Exterior Wall Systems

All right, young and/or new entrepreneurs, I'd like to let you in on one helluva business secret - gather round, quick, quick! We will start by asking you a question, so hang on and we hope you enjoy the ride - this secret is so astounding you wouldn't believe it when we get to the bottom line.

Here is a very basic question we asked many business owners - do you enjoy sales?

Truth is that when many small business owners are asked this question, they respond with answers like, "No way" or "I can't stand sales, let someone else do it."

So what's eating us whenever we get smart-alecky or dismissive answers to such a simple question? For sure you have seen at least one of the headlines like the ones below, all of which herald the misconception that succeeding in business is as easy as riding a bike...or taking candy from a small child.

"Yes, You Can Be A Lazy Man And Start Your Own Business!"

"Cash In On A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry In Your Underwear"

"Earn a Secure Living for Your Family While Sitting on Your Derriere!"

Everybody wants a million bucks, which means there are countless individuals trying to put the adage "there's a sucker born every minute" to the test. Does success in business actually work this way? Not in reality! But not in the real world! Not in our lifetimes!

The bottom line in operating a successful long-term business comes down to your ability to sell your product...period. It doesn't get any simpler than that. It's your call - sell your product, resell somebody else's product, sell your services, sell anything you think is profitable. Your skills and willingness to market your product would determine whether you end up in absolute triumph or abject tragedy. And if you don't enjoy sales, then you might as well put on that wifebeater and grab a clean pair of tightie whities and start counting the stars in the sky - just don't expect to earn from it!

It is customary for new business owners to be so naive to think that once they launch their product, it will sell itself with little to no effort from their end. After all, the product is awesome and everybody will absolutely, positively want one. Why, it's as if God Himself wants the product to sell!

Not so - because here's how it really works. About 80 percent of your sales will be closed in 5 to 7 sales attempts. You bet your last dollar that's correct. That's 5-7 attempts before people will say "Yes, I want to buy your product." One advertising campaign or sales pitch done simply for the heck of it is not to be misconstrued as an effort. Once you hear that great big "no" and give up the ghost right away, you are driving a stake to the heart of your business and allowing your competition to make a YES customer out of that NO customer of yours.

Too many business people have overly lofty expectations in terms of sales, but the truth is, and you might as well accept the hard truth, that great sales don't happen overnight - it could sometimes take years! You have to constantly and consistently make improvements to your marketing tools, improvements on your website, improvements on the product. This dedication and determination is what separates the very few successful business owners from the many "wannabes" and fly-by-night hopefuls.

The bottom line is that to be successful in ANY business you will need talent and the ability to sell, sell, sell.