solution: Divert the salesperson's attention and thrust by talking about the presidential election, crime on our streets, violence on television, etc. So what do you, the salesperson, do? Two things: First, never lose sight of your objective, which is to make a sale. Second, when the prospect changes the subject, you acknowledge the change, comment briefly, and tie it to the diversion, for example, "Yes, the presidential election is real y exciting and so are the benefits which go with our product or service."

When I was a child I would occasional y see a bird that was apparently injured, so I would try to catch it. However, as I made my move the bird would struggle into the air and fly a few feet. Again I'd run after it and say, "I'm going to catch that bird." A little later and a mile away, Mama Bird would take off and go back to the nest. What Mama Bird had done was led me astray.

Message: Don't let your prospects lead you astray by changing the subject and leading you away from the issue at hand. Keep in mind that it might be nice to talk about other things, but you don't help anybody unless you can leave that prospect with a solution to the problem he has. Your goods or services should

prospect with a solution to the problem he has. Your goods or services should offer that solution.

Answer: Did you put your own age in the blank? If you didn't, please prepare to be a little embarrassed, because I told you twenty-four times, "You're a bus driver and on the first leg of your trip in your bus you are going south," etc.

Zero In on the Target

Keep that issue focused. The story is told of a father in the Swiss Alps who sent his three sons out into the world. Before they made their departure he took them to a mountainside and instructed them to bring their crossbows. He said to the eldest one, "Aim your crossbow at the bird sitting on the ground some fifty feet away." The son did as instructed. The father asked the question, "What do you see?" The son replied, "I see the beautiful skyline, the gorgeous clouds, the majesty of God's universe." The father said, "That's good. Now lower your bow."

The second son was instructed to raise his crossbow and aim at the bird and he did. The father then asked the same question, "What do you see?"

The second son said, "I see the beautiful mountains, the rol ing val eys, the beautiful scenery with the rich grass." The father said, "That's good. Now lower your bow."

The youngest son was then instructed to raise his bow and aim it at the bird, which he did. The father said, "What do you see?" The youngest son said, "I see where the wings join the body," and with that he released the arrow, which flew straight to the mark.

Point: When you're on a sales interview you have only one target, which is to serve your customer by sel ing your goods or services.

35

The Keys in Closing Conclusion

Of al of the keys in persuasion, undoubtedly the one which is the most misunderstood is the eighth, the "Key of Persistence." Many people think the persistent salesperson is the one who "sits" on the prospect and says, "Aw, you

persistent salesperson is the one who "sits" on the prospect and says, "Aw, you know you're going to get it sooner or later, SIGN HERE!" Or "You know you want it, go ahead and SIGN," or "The only way you can get it is to SIGN HERE, so SIGN HERE." That's not persistence; that's just plain, unadulterated pressure.

Al you do is irritate people when you take that approach. I thoroughly covered that subject in chapter 4, so let's look now at what persistence real y is.

Persistence is a good word, but I believe a better word is belief I'm convinced if you real y believe the product you're sel ing wil solve a problem for the person you're dealing with, you wil be reasonably insistent he take action in his own best interests. You'l do it professional y-pleasantly-politely-but you wil persist.

The "Pressure Belief" Close

The word persistence took on a new meaning for me several years ago. I was on a speaking tour of Australia and met John Nevin, who at that time was the managing director for World Book Encyclopedia. His story is the classic "rags to riches" one. He started his World Book career as a part-time representative. He had a milk route and sold World Book in the afternoons and evenings. His dedication, hard work, and mental agility enabled him to move quickly up the management ladder to the position of managing director.

Early in his World Book career, John made a cal on a recently arrived German immigrant and his wife and son. The couple real y looked more like grandparents than parents. They married late in life and their first and only child came along when the wife was forty-two years old.

"Tank You, Young Man"

John arrived for the appointment at about eight o'clock, and it was after midnight when he final y made the sale. Many salespeople would never stay with a prospect that long. But John said to me, "You know, Zig, after I final y made the sale the little lady escorted me out through the front gate because they had a big dog in the yard. Outside the gate, the short, stocky mother reached up and put her hand on my shoulder and in that guttural German accent which was difficult to understand, she said, `Tank you, young man, for staying til we understand what these books do for our boy.

Tank you, tank you, tank you!"'

John and the couple had a serious communications problem because of their

John and the couple had a serious communications problem because of their unfamiliarity with the English language. They understood some things, but it was necessary for John to talk very slowly and repeat himself many times. Final y, it got through to the couple that the World Book Encyclopedia would make a difference in the education of their son. Later, John said, "You know, I hate to think I ever missed a sale because I was not communicating and the prospect was not properly understanding what my product would mean to him." Message: The true professional wants the prospect to own the product so badly he strives for the yes decision again and again.

As a salesperson you must also understand that many times the prospect is sold on what you're sel ing but he's been had before. He's made mistakes earlier by acting too quickly, and what he real y wants to know is, "Do you [the salesperson] real y believe what you are sel ing is for my benefit, or are you just trying to sel me so you wil benefit?"

Make Certain You Pass the Test

Many times the prospect wil ask you some questions which real y don't make sense. He's trying to find out if you're going to stick to the story you told him earlier. He's checking you out. Many times I've made the sale (and so have you) after I'd been with the prospect a long time, only to have the prospect look at me, grin, and say, "I was going to buy this al the time. I just wanted to find out what you would say."

That's what they said, but I'm convinced they were real y checking the depth of my own conviction as to what the product would do for them. One more time.

From Cavett Robert, "The depth of your belief is far more important than your oratorical eloquence and sales phraseology. "

Some Persistence Ideas

It has been said-and I believe it's true-that many times the prospect wil literal y test you at least three times just out of curiosity to see exactly what you wil say.

Obviously, some people-particularly those who are not knowledgeable about sel ing-wil label it as "pressure" if a salesperson doesn't take the first no as the final word.

In chapter 30 I discussed how to get permission to use "pressure," so I won't repeat it here. Let me point out, however, that over the years I've asked hundreds of people to identify pressure and I've gotten answers from al over the bal park.

of people to identify pressure and I've gotten answers from al over the bal park.

Salespeople themselves say they don't like high-pressure salesmen but then seem to be unable to identify what the word means.

I'm convinced it's not so much what it means to us as salespeople but what the prospect we're dealing with at the moment feels about it. That's another reason I keep saying you need to be sensitive to the other person. One prospect might feel terribly uncomfortable if you give him the second reason he should buy. Another one thrives on that very thing and loves to see a salesperson who is Bung ho about what he's doing and who so fervently believes the prospect benefits from the purchase that he wil try again and again to make the sale.

The Best I've Heard

Frank Bettger, in his magnificent book How I Multiplied My Income and Happiness in Sel ing, explained pressure this way: "I don't want to give anyone the impression that I am a high-pressure salesman. That is if I understand what the term `high-pressure' means. Just so long as I can forget myself and what I am going to make out of a sale, and keep my mind on the other person and what he wil get out of the sale, I have no fear of creating the impression that I am high-pressure."

Is this pressure? You're in the real estate business. You've just shown a couple a home which they obviously love. It's exactly what they've dreamed of owning, but they are procrastinators who hesitate to make decisions. They're gracious, pleasant, and friendly but hesitant to decide. From your perspective you positively know at least one other couple is also seriously interested in that home. Are you doing the current prospect a favor by smiling and saying, "Wel , I don't want to rush you into anything and I certainly don't want to pressure you into making a decision, so as soon as you make up your mind, let me know"?

The couple responds that they real y appreciate your consideration and they'l be back in touch the next day.

Problem: That very afternoon the other couple who was interested comes in and buys the home. I'm convinced that you would have been far more loving, caring, concerned, and professional if you had taken this approach: Truthful y point out to the prospects that you want them to make the right decision and that you don't want them to feel rushed. However, if they are sincerely interested in the home, they should put a binder on it to secure it, because another couple is also interested in the home and for exactly the same reasons they are.

You actual y flatter your prospect when you do this because you're complimenting them on their judgment-that they like the home for the same reason the other people like it. In short, both couples have good judgment.

Go Ahead, Doctor, Do What Is Best

In 1981 a close personal friend and business associate went to his dentist. The diagnosis was that, because of some problems with his teeth as a young boy, he needed nine crowns. As you know, that involves a considerable amount of time and money, so my friend asked if some teeth needed crowns more than others.

The dentist replied that five should be done right away, but there was no immediate rush for the other four. With this information, he decided not to have al nine done but did go ahead with the five.

Several years later, my friend stil has not had the other four crowned. Question: Was his dentist practicing either good dentistry or good sel ing?

Answer: No, on both counts. As a professional salesman, one simple question would have revealed that my friend's dental bil was covered as one of the company benefits which he enjoys. As far as dentistry is concerned, my advisers point out three very significant facts concerning the delay for the other four crowns.

First, they say piecemeal dentistry is never as attractive or effective as a completed project. In short, the dentist can do al nine at the same time and have a better chance of a more complete success with matching colors and results than if he crowns five at one time and the other four at a later date. Second, although the possibilities are slim, they do exist that a tooth deterioration could occur quite rapidly and my friend might end up losing one or more of the other four teeth. Admittedly, the chances are smal because he has had his teeth checked since he received those five crowns. At that point the dentist rather casual y mentioned that he stil needed those other crowns but did not suggest setting a date. Since the dentist was casual about the need, my friend was just as casual about getting the crowns.

From a dentistry point of view, the odds are great that the price of crowns, like everything else, wil have increased substantial y during the intervening time period between the first five and the final four, whenever that might be.

Additional y, the time involvement for one project, namely, having nine crowns, as versus two projects, meaning five crowns on this go-round and four crowns

as versus two projects, meaning five crowns on this go-round and four crowns for the second series of visits, wil be considerable. Obviously, there is some risk involved when a professional encourages a patient to take action. However, when your prospects or patients depend on you for your professional advice, you should be wil ing to take some risk.

Now You Have Two Problems

If there is some indication the prospect is growing uncomfortable with your persistence, you might smile and say, "You know, Mr. Prospect, when you and I started talking you had one problem. Now you have two, because you've got to get rid of me." Smile as you say this and continue by saying, "Now the second problem is easy to solve. Al you've got to do is ask me to leave and I'l be gone in the twinkling of an eye. But that would stil leave you with the first problem. So why don't we spend a few more minutes together and see if we can solve that problem as wel . Is that fair enough?" or "Does that make sense?"

Another approach: "Don't misunderstand, Mr. Prospect, I'm not here to put the monkey on your back-I'm here to take him off your back. That's what our goods or services wil do and that is what you want to have happen, isn't it?"

One excel ent reason for persisting is that's where you real y learn to sel . After al , the toughies are the teachers. The ones who resist are the ones who force you to use the imagination, skil , and knowledge reserve you've been accumulating over a period of time.

There's another side to the coin. Sometimes your prospects are confused about their belief in what you're sel ing and their desire for ownership.

They're not sure they real y trust you, so they persist by asking a number of questions which are not consistent with whether or not they've been listening to you.

On occasion some of these skeptical prospects wil ask some shal ow questions just to see how you wil respond. They want to see if they can "get under your skin." They want to check you out to find out if you're going to tel them the same thing you did earlier in the interview. I urge you to be cautious here.

If a prospect asks you the same question, you don't smile and say, "Wel , as I explained earlier. . ." When you do that, what you have done is cal ed him an idiot for not listening, and there is no way you can graciously cal another person an idiot. When the same question comes up again, you need to act a little

an idiot. When the same question comes up again, you need to act a little astonished and say, "Oh, my goodness! No wonder you've hesitated until now to go ahead and make the decision, because that's one of the most important points.

I'm pleased you brought it up, because when we clarify this one, al doubt wil be removed." You clarify it, lean forward in your seat, and say, "That removes the only obstacle between you and ownership of the product, doesn't it? Would you like me to

ship this air freight or by truck?"

Yes, persistence is an important key. Learn to use it-then use it but don't abuse it.

Remember, in sel ing, those who hang in there often win because they believe in what they're doing, and as you have already learned, "The wil which weakens first strengthens the other. "

The Key of Inducement

The ninth key in closing the sale is the "Key of Inducement." Chances are good that if you have ever spent a few minutes with me, you have seen my arrow-shaped diamond cuff links which the Redhead gave me on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I confess to a degree of prejudice, but I honestly believe they're the most beautiful (not the biggest) diamond cuff links in the whole world.

When she gave me those cuff links, French-cuff shirts were not very popular. I went to a dozen different stores in Dal as, Texas, looking for French-cuff shirts and I could not find them anywhere. Not only could I not find them, but I was virtual y invited to take my future "looking for" business to other stores. A typical conversation went like this. Zig: "Do you have any French-cuff shirts?"

Clerk (certainly not a salesman!): "No, we don't." Zig: "Do you know where I might find them?" Clerk: "No, I don't. Besides, didn't you see me talking to this other clerk? I'm busy!" That little interchange is almost a literal truth.

The next spring, I was in Burlington, Iowa, speaking for the Chamber of Commerce. After my talk I saw a gentleman in a white suit which I real y liked, so I asked him where he got it. He told me he bought it from Doyle Hoyer, who runs Glasgow Clothiers in Fort Madison, Iowa. I commented that I was going to go over there the next day and get one just like it. With that he said, "I've got to go over there tomorrow morning, too, and I'l be glad to take you."

go over there tomorrow morning, too, and I'l be glad to take you."

After I met Doyle Hoyer the next day, the fol owing conversation took place.

Zig: "Doyle, do you have a white suit?" Doyle: "What size?" Zig: "I wear size forty-one." Doyle: "Zig, I've got one in stock." With that he walked over, took the suit off the rack, and slipped the coat on me to check the fit, which was perfect. Al he needed to do was cuff the trousers and I could walk out the door in that suit of clothes.

As Doyle measured me I asked, "Doyle, how long wil it take me to get this suit?" Doyle: "Wel , Zig, you don't leave until two o'clock, do you?" Zig:

"No, I don't." Doyle: "Man, you're going to take this suit with you!" He gave the suit to a young man who worked with him and said, "Take it upstairs to the tailor and tel him I want this suit right away."

Then with a twinkle in his eye, Doyle looked at me and said, "Now, Zig, I've got something I real y want to show you."

The "I Can Get 'Em" Close

When I finished my shopping spree, almost as an afterthought I said, "Oh, by the way, Doyle, do you have any French-cuff shirts?" Doyle gave me an answer which was entirely different from the one I had been getting in Dal as.

He said, "No, I haven't," but he said something else. "But I can get them!" As a frustrated French-cuff-shirt seeker, those were beautiful words to me! Before I left there I bought two suits, five pairs of slacks, and al the good stuff that goes with them! As a fol ow-up a couple of weeks later, Doyle cal ed and asked, "Did you get your shirts?" Zig: "I sure did!" Doyle: "How do you like them?" Zig:

"Doyle, I love them!"

About two weeks later I was in the airport in Kansas City and I saw a fel ow wearing a beautiful suit. (You are now going to find out how I select some of my clothes.) I walked over to him, complimented him on his suit, and asked him about it. He was delighted to give me al the information concerning the brand and his source for the suit. Armed with this information, I cal ed Doyle and asked if he had this particular suit. Doyle: "No, I don't ... but I can get it." A couple of weeks later he cal ed me again and asked, "Zig, did you get your suit?"

Zig: "I sure did." Doyle: "How do you like it?" Zig: "I love it!"

About a month later I cal ed Doyle again, but this time when he picked up the phone he excitedly asked, "Zig! Are you stil at the same phone number?" Zig:

"Yes, I am." Doyle: "Man, I was just going to cal you!" Zig: "Yeah, and I know exactly what you were going to tel me, too!" Doyle: "You do?" Zig: "Sure!

You're going to tel me you just got in a magnificent new shipment of suits and at least half a dozen of them are especial y made for me. You've put my name on them and are shipping them to Dal as so I can choose the ones I want and send the rest of them back to you." Doyle:

"Zig, you are a genius!"

Now I need to make an important point. I am not color-blind, but I am color-ignorant. I simply do not know which colors go together. Doyle picks out a suit, selects a shirt, chooses a tie and socks, and sends them to me with a note which says, "Zig, these go together." Now I can understand that kind of communication! Fortunately, the Redhead understands color combinations, so when I forget or get fouled up in general about what goes with what, she straightens me out.

My tailor is just a short distance from my house, so when Doyle Hoyer sent me my clothes it was easy to have them altered as needed.

The "I'll Treat You Right" Close

I'l never forget the time he cal ed me and raved about a beautiful new navy blue cashmere sport coat. By the time he finished his eloquent and enthusiastic sales talk, I had a fear the price tag would bear some resemblance to the foreign-aid bil to Lower Slobovia, so I asked the obvious question: "Doyle, how much does this magnificent creation cost?" Doyle: "Don't worry about it, Zig, I'm going to treat you right." Actual y, I don't know why I bothered to ask, because he always gave me the same answer. I hasten to add that he has earned the right, over a period of many years, to give me that answer.

Now what does "treat you right" mean? It means he's going to be fair, he's going to be honest, he's going to be aboveboard. It does not mean he gives me his profit. You see, I happen to believe Doyle Hoyer needs and deserves a profit.

But it does mean he's going to deal with his customers in such a way that they wil buy from him again and again. He's a super salesman who serves his customers.

customers.

The "And Then Some" Close

Doyle understands the three greatest words in sel ing are: and then some. He keeps every promise he makes-and then some. The clothes he sel s are exactly what he says they are-and then some. In a nutshel , Doyle Hoyer delivers more than he sel s-he doesn't sel more than he delivers. That is the way to sel more in the tomorrows of life.

There is a second point which is important: There is no such thing as a little sale.

When Doyle got the six shirts for me, he had no way of knowing how much business it would generate. I was a complete stranger who lived eight hundred miles from his store and he had never heard of me. Yet he went out of his way to make certain I got what I wanted and that I was happy.

At the moment I have no idea how many clothes Doyle has sold to me and because of me, but he says he gets from one to ten cal s every week because of my references to him in my speeches and recordings. I would be comfortably confident in saying that his sales-because of the initial

"little" sale-must exceed a half mil ion dol ars, and who knows what wil happen now that this story is in print!

To quickly elaborate on that "no little sale" point, here's a "little" real estate story from the past that also makes the point: A young couple contacted several real estate agents in Georgetown, Texas, seeking a place to rent. Since rentals at the time were almost nonexistent, no one paid any attention to them. Final y, they walked into the office of McLester & Grisham. Instead of being laughed at, they got a bit of encouragement from salesman Dennis Robil ard, who said he'd try to help them.

After making two dozen phone cal s he found a suitable apartment and helped them move in. They were so appreciative they asked him to find them a permanent home-in the $400,000 price range. The couple had an income of about $10,000 a month from a newly established trucking firm, plus an inheritance of 46,000 acres of land rich with uranium.

Message: Treat everyone as if he is a valuable customer. He is-or he could be if he's treated like one.

The Key of Inducement is tremendously important. It can be as little as a smile or pleasantness in dealing with your prospects, or it can be as significant as a cash discount. In my mind I see it as the personal touch, the little courtesies you offer which make it easier for your customers to function in their business and personal lives.

The Most Important Key

The tenth key is, without a doubt, the most important of al the keys. It is the

"Key of Sincerity." Chances are excel ent that if you are a successful professional salesperson, you've had this experience. Someone bought from you and then said, "You know, I don't real y know why I bought from you. I've had three or four people trying to sel me the same product," or "I don't know why I'm dealing with you, because for years I've been dealing with someone else." What he's real y saying is, "I trust you." He is confirming what I've repeated several times in this book. The most important part of the sales process is the salesperson.

If you'l recal , very early in this book I made it clear we would be dealing not only with the sales process, but infinitely more important, we would be dealing with the salesperson. Trust is critical and sincerity is the key that opens the "I trust you" door.

Know the Author

Many years ago Charles Laughton, the famous English actor, was touring America, reading the Bible to large audiences. He was a Shakespearean actor with considerable dramatic skil . I personal y never had the privilege of hearing him read the Bible, but indications were great it was a very moving, spiritual experience.

Once, after reading in a smal Midwestern community in a large rural church, Laughton's audience was total y and completely silent. It was almost as if God had made a special trip and was there among the people. After what seemed like an eternity but probably involved no more than a minute, a man who must have been about seventy years old stood up and asked for permission to read the Bible. It was granted, and as the old man started to read, it was apparent he was no Shakespearean actor. He did not have the voice, the elocution, or the diction of the great Charles Laughton. As he read, however, it became completely obvious to everyone present that if this had been a Bible-reading contest, the

obvious to everyone present that if this had been a Bible-reading contest, the great actor would have finished a distant second. When the evening was over, a reporter went to Charles Laughton and asked how he felt about having participated in such an event; what was his reaction to the old man's reading of the Bible? The English actor thought for a moment, looked at the reporter, and said, "Wel , I knew the script and I knew it wel , but this old man knew the Author."

The point is clear and very simple. The old man had the added advantage of being total y sincere and total y convincing because he had that deep personal belief. With a deep personal belief in what you're sel ing, you wil be able to communicate and transfer that feeling to the prospect, and the Key of Sincerity wil help you sel a lot of merchandise. By now it should be crystal clear the sales world is no place for a phony. He just won't make it in the world of professional sel ing.

Just Like the Little Boy across the Street

Of al the sales closes in Secrets, this next one-even more than the preceding ones-absolutely demands sincerity.

I've never seen sincerity and integrity more on display than they were in a personal experience my son and I had several years ago. A few days before Christmas, Tom and I went down to get a new bicycle for him. Many years ago I could speak bicycle, but today "bicycle" is an entirely different language. If you don't believe me, just go down to a bicycle shop and listen to the chitchat which takes place.

On this occasion Tom and I went to a Schwinn bicycle shop in North Dal as. The owner was busy with a grandmother and her little grandson, who were looking at a bicycle. The grandmother didn't speak bicycle either, so she had a precise list of exactly what she wanted on a specific bicycle, including the size. The owner of the shop looked at the list and said, "Yes, we have this bicycle and it comes in two sizes. Is the bicycle for this little fel ow here?" The grandmother said, "Yes, it is. The little boy across the street has one like it and I want one exactly like his for my grandson."

Owner: "Ma'am, your grandson is too smal for this big bicycle and it wil not be safe for him to ride. You should get him the other bicycle, which is identical in every way. It is the same price and quality but it is smal er, and your grandson can handle it much more easily. It wil be at least three years before it wil be safe

can handle it much more easily. It wil be at least three years before it wil be safe for him to ride the larger bicycle."

Grandmother: "No way. I want exactly the same bicycle the little boy across the street has. I want the very best for my grandson." Again the owner tried to explain that it was the best, it was just smal er, and if her grandson were riding the larger bicycle, he'd have to move so far from side to side he would be unable to control it. The owner patiently pointed out that her grandson could lose control and might fal , and if he happened to be in the street, it could result in a very serious accident. The grandmother was adamant. "No, sir, I want that bicycle, right there, exactly like the one the little boy across the street has. If I can't have the one I want, I don't want any."

Then the owner did one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen a professional salesman do. It set the standard for what I consider the

"professional" in the world of sel ing. He looked at that grandmother and said,

"Ma'am, you're probably going to think I'm crazy, but I cannot sel you the bicycle you want. It would not be safe for your grandson to ride, and if anything should ever happen to him because I sold you a bicycle he could not control, it would be on my conscience." Incredibly enough, the grandmother left in a huff.

I hope you don't think the owner carried his integrity too far, and deep down I don't think anyone who is interested in building a sales career will feel that way.

Here's a man who can be trusted. I would be willing to send my son into his shop with a check made out to him with the amount left blank. This man has integrity and he really does care about his customers. It's true that the owner missed that sale, but as a direct result of "missing" that one, he has probably made countless others.

Now let's look at the "Signature" Close, which I think is the most powerful close in use today. Since I claim originality, I don't suppose that statement sounds overly modest, but I do hope you will indulge me in a little pride of authorship.

I want to explain that this close will not work for everyone. It would be absurd to use it for low-cost items such as cosmetics, household items, or brushes. However, most companies that sell those items do a lot of

recruiting, and with a few changes in terminology which I share with you, this is a powerful approach to get the procrastinator to make a decision.

This close is the final one to use in an interview. It is ineffective if you've been laughing and joking throughout the interview. You must be serious and come across as a sincere person. It will not work if you use it at the beginning of the interview before you establish value. You must use a number of other closes before this one in order to properly prepare your prospect. This is the final effort to get the sale, and when you use the

"Signature" Close there is nothing left. It's now or never.

Feel, Felt, Found

You must practice, dril , and rehearse before you use the "Signature" Close because many times a prospect wil say he doesn't sign anything until he talks to his wife, lawyer, or banker; sleeps on it; thinks about it; etc. You respond with the oldest lead-in of them al : "I know exactly how you feel because for a long time I felt exactly the same way. [Pause.] When I analyzed it I found that everything I have or own which has any value to me I acquired only after I signed my name" (feel, felt, found).

(At this point I want to emphasize that I'm going to use a smorgasbord approach and give you far more examples to choose from than you should use. Don't ever use more than three, and if one doesn't fit your own personality or belief system, then don't use it. Caution: Virtual y anything new in a tense situation such as closing wil make you a little uncomfortable until you master it and make it your own. Don't be too judgmental in deciding what to use. Try it-you might like it!) Voice Emphasis on "Signed"

(Now the words after the feel, felt, found introduction.) Here's the way I use it:

"Over fifty-six years ago, God gave me a beautiful woman, and I'm one of the truly fortunate men in that I love her infinitely more today than I did the day I got her. I got her because one day, in the presence of witnesses, the minister, and Almighty God, I signed my name.

"I had four beautiful children-three daughters and a son. They were al mine, but the doctor would not even let me take them out of the hospital until I had signed my name."

Nothing Happens-Until Somebody Signs Something

"I own a lot of life insurance. I bought it because I wanted to make certain if anything happened to me, my family's standard of living would not decline and my wife would not have to go to work unless she wanted to. I was able to protect my family's financial future because on several different occasions, in the presence of a competent salesperson, I signed my name.

"I have some investments. I own some real estate, some CDs for emergencies, a little piece of an oil wel , and a couple of other investments. I made those investments because I wanted to make certain when the day comes that I am unable to do what I'm doing, I wil be able to sit back and take life easy without being a financial burden to anyone. I'l be able to do that because on many different occasions, in the presence of a salesperson, I signed my name."

Now I repeat myself as I say, "As a matter of fact, Mr. Prospect, I've never made any progress of any kind, anywhere, or an acquisition of anything of value until I committed myself by signing my name. Mr. Prospect, if I'm reading you right-and I think I am-you're the kind of man who not only likes to make progress but who also likes to do things for your family. You can do both of those things right now by signing your name." (Point to the line on the order blank and hand him the pen.)

You Feel Good-Even if You Miss

If the "Signature" Close is properly used, there is nothing else to say. This is that one case in which you do not speak until the prospect speaks.

There is total silence, but in this specific case, the longer the prospect remains silent the better your chance of making the sale. If there is a significant objection, your prospect wil make it known almost immediately.

In every case when I've used the "Signature" Close, whether I made the sale or missed the sale, I've felt good. Obviously, I feel better if I make the sale, but even if I miss it, I feel good because I know I have done everything I can to get a positive decision. That's good because it's important to the ego and feelings of the salesperson to know you've done everything you can to get it, so you feel good about you. That's important for those future sales interviews.

The "Signature" Close for Recruiting Purposes

In this case you've thoroughly interviewed the prospect and are convinced he can successful y handle your business, but he seems uncertain and wants to "think about it" before he "signs up." You: "I know exactly how you feel and I'm delighted to see you take such a thoughtful approach to this decision, because as a practical matter, if the decision is not right, then both of us lose. As a matter of fact, I felt the same way you do just years ago when I was confronted with the same decision. [Pause.] I found there were many people in the company who had fewer qualifications than I had but who were doing extremely wel simply because they had said yes to themselves. They didn't have better skil s or abilities, but they did have a better opportunity.

"Think about it, Mr. Prospect. You've never made a single career advancement by standing stil and saying no. You didn't acquire your wife, your children, your home, or your savings account until you signed for them. Each step forward-regardless of what you do-involves a commitment on your part. In this particular case your signature, along with my signature, says we are both committed to your success. The instant you sign your name the opportunity door swings open, but until you sign it the door is closed and nothing can or wil happen. In short, Mr. Prospect, you can open that door right now by signing your name." (Be quiet. The bal is in his court.)

There are hundreds of closes and variations of closes which can be used whether you are sel ing goods, services, or recruiting. Again, especial y for recruiting purposes, they wil have to be adapted to fit your special situation.

One thing I have emphasized throughout Secrets is that as you acquire technical expertise and the right words to persuade your prospect to take action, the most important thing is your intent. Why do you want to make the sale? Is your heart as wel as your head completely in the transaction?

Do you real y believe it's in your prospect's best interests to buy what you are sel ing? That's important-nay, critical-because that very belief is your best, maybe your only, vehicle to outstanding success in this magnificent sales profession.

36

The "Narrative" Close

To summarize and tie a lot of things together, I'm going to tel you a story which wil involve al of the keys we've been talking about. This is the "Key of the Narrative Event." A narrative key or narrative story is the most effective way to use third-party influence to persuade your prospect to take action. These are short vignettes which paint pictures of people or companies that had problems

"just like yours [the prospect] and solved their problems by using our goods or services." (Implication: You can buy our goods or services and solve your problem.) My purpose in tel ing this particular story is to give you, in story form, an overview of this segment of Secrets of Closing the Sale. This review is designed to trigger your imagination and memory so you wil be able to recal and use more of the information I have shared with you.

One Saturday morning in Columbia, South Carolina, when my son Tom was three and a half years old, I walked into the den and said, "Let's go to the grocery store. I've got to buy some groceries." He said, "OK, Daddy," hopped up, and slipped on his little boots, and we drove down to the store. As we walked into the store, I turned right to pick up a grocery cart, but Tom had seen a display of rubber bal s, so he made a beeline for them. He grabbed one of those rubber bal s, ran over, and popped it into the shopping basket.

Four Keys in Four Seconds

Now I've never talked at great length to my son about this particular little trip, but I've got an idea that when I said, "Son, let's go to the grocery store,"

one of the reasons he was so enthusiastic about going was he had an idea. In his little mind he figured if he got his daddy down to that grocery store, he was going to get himself something. He probably didn't know what it was going to be, but he figured it would be something. He was using the Key of Positive Projection. Once we entered the store my son also used the Key of the Assumptive Attitude, as wel as the Key of Enthusiasm and the Key of Physical Action. He "assumed" he was going to get that bal , so he took "physical action"

with a great deal of "enthusiasm." In five seconds he used four more keys on me!

What Would You Have Done?

I took the bal out of the basket and said, "Son, you've already got a dozen bal s and you don't need another one, so take it back," and I put it into his hands. With that my son looked straight at me and said, "Daddy, can I just hold the bal ?"

that my son looked straight at me and said, "Daddy, can I just hold the bal ?"

Question: What would you have done? Remember, now, my son was just three and a half years old. What kind of daddy would I have been to say,

"No, son, you can't even hold the bal ; now take it back!"? My son did not want to buy the bal ; he just wanted to hold it, and al he had done was ask me a very simple "Subordinate Question." (You don't ask for the sale; you ask for the appointment. On the appointment you ask for the sale. You don't ask for the good-night kiss; you ask for the date. On the date you sel the good-night kiss.) So I said, "OK, son, you can hold it, but don't get any ideas. You're not going to buy it. You've already got a dozen and you just don't need another one." We walked around shopping for a few minutes and came back by the display of rubber bal s. I took the bal out of my son's hands, put it back in the display, and said, "Son, that's long enough. You're going to fool around, drop it, get it dirty, and then Dad'l have to buy it, and you simply do not need another bal ."

That's Quite an Inducement

Apparently my son was not listening when I said no, because he ran back around me, took that bal out of the display, and popped it right back in the basket. He was a "Persistent" little salesman, any way you look at it. Wel , I'm kind of persistent myself, so I took the bal back out of the basket and headed for the display to put it back, talking as I was walking. "Son, for the last time, Dad's already told you you've got a dozen bal s; you just don't need another one." As I was walking and talking, I looked down and there he stood-al thirty-nine pounds of him. He looked up at me and said (at that time he talked with a slight lisp),

"Daddy, wis you buy me that bal . I'l give you a tiss."

When you think about it for a moment, he was offering quite an "Inducement."

He was offering himself. What else could a three-anda-half-year-old give his daddy but a part of himself? Since it was in the immediate future, it was an

"Impending Event." And "Sincere"-in al of my years of sel ing, I have never known a more sincere salesman than that three-and-a-half-year-old.

You already know how the story ends, but I'l go ahead and tel you. That day in the Ziglar household we had thirteen rubber bal s!

At this point I need to correct something. In chapter 31, I said to you I had never seen that a woman had given birth to a salesman. Actual y, that's not quite true, because on February 1, 1965, in Columbia, South Carolina, the local paper

because on February 1, 1965, in Columbia, South Carolina, the local paper carried a smal headline which read, "Birth of a Salesman Announced. Mr. and Mrs. Zig Ziglar announce the birth of a salesman, John Thomas Ziglar, born February 1, Providence Hospital, 9:08 P.M." Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I am not trying to influence my boy's career. I mean, he can sel anything he wants to!

That's my message to you. If you wil buy these ideas and use the keys, procedures, and techniques we've been sharing, I sincerely believe you can sel more of the goods or services you are sel ing.

To Build a Career

A lot is involved in building a sales career. I love this story Elmer Wheeler told before his death. Once while across the border in Old Mexico, he cut his finger and it had become infected. A bartender looked at the finger and said, "Man, we had better do something about that infection!" He took some tequila, put it into a shot glass ful of ice, squeezed some lemon juice in it, and said, "Now if you soak your finger in this several times a day, it'l solve your problem."

I'm certain the medical community would not give its 100 percent approval to the procedure, even though the astringent effect of the lemon might contribute to the healing process. The old farmer would say, "Yup, the ice is going to reduce the swel ing, so there is a certain amount of common sense involved." The poet would testify that the juice of the maguey plant would certainly have some value. A couple of days later al the swel ing had disappeared and there was no soreness in the finger.

What al of this real y says is, "Take a little common sense, add some scientific knowledge, throw in a little poetic philosophy, and you'l get results."

To build a sales career, you need to acquire the knowledge made available through sales trainers, books, recordings, and seminars. With that knowledge you should weave in a poetic philosophy of life which says that "you can have everything in life you want if you wil just help enough other people get what they want."

To the knowledge and poetic philosophy, add the common sense of the old farmer which says, "Friend, I don't care what you do, know you've got to work and work hard at seeing new prospects and servicing old customers." You have a moral obligation to work so hard at building your sales career and becoming

moral obligation to work so hard at building your sales career and becoming truly professional that, as my friend John Nevin from Australia says, "If anyone ever sees you coming and says, `Here comes a salesman,' you won't let him down."

PART 7

Technology

and the Sales Professional

37

Technology

When I original y wrote Secrets of Closing the Sale, many of the devices mentioned in this chapter had not yet been invented. For that reason I've asked Michael Norton, one of our associates at Ziglar Training Systems and an expert in advancing sales careers with the use of technology, to help me with this chapter. I'm especial y grateful for Michael's expertise in this area, and I know you wil be, too.

Technology has been used for many years by sales professionals to increase sales and to fol ow clients and prospects. Advancements in technology wil continue to develop more rapidly than books about how to maximize technology can be written. As a sales professional, you are responsible for identifying the technologies that best suit your needs and adopting the technology your company provides to maximize sales and sel ing time. But you must understand that technology can be used only to enhance your sales skil s and sel ing efforts-it cannot make the sale for you. By coupling the sales techniques found in this book with current technology, you wil increase sales and become more efficient in your day-today sel ing.

Why should sales professionals use technology? Some salespeople have been very comfortable and very successful using manual tracking processes and have been able to survive without laptops, pagers, or PDAs. If that's your situation, you've obviously been in the sales profession for a very long time and feel you don't need to learn new technology to serve your client base or interact with others in your company.

During the boom of the Internet in 1999 and early 2000, there were rumors that the Internet might actual y do away with the need for the sales professional. That is absolutely not true. There may have been some companies that believed the Internet would increase sales and al ow them to reduce the size of their sales

Internet would increase sales and al ow them to reduce the size of their sales staff or do away with it entirely, but they quickly realized the need to maintain the sales professional-client relationship and that the best way to increase sales and maximize efficiency would be to marry the existing sales process with technology.

The ability to have information about your prospects, clients, competitors, and industry just a mouse click away is truly powerful. Even the sales veterans who have fought the technology revolution for so long are seeing the many benefits these new tools can bring to their existing sel ing style.

We can use technology to communicate with clients and prospects, and we can use technology to communicate important information to our peers, managers, and employers. The ability to access information about scheduled appointments and the status of our progress with a client or prospect, regardless of our immediate location, wil help us reach our ultimate goal as sales professionals-helping our clients get what they want, which in turn helps us get what we want-increased sales.

If embraced and used properly, technology can simplify and enhance your sales career. However, it is important not to get so caught up in technology that you lose sight of what your role as a sales professional truly is-relationship sel ing.

Slipping into the habit of sending e-mails instead of visiting the client, or using voice mail or e-mail instead of speaking directly to the client or prospect, is easier than most people realize. You must approach technology as an aid to your business and not use it as a crutch or something to hide behind.

Another downside of current technology is the sometimes irresistible appeal of the world wide web. On occasion, most of us are guilty of being distracted from our business research or communication and drift onto other appealing web sites such as golf, shopping, cooking, etc. There is a time and place for those activities, but it is certainly not during work hours.

So as we continue to discuss the many technologies that are available to you today, remember that closing the sale, building the relationships, and al of the preparation and fol ow-up activities are stil the responsibility of the sales professional.

There are many types of technology available to you today. They include but are not limited to: Pagers

Cel ular telephones

Laptop computers

Personal digital assistants (PDAs)

Blackberry / RIM devices

The Internet

Client/prospect information

Competitive information

Industry information

Sales training, sales tips, sales motivation

Incentive programs and gifts, travel arrangements, golf, etc.

E-mail

Lead sources

Sales force automation (SFA)/Customer relationship management (CRM) Pagers

Pagers have long served the sales community wel . However, with the trend toward cel ular telephones, pagers are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

Pagers are stil quite useful in areas where cel ular coverage is unavailable, such as hospitals and large office buildings or remote geographies. The advantage of the pager is that you stil know who is trying to reach you and you have the opportunity to contact that person, prospect, or customer at your earliest convenience. However, living in a "now" society in which expectations have changed, "your earliest convenience" may not be fast enough for some folks.

Since cel ular telephones can be programmed to identify the cal er before answering, and you can set your phone to "silent" or "meeting" so that you are not disturbed at an inopportune time, they are making the pager somewhat obsolete. The prediction in most business circles is that pagers wil soon become a thing of the past in the sales world but wil maintain their place in the services

a thing of the past in the sales world but wil maintain their place in the services arena.

Cellular Telephones

Cel ular telephones may very wel be one of the greatest technological advancements in recent times. We can communicate with our companies, our prospects, and our clients from wherever we are. Although great care and judgment should be used when operating your cel ular telephone while driving, time that was previously wasted now provides the sales professional with an opportunity to make fol ow-up cal s, return phone cal s, and touch base with our homes or places of employment. It is also recommended that while using your cel ular telephone in your vehicle you invest in an earpiece or hands-free attachment that wil al ow you to keep two hands on the wheel and talk at the same time. Previously the only way to capitalize on driving time was to go through "Automobile University," listening to audiotapes and CDs to enhance personal and professional development. You can stil listen to the tapes and programs that wil help you grow professional y, but you can also return important phone cal s or take care of fol ow-up activities between sales cal s.

Cel ular telephones come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to meet your individual needs. Depending on the brand you choose, you can also use your cel ular telephone for storing contact information, Internet access, text messaging, and even playing games. Rate plans for cel ular telephones vary, and with a little coaching from your local wireless provider, you can quickly identify the appropriate rate plan based on your actual needs and usage patterns. If you should choose the wrong rate plan, don't worry; you can change your rate plan as often as you need to. For instance, you may have a month of heavy travel coming up and you may need more roaming minutes. Al you need to do is contact your carrier and ask for the appropriate plan. When you know that your travel is coming to an end, just cal your carrier and change the plan again to meet your needs. Many people are unaware that they have the flexibility to change plans when they need to. The confusion comes from the contract or agreement they sign. The agreement states that they must remain with the carrier for a specific period of time; however, the customer has the right to change the plan whenever he or she chooses.

Your cel ular telephone provides you with the ability to respond quickly to customer needs and concerns. Take advantage of that. If you receive an e-mail message or voice-mail message from a client and you have the ability to respond immediately, why not do it? Your customer wil be impressed, your prospect wil

immediately, why not do it? Your customer wil be impressed, your prospect wil reward your prompt response with an order, and your company wil recognize your enthusiasm. Truly this technology can advance the sales professional's career if used properly.

Laptop Computers

Laptop computers are lighter, faster, and more powerful than ever before.

Although somewhat of a nuisance to the business traveler in today's security-conscious airports, the value your laptop delivers outweighs the inconvenience of carting it through the airport.

Your laptop can serve as your portable prospect or customer database, and you can even use it for product demonstrations. If you are traveling, whether by road, rail, or air, you can use your laptop to access e-mail messages and faxes, respond to e-mails, write fol ow-up or thank-you letters, generate expense reports, review presentations prior to your meeting, and so much more.

Manufacturers of laptop computers are eager to please the customer and offer a variety of standard models to choose from, but they are also wil ing to customize your laptop based on your specific needs. Those needs can include the amount of storage space or memory you need, the speed or power you need, and your need for graphics and artwork. Del , Gateway, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, and IBM

are the more common providers of laptops, and you should investigate each supplier before making your purchasing decision. If you explain your needs to the salesperson, he or she wil make certain you get the right laptop computer for you.

PDAs

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) can also be of great benefit. These devices have seen significant growth and development over recent years and provide a variety of services that can be very useful and convenient for the sales professional. Typical y, users identify the primary services of their PDAs as maintaining their calendar, schedule, contact list, address book, and to-do list or task list, and for some advanced models or users, sending and receiving e-mail messages.

One obvious huge benefit of the PDA is its portability. PDAs can easily fit into any compartment in your laptop case, your purse, your jacket pocket, or even your pants pocket. You can buy an accessory piece that al ows you to wear the

your pants pocket. You can buy an accessory piece that al ows you to wear the device on your belt. This al ows you to carry one smal device that houses al of your customer/prospect information, family and friends' addresses and phone numbers, important notes and messages, and your to-do's or goals for the day. Al PDAs have a built-in calculator, and some have the ability to store and play games.

Technological advancements wil make these devices smarter, faster, more powerful, and probably even smal er and easier to manage or carry.

For those of us who have a hard time with the smal keypad or stylus, most devices can be plugged into a larger keyboard, making typing longer notes or e-mails a bit easier.

Al PDAs wil synchronize with the program or programs of your choice-Microsoft Outlook, your home desktop software that came with your device, your e-mail service, etc. Although the PDA is highly automated, you are required to manual y sync your device when necessary. This wil al ow you to keep the information that is stored on your laptop or desktop computer in your personal digital assistant.

Blackberry/Rim Devices

Blackberry/Rim devices have gained a lot of favorable publicity recently. These devices are miniature, handheld PDAs that have the built-in capability to send and receive e-mail as wel as access the Internet. These devices are especial y useful for someone who receives a lot of e-mail messages and travels or is away from his or her desk frequently. The good news is that it is easy to receive and read your e-mail messages on these devices. The bad news is that you can easily get caught up in your e-mails and forget your number one mission-sel ing.

E-Mail

We have discussed e-mail capability in several of these devices, but let's look at e-mail as its own technology and how it relates to the sales profession. E-mail is certainly a great advancement in terms of our ability to communicate with one another. We can send messages at any time of day or night and know that our message wil be received. We can program our message so that the recipient must acknowledge that he or she has received it. We can communicate quick answers to questions without getting caught up in personal conversations, if that is what we want or need to do at the time.

we want or need to do at the time.

It is again important to note that e-mails can take away that personal touch from communication with prospects, clients, family, and friends.

Whenever possible, it is far better if you respond to people in person or with a phone cal . But if they have reached out to you via e-mail, or if they have indicated that their preferred method of communication is e-mail, then respect their wishes and respond in kind. Stil , when you get the opportunity to see someone in person, or in today's vernacular, "have face time," take advantage of it. For instance, if a client or prospect sends an e-mail request for a sample of your product or a brochure, try to deliver it in person. However, if they ask a simple question and need a quick answer, respond via e-mail but remember to fol ow up in person the next time you interact with them.

Don't hide behind e-mail. If there is a problem with a customer or prospect, meet it head-on. Use e-mail to schedule an appointment with the individual you need to see, but don't try to resolve an important issue via e-mail.

Some folks use e-mail to try to gain entry into an account when al other methods have failed. This has proven to be an effective strategy in some cases, but direct cal ing has stil proven more effective.

Use e-mail to send your weekly updates and forecasts to management. Let your superiors know what you are doing and what you have accomplished. It is so much easier than faxing, especial y if there are multiple people who need the information. You can use e-mail to share success stories and strategies with others in your company. E-mail is a great way to send a broadcast message to others in the sales department if you are having a particular chal enge in closing an account. Send out the objection, concern, or chal enge, and see if someone else has faced the same situation and ask what he or she did to win the opportunity.

Be courteous when sending e-mail messages. Try to be as brief and succinct as possible whenever you can. A good rule of thumb is to try to limit your message to one screen, meaning do not make the recipient scrol down to read your entire message. There are certain times when it is appropriate to use more text, but more often than not you can deliver your message within one screen. The idea is to get enough information to the recipient that you can fol ow it up with an in-person visit, during which you may have the opportunity to make a sale, add to an existing order, or ask for a referral. Use e-mail to get in front of your clients

an existing order, or ask for a referral. Use e-mail to get in front of your clients and prospects.

Another valuable benefit of e-mail is that you can send information that may be of interest to clients and prospects. This is a good way to build relationships.

You may choose to send them information about their own company, their competitors, or their industry in general. You may also wish to send them information about personal subjects that you know are of interest to them, like sports scores or team updates, fishing, golf, cooking, etc. You can easily attach a link to an e-mail that wil al ow them to see the press release or information. This is an excel ent way to keep a line of communication open between you and your client or prospect, and it shows your personal attention and interest.

Treat your in box like you would your desk. The best way to keep your desk from clutter is to deal with each piece of paper just one time. You file it, respond to it, throw it in the trash, forward it, or do something else with it. Your e-mail should be the same. Deal with each e-mail only once if you can. Reply, forward, delete, or file for later, but get it out of your in box. If you don't, you wil soon have hundreds of e-mails in your in box.

Using e-mail to let friends and loved ones know you are thinking about them is a great way of staying in touch. During a break you can send quick notes just to let them know you love them and are thinking about them. Especial y if you travel, this is a good way to stay close to those who are at home.

The Internet is such a powerful tool for businesses today. It is a great source of free information to anyone who has access to the world wide web, and a source of even more detailed information for those wil ing to pay a premium for access to specific web sites-for example, www.hooversonline.com. You can visit such a web site and get free general information about a company, an industry, a prospect, or a competitor.

Or you can pay a subscription and receive very detailed information about those same categories, such as the names of top officers within the company.

Imagine starting your sel ing day by listing al the appointments you have that day or cal s you know you have to make that day and researching each company via the Internet before you visit them or make the cal . You can visit their web sites and see any new press releases, product releases, and information. This is a great way to break the ice with a customer or prospect. You can go as deep as you want in your research, finding out about their competitors or their industry

you want in your research, finding out about their competitors or their industry in general. This is how you set yourself apart from your competition. Your clients and prospects wil view you as an expert in the field and look to you for news and guidance.

The Internet also provides the sales professional with a variety of sites that al ow you to access sales training and sales tips. You can start each sel ing day with a quick visit to your favorite sales web site, like www.ziglartraining.com, for a sales tip of the day. Another such site is www.sel ingpower.com, and there are many others. By coupling technology with "Automobile University," you wil make great strides in both personal and professional growth.

The hazard of the Internet was mentioned earlier, but it certainly warrants revisiting. It is very easy to get caught up searching the world wide web for things that are not relevant to your personal or professional life, and even if there are interests worth searching for, that should be done on your own time and not during valuable sel ing time. Sel now, surf later. Adopt that philosophy and you wil reap the many benefits that the Internet has to offer, both personal y and professional y.

Search engines can be very useful for a sales professional seeking information.

For example, www.google.com, www.askjeeves.com, www

.yahoo.com, and others al offer you the ability to search the Internet for just about any topic, subject, or question and wil point you to multiple sites or sources for the answers. You can use this type of service to answer questions for your clients and prospects or to gain valuable insights into products and services offered by your competition.

There are many valuable web sites for the use and benefit of sales professionals.

There are sites that help you locate radio stations while you are traveling through different cities, sites that help you map out directions from one destination to the next, sites that al ow you to purchase gifts for clients and prospects, and sites that help your organization build incentive programs for your sales team. If you are a traveling salesperson, you know that you can arrange your entire travel schedule via the Internet-air travel, hotels, rental cars, and directions are al just a point and click away.

Some sites offer discounted services or special pricing on hotels and airfare. Just be careful as to your arrival time and departure time needs, as some of the discounted tickets come with restrictions on time changes. Discounted tickets

discounted tickets come with restrictions on time changes. Discounted tickets may also dictate connecting flights that may not work for your particular trip.

Lead Sources

Lead sources are another valuable service the Internet can offer. As a sales professional, you can purchase lists of customers by geography, by SIC code, by zip code, by industry, etc. Many sites publish this information or make these lists available, such as www.infousa.com and www.zapdata.com. These sites al ow you to categorize your requests and search by company size, revenue, number of employees, telephone numbers, addresses, and more. They also al ow you to receive the information via traditional hard copy or mail, or you can download the information directly into Excel or your contact management software.

Contact management software or sales force automation (SFA) tools al ow you to manage your sales pipeline, accounts, contacts, and activity. You may be familiar with some of the companies or products such as ACT, Goldmine, Siebel, SalesLogix, and Microsoft Outlook, and maybe less familiar with the web-based or ASP models such as SalesForce.com, OracleSalesOnline.com or Upshot.com. Although most consider al of this type of technology a management tool and not a sales tool, once you as a sales professional embrace the use of SFA tools or contact management tools, you wil soon realize how much more efficient you can be.

Increased awareness of your pipeline and relative activities or next steps, having your client/prospect information at your fingertips and searchable in multiple formats, having sales summary and pipeline activity available to management without needing to submit reports or information, and having more efficient documentation-al a result of using today's technology-wil result in more sel ing time and more sales.

If you haven't been using the available technology to advance your sales career, start today. You can easily overcome your fear of the unknown by getting into action. Ask your sales associates who use laptops, PDAs, and other devices that seem foreign to you, either to teach you how to use the devices or to help you do a web search to find places where you can take the courses you need. The key to getting and keeping clients these days is availability. He who responds most quickly and with the most pertinent information gets the sale.

Thank You

Secrets of Closing the Sale has made me even more aware of my indebtedness to the tens of thousands of salespeople who have gone before me. These pioneers blazed new frontiers, opened new doors, learned new procedures, and established the credibility of the profession. To a large degree these men and women left me a heritage which I proudly claim.

When you start to say thank you in a book of this kind, you invariably leave out some important contributors. If I have overlooked you, and others who have meant so much to this work, it's simply an indication of another of my human frailties. Please know that your efforts and help are appreciated, and I apologize in advance for not including you.

I start with my friend Bil Cranford, to whom I dedicated this book. He taught me the first principles of professional sel ing. Mr. P. C. Merrel also taught me some important sales principles and "sold" me the idea that I could be a sales champion. My surrogate father, Mr. John Anderson, and my first free-enterprise mentor, Mr. Walton Haining, taught me a great deal about getting along with people and communicating with them on their level. I believe that Secrets of Closing the Sale qualifies as a unique book if for no other reason than the fact that I have been so ably assisted by a number of truly outstanding people and one major company which unselfishly shared a considerable amount of its research.

Heading that list would be Mike Frank of Columbus, Ohio; Bil ie Engman of San Mateo, California; D. John Hammond of Phoenix, Arizona; and Bernie Lofchick of Winnipeg, Canada. I say without hesitation that with the aid of the four of them I must have made a minimum of three hundred changes in what I have written. Not only were they generous in their praise, but more importantly, they were constructive in their evaluation and enthusiastic with their positive suggestions to make the book more effective for you. In several cases their help enabled me to keep some egg off my face. Though I do mention each one several times, I want to emphasize that without their help, combined with the significant contributions of the others, this book would not be as effective as it is.

When the manuscript was roughly 80 percent complete, I sent these people copies and asked them for evaluations, suggestions, and additions, as wel as corrections. Each went above and beyond just being close friends in their zeal and enthusiasm for helping. I asked them specifical y because, without exception, they have outstanding sales backgrounds and a combined knowledge that surpasses any group with which I've had the privilege of working. Each one

that surpasses any group with which I've had the privilege of working. Each one made not just one or two but literal y dozens of invaluable suggestions.

I am also indebted to Mrs. Juanel Teague of Dal as, Texas, and Gerhard Gschwandtner, publisher of Personal Sel ing Power, as wel as Phil Lynch and Bryan Flanagan of Dal as. Their suggestions and insights were extremely helpful.

I'm deeply indebted to The Forum Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts, for making the study done by Wil iam M. DeMarco, Ph.D., and Michael D.

Maginn, Ed.D., available to me. These researchers did a study involving twelve

"Fortune 1300" companies with large sales forces from six industries (high-tech, banking, petro-chemical, insurance, pharmaceutical, and communications). The study involved 341 careful y selected salespeople-173 high performers and 168

moderate performers. They acquired 44,741 pieces of data over a period of fourteen months.

Information from their findings is scattered and identified throughout the book.

No list of thank-yous would be complete without a special one to my younger brother, Judge Ziglar, whose book Timid Salesmen Have Skinny Kids gave me some invaluable ideas which I utilized freely throughout this book. Jim Savage, then our vice-president of corporate training, was extremely helpful with his editorial comments, sales suggestions, and creative ideas.

My thanks also extends to the entire staff of the Zig Ziglar Corporation, who carried double burdens while I secreted myself at our lake home and wrote much of this book. Of necessity, several members of the staff handled their regular jobs as wel as some of the things I should have been doing myself. Thank you to Ron Ezinga, then president of the Zig Ziglar Corporation, and Denny Roossien, then executive vice-president, who relieved me completely of most of my responsibilities and helped make this book possible.

A double-special thank-you goes to my administrative assistant, Laurie Magers.

If any man ever hit the jackpot in an executive assistant, the author of this book certainly did. Not only did Laurie do the work beautiful y and skil ful y, but she mastered a new word processor in order to do so. I include an entire segment in Secrets on "Professionals"-no book could be completed without professional help-and Laurie Magers is certainly professional in every respect. It's also significant that her "bragging" on the book as she typed the manuscript kept me

significant that her "bragging" on the book as she typed the manuscript kept me excited and encouraged.

Thank you, Laurie.

If you are even casual y familiar with my work, you undoubtedly know that I never undertake any major project without the knowledge, support, and enthusiastic help of the Redhead, my wife and my life for over fifty-six beautiful, fun-fil ed years. Thank you, Sugar Baby, for being you, for being mine, and for always being there.

To the salespeople of America, who are, in my mind, the real heroes of this century, I also want to say thank you. We stil have much to do regarding our profession, but much progress has been made. I'm fervently convinced that as you read and apply the principles in this book, you wil be more professional, and the net result is that al of us-including the salesmen of the future-wil benefit from it.

Notes

1. When I talk about my one and only since November 26, 1946, I refer to her as

"the Redhead." When I talk to her, I cal her "Sugar Baby." Her name is Jean.

2. For simplification I often use "product" instead of "product, goods, or services."

3. For clarification: For simplicity and clarity, when "salesperson" is cumbersome I substitute "salesman." "Man" in salesman (or chairman) means and etymological y has always meant "person." Even in the Sanskrit word for

"man," the root "man" means "human being." Homo sapiens means male and female alike. Unless limited by context, mankind means and has always meant

"humanity entire." (Was Paul Revere a "minuteperson"?) I am indebted to Reader's Digest's "Word Power" and the Berkeley Publishing Group for this information.

4. A yel ow or white pad to do your figuring. This procedure clarifies the offer and makes it more believable and understandable. Many people don't buy because they don't understand.

5. The I CAN course is currently distributed by an independent organization, The Alexander Resource Group, headed by Bob Alexander. For information on the course, contact Bob Alexander, Pres., The Alexander Group, 176 Lake View

the course, contact Bob Alexander, Pres., The Alexander Group, 176 Lake View Dr., N., Macon, GA 31210. Phone: 877-USA-ICAN.

Web site: www.yesican.net.

6. At this point, you'd be more than wil ing to cal us at 1-800-527-0306 (in Texas 972233-9191) to order by using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express, wouldn't you? If you don't want to use your credit card, you're going to mail your check to Ziglar Training Systems, 2009 Chenault Dr., Carrol ton, TX

75006, aren't you?

Index of Closes

Available from Ziglar Training Systems only

Ziglar Training Systms has developed many products, programs, and seminars for individual, business, church, and school involvement.

• audio and video programs on personal growth and sales training

• a motivational course cal ed I CAN now in use by thousands of schools and families

families

• one- to four-day seminars, some on cruise ships, on goal setting, sales, and personal motivation These and other products/programs are available only from Ziglar Training Systems. Please write or cal : Zig Ziglar is an international y renowned speaker and author. His client list includes thousands of businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S.

government agencies, churches, schools, and nonprofit associations. He has written twenty-two books, including See You at the Top, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, Top Per ormance, Success for Dummies, Over the Top, and Zig: The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar. Nine of his books have been on best-sel er lists, and his books and tapes have been translated into more than thirty-eight languages and dialects.

Document Outline

Part 1 The Psychology of Closing

Part 3 The Sales Professional

Part 4 Imagination and Word Pictures

Part 6 The Keys in Closing

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

PART 7