"Sales 101"

To me, the most important thing you said is this.......

"a lot of the slick and flowery phrases and verbal strategies presented in the guru-books kinda vanished, and all I was left with was what I knew about the product I was selling... which seemed to be enough."

This my friend is the most important thing you can learn about sales.
If you beleive in what you are selling, know a great deal about it (whatever you are selling), and know that it will benefit the target, you will do just fine.
Even if you stumble along for a while while learning the ropes of the sales game!

You will have a list of repeat, referral givin', customers longer than you can reach in no time!

On the flip side....
If you are a fancy talker that PRETENDS to know your stuff, you will never grow your repeat or referral business to the point you no longer need to sell.

You posted a while ago about the frustrations of not being able to get to the decision maker as they were not on site or were not in.
I agree, it is not fun to always look for your next dollar bill.

However if you give your clients what they want on their terms, you will never be short of work as you will soon have more than you need.

I hope you haven't canned the concrete cleaning gig because, if you treated your 17 customers right, they will all need your service again at some point.
Not to mention all of the referrals they will give you.

How about offering them additional services like window cleaning, etc.......

You already have your foot in the door!





My point is if you have a product or service that Will benefit the end user and know a great deal about the product, you are sitting on a gold mine!!!!!!

Gordon talked a bit about farming your area in the Real Estate business.

Same thing here.....
Farm your field, but the only way to grow your field is to water and care for your field, in other words, give it what it wants and needs!!!!!!

If you take care of your field, it will take care of you!

Best wishes in '07
Jason