What books, if any have actually made a difference in your sales career?

I have to ask. People refer books left and right, but I'm curious to know which ones have had an actual impact.

📚 Resource
🤘 Personal Growth
🤔 foodforthought
25
SaaSguy
Tycoon
6
Account Executive
None tbh, iv'e had books recommended read a lot of them - spending time actually doing my job has been the best way to be better at my job.
Id recommend speaking with and shadowing high performing reps, reading books is cool but its often small tidbits or habits that help the most.
RandyLahey
Politicker
1
Account Executive
This is the answer. It's the most boring drivel, dull and repetitive.
Joel23
Good Citizen
1
Community Manager
facts!
ScorpionZD
Executive
0
Enterprise SDR
Love this
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
6
Director of Revenue
Dragon Ball manga. I just want to be the Goku of sales and go super saiyan on their asses
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
I can't say that any books have made a difference whatsoever.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
5
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Reading for pleasure, not work, makes all the difference in the world to my attitude.
BmajoR
Arsonist
4
Account Executive
I'm telling Jesus
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
🦊
Fenderbaum
Politicker
2
Retired Choirboy🪕
I almost spit out my Starbucks... 😎
js2458
Politicker
3
Enterprise SDR
Fanatical Prospecting is pretty good. The hard thing about most books is that they aren’t necessarily relevant to your job. They cover a wide variety of functions, but might not be relevant depending on the industry you’re in.
SaaSguy
Tycoon
3
Account Executive
I think reading top 10 takeaways from a book like fanatical prospecting is probably more value than spending the time reading it. I've read it twice.
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
Agreed - there's a lot valuable insight but there's just so much more content than is necessary.
BTQ
Politicker
3
Account Manager
Never split the difference.
Beans
Big Shot
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Never Split the Difference, 48 Laws of Power, How to Win Friends and Influence People
DataCorrupter
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Agreed with this.

How to Win Friends was a transformational book for me. It's super applicable to both sales and everyday life. It really changed the way I interacted with prospects, going from "winging it" to being very intentional about everything I do/say with them (in a positive way). I can tell you that some prospects have become outside-work friends or come to work with me as engineers.

I couldn't recommend that one more. Although get the updated version, that one was written in 1912 or something, so the updated version is sorely needed.
jefe
Arsonist
3
🍁
2 old ones that are classic are Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) & How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie)
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
GAP and Green Eggs and Ham.
LambyCorn
Arsonist
1
A mfkn E
the bible
ScorpionZD
Executive
1
Enterprise SDR
Spicy
butwhy
Politicker
1
Solutions Engineer
The Phoenix Project. I actually think it should be required reading for all AEs in tech.

Also The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck changed my life perspective in general but also my career outlook significantly.
AnchorPoint
Politicker
1
Business Coach
New Sales Simplified by Mike Weinberg, Transparency Sale by Todd Caponi, Anything by Zig Ziglar.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
There isn't going to be a book that makes me 0% quota to presidents club. but found these helpful with actionable items or my motivation in sales
Drive-Daniel Pink
Never Split The Difference- Chris Voss
To Sell Is Human- Daniel Pink (Just started but like it so far)
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
0
Director, Revenue Enablement
Never split the difference - Chris Voss
Sales EQ - Jen Blount
The Go Giver - Bob Burg
Start with Why - Simon Sinek
Fenderbaum
Politicker
0
Retired Choirboy🪕
The Choirboys by Joseph Wambaugh
pirate
Big Shot
0
🦜☠️ Account Executive
I read a lot. Probably have read nearly 4000 books in my life
I think what has helped me the most is science fiction and fantasy. Just because they survive and the characters have a lot of grit and passion and they keep at it... And then I compare it to my life and sales and it just doesn't seem that bad. It seems pretty easy actually
With history and nonfiction - history again makes you think that things are pretty good and in history people have been through shit. Sometimes nonfiction just inspires me and I get a lot of new ideas.
I guess one book will not do much or make you better at sales. Read 100... read 1000 and it's like, things don't stress you out that much. It's like you are a bit desensitized to it all. You have almost too much empathy for people. You see stories... everywhere. I see it in sales.
Just read :) and keep reading :)
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
There are a lot of topics on books. Try the searchbar
ChiefColdCall
0
Business Development - Fortune 500
Kitchen nightmares by Anthony Bourdain gives me a great prospective on life
ZVRK
Politicker
0
Enterprise Account Executive
I`ve tried reading more than a few sales books, most of them are just a lot of fluff, most of the time. Being in sales for 14 yrs now, what I seek from books is to take my mind off of sales so I keep my mental health in check :)
SalesJesus29
Tycoon
0
Regional Sales Director
The Go-Giver by John David Mann - not even just a sales career changer, but a life perspective changer in how you show up to interactions. Shift from lack to abundance mindset. Highly highly recommend!!
DatabaseSeller
Valued Contributor
0
Commercial Account Executive
I am SHOCKED to not see a single comment with the Challenger Sale or Qualified Sales Leader - definitely those for me
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
0
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
I don't think I have been able to put myself through reading books for my work / sales. I have a few books, I start reading them but nah.
I read to be travelled to some other dimension - and that helps me. :p
vpoflife
Praised Answer
0
General Manager - Partner Strategy & Growth
Demand Side Sales - Bob Moesta
RckChlkG33k
Big Shot
0
AE (Account Executive)
Persuasion, by Cialdini
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Atlas Shrugged which is not at all a book about sales lmao. Book has incredible insights into the human condition
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