The more you talk, the less I'm 'Sold'

  There's a certain humility in money.  If you have it, you count on people accepting it to get what you want.  If you are trying to make it, you count on people 'buying' whatever it is you are doing.  If you are alone in the woods with more money than you can imagine ever having, it does you no good.  Money only matters because of us....we are surrounded by others seeking the same fortune and comfort.  Once I understood this, money still mattered to me.  It just mattered a whole bunch less than the humanity that I knew was irreplaceable.

When I bought my house in December of 2006, there were a few things I did right out of the shoot.  An amigo of mine gutted and totally revamped the bathroom.  So, instead of looking like Al Bundy's eternal dwelling in 'Married With Children' ... my bathroom now may just be suitable for Martha Stewart to at least wash her hands in.  The other thing I did was replace the kitchen floor.  All this was done just months after buying my home, but there was still more to do....

I knew upon buying my home that the siding had to go.  So, it being Spring and all, what better time to go shopping for siding than now?  In a matter of weeks, I've had five estimates and am awaiting one more.  Earlier this morning, I had back to back appointments for estimates on getting the work done.  One thing stuck out in all this, I had to do deal with that dreaded entity called 'Sales People.'

They come in many forms, sizes, shapes, & shades.  They come to help convince you that you are making a wise choice in choosing them over any other.  They come to provide a service in which you pay for.  (Sorry Mom, I just ended yet another sentence with a preposition:-)

I never thought that I would be a sales person of any kind, but I was tad ignorant in that I guess.  Heck, I don't care what you do....if you do it for money, you're in Sales.  And that's fine.  That's our culture, our system, our imperfect world.  While I've gathered and learned about those that are more financially successful than most, some of the methods just aren't my cup of tea.  To me, sales is like Life & Sex, it comes from the hip. 

Five estimates down and one more to go.  The estimates have ranged from $3,000 to $13,000 at this point.  Gee, I wonder where the differential in price truly lies?  Price is certainly a vital consideration, yet I'll choose according to a little shopping secret I've learned from being in sales for the past seven years.  If they aren't willing to shut up and listen, the only thing they are really selling is themselves.  While that's wonderful glorious superb dandy great & fine, sell me trust.  Sell me trust!  Sell me that I can call you if I have questions or something goes wrong after the fact.  Sell me that you would have a drink with me if I decide that another offer and entity is better equipped for my situation than yours.  Sell me that you'll work with me even if I don't sign the dotted line today.  Sell me that I'm more than a number, more than just an inconvenient stop on this travel of your life.  Sell me that whatever happens, you are the expert on this particular cause and you'll guide me in the right direction.  Sell me cause we are the same.  It's that damn Humanity Thing...

Two ears, one mouth....use accordingly.  Sales is listening to those looking for help and providing the service to help them.  I learn something new everyday.  Today I learned that I should listen more....or at least ask the right questions to make sure I'm providing the right services and results.

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