I used to despise salespeople. Always thought they were scheming in some way. Never thought they were trustworthy individuals. Always figured they were out to get something from me.
But now that I have been hawking real estate for the past several years, oh, how the tables have turned!
The main goal of salespeople, I have learned, is to discover if there is a problem. If someone doesn’t have a problem, you don’t have a job.
In real estate, a person may need a bigger home to accommodate more family. A smaller home to accommodate less family. Need to move because their job has been relocated. Or need to sell their home because of a tragedy such as a death in the family, job loss, or a breakup.
It’s our job as salespeople to help people resolve their problems.
In the retail world, a person may need a new cell phone or computer because theirs has broken or become outdated.
A new dress, suit, jacket or pair of shoes, because they have grown out of or worn out their old ones.
We are a consumer driven society, to be sure, so we don’t always have a big problem – but they are perceived problems nonetheless.
Imagine.
If everyone was out to help someone else, not just to put food on their own table, but to altruistically and meaningfully try to help someone, what a different world this would be.
Sure, salespeople are getting paid to help people, but in the end, the fact that they actually helped someone should be all that matters.
Doctors are paid to help people. So are nurses, policemen and firemen. And teachers, for that matter.
But we can’t all be doctors and nurses.
But we can all try to be salespeople, and help someone with their problem, even if the only payment would be the sheer pleasure of it.
Can’t we?