Redefining 'The Sales Guy'

Posted by Brad Davis

So I'm the newest member of the Deyo Team and am quite excited about what I think God might be doing with our work here.

I started working for Deyo in June (on a contract basis) primarily, because well I was bored. Having finished my Masters and teaching only one course at the community college, I needed something productive and time-consuming to keep me from watching history and discovery channel all day long :) I approached John and asked him to give me some work on a purely commission basis. I started the abominable business of cold-calling...hours a day. That constant rejection really gets to you. Perhaps worse than the rejection is the feeling you get when someone intimates that you have really wasted their time...oh that's the worst! Needless to say I started wondering if this was gonna work long term, so I kept telling myself after two months if it didn't get any better I would find work elsewhere (another reason I wanted to stay commission only). It wasn't so much that I questioned WHAT I was selling as much as HOW I was selling it.

After a few weeks I started getting involved with networking meetings, first the Canyon Creek group then the Black Finn group, and that's when things really picked up. In retrospect it makes perfect sense; sales is all about relationships, period. I started really enjoying the meetings there as people WORKED to get ME business...go figure! I then joined the Plano Chamber and oh man that has been a continual lesson in sales. First, the Chamber Business Interchange is one of the most entertaining events I attend on a weekly basis, and I am involved in A LOT of other events. Furthermore, the members have made a point to get to know each other and be a welcoming group. Lynn Barrett and Lindsey Kleinhans have been so hospitable! Brad Shanklin, the president & CEO of the Chamber, along with his staff have done an amazing job at facilitating a fun and effective group of business individuals who mix business and pleasure quite well.

After having such a great time at these events and actually getting to know people in addition to doing business with a number of them, I decided to go on staff with Deyo Group as the sales manager and am looking forward to proactively and cooperatively solving business issues while building relationships with people whose path I cross. I am slowly learning a more relational approach to sales.

Additionally, I recently attended a Chamber info session facilitated by Janet White, president of Ditch the Pitch Public Relations, and it was a reminder of how to do business with the customer in mind. So many times we focus on our deal and our products, but fail to really connect with the customer. Jesus taught this same principle thousands of years ago when he said, "Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31)." It's so simple, yet so often forgotten. In sales or in any relationship for that matter you have the opportunity to treat the other person as you would want to be treated (according to their unique personality, struggles and hopes). I am sure this one teaching will radically transform my life as it is applied continually to more than just sales.

So although I do still make some cold calls, I get a far better response asking people to share with me their web frustrations and brainstorming possible solutions that we may be able to provide for them. And the majority of my time is now spent meeting with like-minded individuals who want to discuss how we can help improve each other's business and ultimately life.

Posted September 03, 2008 2:05 PM