Sales with Doug Grady: Far and Wide (excerpt from Strategy Magazine)
August 3, 2010 by Doug · 3 Comments
The following article was recently published in Strategy Magazine, a National publication.
Today, Doug Grady, speaker, entrepreneur, musician, and President of High Achievers Network, strives to reinvent the miscalculations of unrealistic strategies that simply sit well on published pages. He may actually turn out to be the Father of “The Sales in All,” mentality and we are vouching for his elated methods.
…Grady got up in front of a crowd one day; placed his banjo on his knee and began to sign a parody about entrepreneurship to the tune of Gloria Gaynor’s “I will Survive…”
What about Grady’s message? Doug Grady offers sincerity. Doug Grady offers the right ticket; without the artificial additives and a pinch of entertainment. He presents the facts, as far as what needs to be done in a sales arena and he caters to all.
“I believe in building the character of the person selling… in order to get across to the client, prospect, or people in general. You can’t sell anything unless you know where you are and where you are heading,”
We know Grady is on to something with his music, but more than that, is he bridging the platform between the self-help industry and the world of selling into one conference. His method of delivery is unique and radical, and is offered live, online, via podcasts, and CDs.
If you or your company have been impacted by a HAN or DG program please, take a moment to leave a comment HERE on the difference made in your life.
Sales KILLERS
August 1, 2010 by Doug · Leave a Comment
“I killed it! I killed my pretty sale!” –Tommy Boy
Why are you killing sales? Have you ever wondered about the sales you lost- what went wrong? Here are the biggest sales killers.
1. You have been DISMISSED. Many salespeople are dismissed before they even open their mouths. This dismissal is confirmed once they open their mouths. Your prospect must have a relevant and specific answer to the question “Why should I talk to you?” The Superior Salesperson separates himself from the masses through creative door openers, personal marketing, strategic relationships, and reality based communication. If you’re dismissed, your sale is dead.
2. The speed of the sale. There are 4 steps all customers go through before they buy anything from anybody. The Superior Salesperson understands these steps, where the customer is in their buying process, and how to communicate effectively through each step. Failure to understand these steps is a sales killer.
3. Lack of flexibility. The average salesperson engages in “verbal vomit.” They “show up and throw up.” “Blah, blah, blah…” This may occasionally bore some prospects into submission but will seldom attract the bigger and better clients. Lack of flexibility is a sales killer.
Just one of these 3 sales killers is enough to significantly decrease your closing ratio. Learn how to be more aware and present in your communication. Learn how to separate yourself from your competition. Learn how to adjust your communication given the situation. Learn how to READ your prospect.
see How to READ People- part 1
What are you building?
“If you build it, they will come.”
Today is the launch date for my first ever mission trip. 12 men including myself will be building 9 pre-fabricated houses in the slums of Guayaquil, Ecuador. In preparation this exciting excursion it occurred to me that life is a building process. In business, in our relationships, and in our character we are constantly building something. Consider taking a moment today to become conscious of what you are currently constructing.
How to get out of a Sales Slump- the 4 “R”s
Stop digging!
If you are reading this you are likely in one now currently or are remembering a time when you were. The dreaded sales slump. It happens- even to the best of us. Sales can be a hero to zero business. The highs can be heavenly while the lows are at best bearable. When you find yourself in one, consider the 4 “R”s.
• Remind- Take a big breath. Remind yourself that you have been successful in the past. If you have been in sales for awhile, think back to a time when you were on a roll, in the zone, selling at your best. What was different about your attitude, energy, and activity? What were you feeling, focusing on, and driven toward? Strive to regain that energy and mindset.
“This too shall pass.” –Persian proverb
• Refocus- Set specific, measurable, achievable goals for the next 30 days. There are 2 types of goals to set: activity and outcome. You need both to increase the velocity of getting out of a slump. Activity goals address # of calls, presentations, networking meetings, referrals, etc you are committing to. Outcome goals address # of sales, $ amount and other relevant “bottom line” sales results. Yes, I know this is sales 101, but let me guess- you haven’t done it in awhile. Just do it.
“When you find yourself in a hole…, stop digging.” –Will Rogers
• Re-energize- get back in the gym, go for a run, listen to some of your favorite music. Get up earlier and focus on your goals. Turn off the TV- read and listen to inspirational, educational, or motivational material. Get around inspiring people. Buy yourself something pretty.
• Re-commit- This is more important than the first 3 combined (the first 3 tend to make this one easier). Decide what you are committed to and get to it.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness… the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” -Goethe
Pick yourself up, get back in the race, you’ll be “back on top in June.”
Happy Selling,
Doug Grady
DG sings “I will Commit” to the tune of “I will Survive”.
How to READ People: The 4 steps all prospects go through before they say “Yes”- part 2
May 15, 2010 by Doug · 2 Comments
E- Evaluation. Once your prospect is within realization (see part 1), evaluation begins. Human beings are evaluation machines. Evaluations are simply questions your prospects are asking which much be answered to their satisfaction before they buy. Your prospect consciously or unconsciously asks questions in four general areas:
- Why you?
- Why your company?
- Why your product/service?
- Why now?
Failure to satisfactorily answer just one of these areas can kill your sale.
The answers to these questions fall into two basic categories: the desire to gain pleasure and the desire to avoid pain.
Specific “pleasure” points may include:
- Return on investment
- Improved employee morale
- Pride
- Ego
- Security
- Approval from others
- Feelings of Success
- Intelligence
- Convenience
- Personal growth
- Keeping up with peers
“Pain” relief may fall into these categories:
- Increased profits
- Decreased costs
- Increased sales
- Efficiency
- Less stress
- Increased productivity
- Peace of mind
- Job security
Strategy 1: Ask “pleasure” and “pain” questions. In order to influence the valuation if others, you know how they evaluate. Earth-shattering, I know. Yet so many salespeople simply “show up and throw up”. They talk about every feature, advantage and benefit known to mankind regarding their product in hopes that one will miraculously connect with their prospect in such a way that they are uncontrollably compelled to say “I’ll take it!”
Examples of “pleasure” questions:
What’s most important to you in _______?
Why is that so important?
What do you like most about your current situation?
Why do you like that so much?
Why did you decide to go with XYZ company?
Examples of “pain” questions:
What’s not working?
If you could change anything about your current situation, what would it be?
What concerns do you have in this area?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how are things going in this area? What’s missing to make it a 10?
Strategy 2: Presentational Positioning. Your presentation should be relevant and specific to your prospect and their current situation. If you have asked effective questions, listened, and received accurate answers you are ready to give a tailored presentation. In your presentation, position your product or service as a way for them to move toward what they want and away from what they don’t want.
Recommended HAN faculty: McKain, Weldon, Grady, Sjodin, Hutson (in members area)