Sales Conversations Don’t Have to Feel Shitty

Earlier this year I was in a car accident and had to replace my vehicle. The accident was scary and left me shaken. However, when I think back to the whole experience, the process of buying a car was ultimately the most frustrating and annoying part of the process. 

The absolute worst part about the experience was the aggressive tactics the salespeople used when I picked up my car. They weren’t satisfied with the sale of a new car, they wanted to upsell me on a million additional options, so they could increase their bottom line. They offered an extended warranty, undercoatings, winter tires, and service packages - none of which I asked for or expressed any interest in.

When I stated clearly that I wasn’t interested in these add-ons, they would say things like “I just really want to help you out here…” and “This deal is only available if you buy today before you leave.” But they weren’t my friends and the offers weren’t helpful to me.  Their energy felt like annoyance, greed, and anger, not kindness or compassion. 

Just when I thought I was finally being heard and my boundary was being respected - the manager joined the conversation. We went through the whole sales script again and it required that I set my boundaries all over again PLUS I had to sign multiple documents to officially opt out. 

It took me three hours (THREE. FUCKING. HOURS!) to navigate all of these conversations and finally get my keys and get out of there. I was tired, frustrated, and mad at the manipulative tactics they used to try and coerce me into buying things I didn’t want. Any excitement I had about a car with modern features like power windows evaporated, even though I’ve been hand cranking my windows since the 90’s.

Exercising my right to choose a product or level of service that is right for me shouldn’t be a battle.

And it shouldn’t be a battle for you either. Or any of us, for that matter.

The whole experience made me more confident in my approach to sales conversations with prospective clients. I expect you (and want you) to take my ideas and approach for a test drive before you commit to working with me. For example…

🌱  I’m writing these blog posts and will be sharing more about my approach in my newsletter and in social media because I want you to know about me, my philosophies, and my services to be able to test for fit before you commit.

🌱  I offer a “Test Flight” to prospective clients. It’s not an official coaching conversation, but it gives you an opportunity to get to know a bit more about me and my style. It’s also a way for me to learn more about your journey and the kind of support you're looking for.

🌱  I work hard to provide transparency about what you receive with each of my services. There are no hidden fees or add-on options that I will try and convince you to buy. 

Ultimately, I trust you to know if it feels right for us to work together. I won’t use any slimy sales tactics or create a false sense of scarcity just to land the sale.

Learning about sales and marketing has been a huge part of my entrepreneurial journey and I am grateful to find mentors who champion ethical marketing sales tactics like Tad Hargrave (Marketing for Hippies) and Mark Silver (Heart of  Business).

I will always respect your sovereignty as a client to determine what services are the best fit for you at any time. Always.