DonJuanQuixote

BDR

Non-Sales Sales Books

I am new to tech sales, and have been reading plenty of sales books to get up to speed and sharpen my skills. Mainly books like "Never Split the Difference" or "Fanatical Prospecting".

But, i'd be interested in hearing some community recommendations for non-sales sales books. As in a book that isn't explicitly about sales, but still contains plenty of wisdom that is useful in the field.

One of my choices would be "Thinking In Bets" by Annie Duke. She's an ex professional poker player and her systematic approach to decision making helped me choose which activities to prioritize over others throughout my day.

It also made me appreciate structuring my work to prioritize outcomes over inputs. I'd rather make 5 high quality calls that book two meetings than 50 low quality calls that book one.

What do you all think?

Do you read to improve your selling skills?

Attached poll

Yes! Books contain so much helpful info! Me no read, me sell On the job experience is more important than book knowledge It's an important part of a larger training plan

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🎈 Mentorship

14

19 comments

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punishedlad

Tycoon

7

Business Development Team Lead

I think reading in general just makes you a more well rounded person. Read what you want to. I personally stick to books on theology/philosophy, fantasy/sci-fi, and the occasional historical fiction book.

In agreement with @sketchysales, on the job experience and conversations with your colleagues/savages in the WR will serve you much better on the sales front. Can't say there's really a sales book I've walk away saying "wow, this really changed the way I think about sales" after reading besides maybe The Challenger Sale.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

2

Sales Rep

and its much better to just have Challenger Sale be trained on internally compared to just reading the book

sketchysales

Politicker

5

Sales Manager

I answered on the job experience is more important because thats where you will learn fastest.

However its deeper than that, i have found books have given me general knowledge that helps in all situations, just from being averagely street-smart and being able to to talk in 1 meeting to someone whos 25-30 years older than me and being able to have a relatable conversation and build rapport and then in the next meeting chat with a millennial and again be able to adapt and link and and build rapport.

When I say books, im not just talking about general knowledge books, i mean i have read everything from rom novels set in the 1700's through to modern classics through to sales training books etc. and I maintain they have stood me in good stead.

That said, i no longer read. Seems i burnt out the reading part of my brain.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

4

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I like to read murder mysteries. I've found them to be personally very illuminating.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

You see the new season of You just dropped? 👀

Fenderbaum

Politicker

1

Retired Choirboy🪕

My wife is watching it right now...

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I haven’t watched it yet at all. Worth it?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

It's brilliantly FUCKED UP 🔥

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Intriguing! I’ll check it out.

Maximas

Tycoon

2

Senior Sales Executive

Yeah sure!

As to be good at Sales you have to be good at the product knowledge for the product you're selling and to be good in that PK you need to be a good reader to it and IMO that's one of the key differences between the really good sales person and the average.

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Lots of posts about Sales Books. Check the search bar.

I keep an open mind and incorporate what works for me from the authors. There's a lot you can learn from the experience of others.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

2

Sales Director

Reading is great for provoking thought, seeing life/sales through different lenses, etc.

I love to read.

However, at the end of the day, you're going to learn more by:

doing > failing > adjusting > doing again > failing again > adjusting > doing

Fenderbaum

Politicker

2

Retired Choirboy🪕

Great point, the adjusting part! You gotta learn from your failures. Damn, now I've got that song stuck in head.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

2

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Books are great, but you will learn so much more by doing

Fenderbaum

Politicker

1

Retired Choirboy🪕

Not really into sales books anymore. Anything by Joseph Wambaugh is a great read, especially The Choirboys. Soft Pretzels With Mustard by David Brenner was great. The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy was great also.

HappyGilmore

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Reading I think not only can help with skillset but also be a way to unplug from the day to day as well.

Personally, I've always enjoyed reading books about business outside of sales, history non-fiction, and action-thrillers.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

0

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Books are great, but you will learn so much more than doinf

WheelofCheese

Opinionated

0

Sales Executive

You’re not going to become an expert by reading sales books by any means. True life experience ranks number one for me. Second would be on the job training along with mentorship. Third, books/podcasts are the “gravy”. All knowledge is good knowledge. Pick what you like that works for YOU!

TennisandSales

Politicker

0

Head Of Sales

actual experience is always better. books can help shape your perspective though, and give you a frame work of how you operate going forward, or how you view your past experiences.

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