Your Network is your Net worth

I live by this!!! Some people go around collecting titles and chasing dollars. Chase relationships and the rest will follow. Ive gotten furthest in my career and closed more deals with knowing the right people than having any skill or being a stone cold closer (though i am a closer and do have skills lol).


Advice for the day- Collect Relationships

๐Ÿ‘‘ Sales Strategy
30
TheDeplorable
Politicker
4
AE
Something they need to teach more in collegeย 
beachNsales
Politicker
0
Sales Manager
you mean you didn't learn this skill in statistics? lol
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
i missed that day too
Incognito
WR Officer
0
Master of Disaster
My college actually did. It was part of the business honors minor program. Practical, real world advice on how to run a business. They had a class on everything- public speaking, accounting, MS office, networking, writing for business, law and ethics, marketingโ€ฆ.the capstone course was a competitive simulation game where teams were given a business and had to compete against each other (everyone had the same business, different territory). Do you go high price, lower market share and higher quality, or do you do low cost low quality and high volume? How much do you allocate to marketing? R&D?ย 

and yes, I won the whole fucking thing singlehandedly by a ridiculous margin.ย 

I named my team โ€œaxe wound authorityโ€ based on a Freudian reference to vaginas. If anyone tried to creep in and peak at my work I would put up massive gay porn pics on my monitors. Profs loved me and hated me all at once hahahaย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
As long as we know now!!!!!! Lol
Incognito
WR Officer
3
Master of Disaster
This is me. I will never be the best cold caller - I admit it (though Iโ€™d like to get better). Nothing beats a warm intro/referral.ย 

my favorite play is introducing clients and prospects to each other when they each solve a problem for the other - like one has no work and the other has too much and needs help. I know the character of each so I can fully get behind the collaboration. What broker actually gets clients work and makes them money that has nothing to do with what youโ€™re selling?ย 

I try to be the person you call when you need something. Anything. Just access to my network. Better than gold.ย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
2
Director Sales and Market Development
skills are great, i have some. But when im on the balls of my ass and out of my comfort zone, my network saves me 9 times out of 10.ย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
love your example too @Incognitoย in introducing clients to eachother
SaaSguy
Tycoon
3
Account Executive
I agree to an extent. I also know some people who are fairly introverted keep their head down and work and rise the ranks through their work.ย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
What happens when that person hits a roadblock like getting let go, what do they do then?ย 
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
If they keep their head down and do good work they're unlikely to get let go.
SaaSguy
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
^This. I think in some cases favoritism plays a role but no one is letting go of a solid performer for any old reason. Sales talent is at an all time premium and reps with demonstrable success are worth $$$.
Chep
WR Officer
2
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Like they say if you hang with 4 millionaires odds are you're the fifth
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
Just like if you stay in the barbershop long enough you'll end up getting a haircutย 
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Yup, I agree 100%.

You never know who will lead you to the next deal, don't discount any relationship and don't talk shit behind people's back or about competitors. If you can't sell them, be a problem solver in another way, or even just someone to listen to them complain about their day.

I've closed multi-million deals on relationships that initially went nowhere only to circle back in a year for a new opportunity.

More relationships also lead to better referrals, upsell opportunities and long-term agreements.
swizard
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales Evangelist
Canโ€™t agree more! ๐Ÿ’ฏย 
FatVeinyTip
Arsonist
1
Account Exec
The one thing i learnt to just become a better person

Dont chase money, chase peopleย 
Smithy
Politicker
1
Director of Sales
As I've gotten older, I've realised the truth and power in this statement.

Now, I pretty much have a 'guy' for most things and if I need something, I usually know someone who is plugged in and that helps.
riggidyrip
1
Tech Recruiter
Preach
NoSuperhero
Politicker
1
BDR LEAD
I think this is my biggest flaw, I don't know how to maintain relationships. I stay focused on my own bullshit and forget to stay connected.
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
Bit if you see it you can still course correct now. Tomorrow it begins.ย 
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
For sure, I'm trying to go out and stay connected with people that matter first. I lost a lot of good friends just because I forget consistently to stay in touch, baby steps i guess
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
My college actually did. It was part of the business honors minor program. Practical, real world advice on how to run a business.
Justatitle
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
To an extent I agree with this but it depends on the industry you sell to and how influential that network is. There could be niche products and those communities are almost impossible to break into but if you can youโ€™re set
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
Yes, I started out in such a world (payments, aquiring and issuing) still use that network today.ย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
Because of this network i was able to pivot industries too. But there is truth to your comment on the sales side yes, but cant put a price on being able to pick up the phone and land anywhere anytime cause your network is strong
steakalldayerryday
Opinionated
0
AE
Build your brand INTERNALLY in your company as well. Having influence without authority helps a lot with accessing tribal knowledge and getting people to step in and unblock barriers for you.
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
Absolutely. Play the game and be out in front. Internal and external is unwritten but agree 100%
Tribal24
Good Citizen
0
SDR
This is something I've been good at from an early age. My parents always drilled this into me. I've been able to leverage those childhood friendships into real-world opportunities as an adult.ย 
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
Same. Paid off in spades and also golden rule of treating people the way you want to be treated.ย 
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
0
Manager, Outbound Sales
Networks are important without a single doubt.ย 

however itโ€™s important to remember itโ€™s about the quality and relevance of the network, not just size.
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
Absolutely. Quality of over quantity in relationships and dials lol
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