Dear Old Closer, Sunnybunny, and the rest of the WR gatekeepers

Alright, you sales wizards. It's hump day, and I'm here to drop some sales knowledge bombs that'll make your heads spin faster than a roller coaster. After raking in millions in ACV over my short two-year career, I've distilled what I've learned so far into four mind-boggling guiding principles...


  1. Keep It Simple: Because let's face it, complex jargon and convoluted explanations only make your customers reach for the snooze button. Instead of getting lost in technical details, focus on the benefits it brings to the customer's life. Paint a vivid picture of how their problems will be solved, their desires fulfilled, and their dreams realized.
  2. If you don't ask, you don't get: It's time to channel your inner brat and demand what you want. Don't sit back and hope the universe hands you sales on a silver platter. Be bold, ask for the sale.
  3. Be Relentless: Success in sales demands grit, persistence, and the determination of a bull chasing a matador. Keep pushing, keep hustling, and never take "no" for an answer. Embrace rejection like a badge of honor, because each "no" gets you closer to that sweet, sweet "yes."
  4. Hope is not a strategy: Sorry, folks, but sitting around, crossing your fingers, and hoping for the best won't cut it in the cutthroat world of sales. Leave wishful thinking at the door and replace it with a well-crafted plan, strategic action, and a killer instinct. Success is earned, not wished for.

So, my fellow sales maestros, what do you think? Are you ready to challenge these principles, add your own twist, or confess your undying admiration for my unrivalled brilliance? The stage is yours!

🎈 Mentorship
🏹 War Room
✌️ Growing Pains
17
Pachacuti
Politicker
15
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I can see humility is not holding you back here.

Its interesting that these are the things you learned in your illustrious 2 year career.

Good luck on the next 2 years
CuriousFox
WR Officer
14
🦊
Oh the shade 💅
Fenderbaum
Politicker
8
Retired Choirboy🪕
.
oldcloser
Arsonist
5
💀
Nice shot! :)
Sunbunny31
Politicker
8
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Wow, I've been off the forums all day and boom, this is great.

Really solid.

And since you mentioned it first:
HVACexpert
Politicker
3
sales engineer
.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Since we're on a roll:
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
Such a good movie!
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
It was a lot of fun.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
7
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
“Hope is not a strategy” is something that I’ve had hammered into people’s head for years. The only item I would change/add is - be consultative. While keeping it simple is important, but you want to make sure you are doing the right things by your prospects and customers.
punishedlad
Tycoon
3
🧙‍♂️
It's actually a line that we work into our demos, and I love it.
oldcloser
Arsonist
7
💀
Sort of reads like Green Eggs and Ham in a Zig Ziglar internment camp for growth hormone abusers.

“I will sell you in three calls”
“I will sell you with pure balls”

It’s not a strategic plan for selling S & P Global, starting the senior data scientist. But if he ain’t your ICP how would you know in 2 years? Besides, you’ve been busy raking in millions in ACV.

It’s a far cry from your grand entrance where you were tired of taking notes. And I’m partial to Dr Seuss.

oldcloser
Arsonist
5
💀
Nice work, @bigfella. Effort counts. I’ll see if @sunbunny31 has an extra key. 🙄🔫
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
6
Enterprise AE
congrats on raking in millions of acv in your short two year career

i'll challenge #2, you don't need to be bratty. you can give to get what you want in return. what you give can be as simple as an introduction to someone internally, industry knowledge or more information. what you get back can be a commitment to loop in proper stakeholders, timeline alignment etc.

based on your high volume nature i can see where being an inner brat could work, but on more strategic deals there's more of a fine line to walk when you want to demand something.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
5
☕️
Omg. A post with value and a prompt for participation. A rookie has done it!

Viva!
Filth
Politicker
5
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I'm sick hearing number 4 (of course it's not a strategy but fuck man you can be optimistic) but I've ranted here already about it so I'm all petered out and this is as clever of a comment as you get. Good day, carry on, stay filthy, happy hunting etc.
HVACexpert
Politicker
5
sales engineer
I think Optimism is very important, the idea is to have a plan of action to attempt to make that sale come to fruition. So let’s change it to “Hope ALONE is not a strategy”
Filth
Politicker
5
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I am more ok with this amended statement. Current Status:
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
💀
Without optimism I'd talk to nobody. It's a must.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
5
Sales Rep
..
RandyLahey
Politicker
4
Account Manager
Nice work here Big fella, I hope no.3 is sarcastic...
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Yeah, no can in fact, be a valid answer. And learning when to pick your battles is also important. That said, sometimes no isn't no, sometimes it's an objection or a 'not now' which is useful to figure out.
RandyLahey
Politicker
4
Account Manager
Exactly; you don’t want to bail out of a call early. No is the 2nd best answer only you’re confident a yes isn’t there…
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I usually get to no pretty quickly, but usually in more than 1 call because enterprise hits different. Sometimes it’s hard no, sometimes it’s a head scratcher. Most of the time I realize companies can be like teenagers. They have to make their own mistakes. I’ll see them again in a year or so.
HVACexpert
Politicker
4
sales engineer
Asking for the sale is very important and I’m surprised it’s not mentioned more
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Right? Totally a valid thing.
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
1
Enterprise AE
@bigfellaare you going to respond to our critiques? or did you mic drop?
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
My only addition to this list is sometimes a No is really a No. Don’t spend your valuable time on deals that will never turn into a win. In my opinion, getting to a No quickly and moving on is a good thing. You’ll know if there’s a real opportunity or not. Spend your time on deals that have a pulse.
Justatitle
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
Great pillars if I’m being honest
sketchysales
Politicker
0
Sales Manager
Struggling to see the big wow. Everything you said is basics.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Nice tips,but just wait,what!:)
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
You raked in millions? Lots of people just use a PDF or other software. Will try the rake method.
Armageddon
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Bravo!
2

What was your first sales role that made you realize you were born to do this? Mine was girl scouts and moving way more cookies than the rest of my fellow brownies

Discussion
6
6

So, most people I know did not plan on becoming a sales person initially, it just happened. So, curious to know how my fellow warriors here ended up in sales anyway ? The more interesting stories the better..!!

Question
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