The rules of the ‘new economy’ extend far beyond traditional sales roles. Today, regardless of what you used to do, it’s important to accept that everyone is in sales.
The new economy (a subject Seth Godin loves to talk about) is moving at speeds and in directions that none of us are accustomed to. We’ve never been trained for this. There is no handbook, no guide and no map to tell us where to go. The predictability and stability we’re accustomed to has vanished.
Chances are that the ones who persist are the ones who will end up writing the rules to the new economy. Which means sales is now going to become a lot more important.
Yes folks, that dreaded profession (or last resort of a so-called profession, as society teaches us) is going to be the foundation of what you’ll need to be successful.
In the new economy, everyone is in sales. Even if you don’t have the word “sales” in your job title, you will still need to know the sales playbook. If you’re dealing with people, you’ll have to be able sell your ideas. Especially as the business world trends towards project-based work, everyone is, at least to a certain degree, becoming solopreneurs.
Whether you’re a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, an accountant, a general contractor, a marketer, a financial controller, or a high-powered consultant, today everyone is in sales.
Here’s an example of how disrupted and fragmented the law profession has become in the United States. This is not a trend or a fad but a new reality. Some lawyers in the US are now working for $30,000/year because traditional lawyer jobs are disappearing and more agile, project-based work is now preferred by employers.
The Transition Period
In the old economy, all you had to focus on was your profession; sales was left to someone else. In the new ‘everyone is in sales’ economy, we all have to sell our ideas for our income. As you become more independent and more project-driven, this is the new reality.
Keep in mind that no one is exempt from this. If you want to grow in your career, you’ll have to sell your ideas. This is a concept that may seem foreign and scary but it is quickly becoming the new reality.
Instead of hiding from this, it’s time to start taking action.
The Opportunity
I want you to see the opportunity in this. As the business world becomes flatter and more accessible, selling isn’t what it used to be. Today, selling is based on your ideas, understanding and expertise. If you know how to demonstrate your expertise to a prospective buyer, doors will open up. There are countless people already practicing this.
These trailblazers are defying the pushy, stereotypical image that many people have about salespeople.
Instead, these innovators focus on creating value for their buyers by helping them first. In essence, this is what being a social seller is all about.
The Bottom Line
By being mindful of the changes that are happening in the economy, you have an incredible opportunity. But, you’ll have to accept and internalize the idea that everyone is in sales and that selling will have to be something that you do. If you’re just getting started, social selling is ideal because it allows you to sell softly – it’s selling without coming off as aggressive. It’s about creating value first and having meaningful conversations with your buyers, whoever they may be, without pushing them towards a sale.
Interested in learning more? Feel free to book some time in my calendar using the link below.
You can also learn more about social selling by checking out 10 Steps to Becoming a Social Selling Machine or 9 Steps to a Winning LinkedIn Profile for Sales Professionals.
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