As a salesperson, you are in the driver’s seat to your own destiny.
I generally spend about 200 days a year on the road training teams at our salon and distributor partners. One of the most common themes I see that differentiates a successful salon from a mediocre one is its sales staff. Like the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” It’s the same with your team; you can give them all of the tools necessary to succeed; but if they don’t want to be successful, you can’t make them.
This month, I am writing to our front line – our salon sales force. Here are five ways to boost confidence and become a better, stronger and more successful version of yourself.
1. Get dedicated! Ask yourself these questions: Is this a job you like? Do you enjoy this industry? Do you like the sales aspect? If you answered “yes” to all three, then it’s time to decide to give it your all. My mother always told me that anything worth doing in life was worth doing at 100%, and if it’s not worth your 100% then it’s not worth doing. Buckle down, and work hard – then reap the benefits.
2. Identify your weaknesses. This is hard for most of us to do. Ask a co-worker or manager what things they think you could improve on; then, make a plan to become absolutely awesome in that area. The best way to execute a goal is to write it down, set a deadline and make a plan to work on it every day.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded people. If you associate yourself with motivated, driven and hardworking people, you will naturally strive for better. Remove yourself from workplace situations in which people are negative or complaining, as this is not productive for you, for them or the business.
4. Constantly evolve. Your day-to-day work routine changes, the people you see change; as the industry continues to grow, so do you. Re-educating yourself is incredibly important! This is a fun, fast-paced industry with new and exciting products, equipment and concepts coming out every day. Open up your mind to constant learning. Many distributors and lotion manufacturers offer on-site and web trainings year-round, and salon operator training will increase your level of professionalism.
5. Take positive actions toward your goals. Be proactive rather than reactive … grab the bull by the horns! As a salesperson, you are in the driver’s seat to your own destiny. A sales job is one of the only careers in which you control your own income level. Come to work every day with a plan to make that day better then the one before. A positive mindset can go a long way toward achieving success.
In my years in the tanning business, I’ve found that most successful salespeople are intensely action-oriented. They have a sense of urgency and hunger – a need for action. They possess that “do it now!” attitude and a compulsion for closure. They maintain a fast pace in most aspects of their lives.
If you love what you do, believe in yourself – and know that you can achieve more. Stop making excuses and start making adjustments!
