Monday, February 27, 2012

10 THINGS A SALESMAN CAN LEARN FROM FARMERS







This is by far one of the most insightful & metaphorical articles on selling I've encountered!

Who would have known that a simple farmer, unknowingly, can impart remarkable knowledge to professional sales people & help advance their career? Reading this piece can actually inspire and motivate not only salesmen like us but people who are in the workforce in general. Some vital elements of the write up also serves as guideposts in life as well. The author Carl Dy is an expert in property sales and is the sales director for Ayala Land Premier.

In fact, I'm thinking of producing a series of seminars anchored on this bright concept. Abangan! 

Anyways, I'm publishing it verbatim below. Please share this if you want to. Help us spread good & helpful ideas like this. Enjoy & learn while reading :-)

The saying “What you sow is what you reap” is an age-old, farmer’s adage replete with wisdom that is still very much relevant even in the information and internet age. 

In a salesman’s quest for wisdom, knowledge & of course lots of sales, here are some things we can humbly learn from farmers according to Carl Dy:


1.      Farmers are visionaries – They have a clear vision of what their land will be after months of cultivating it. You will hear nothing but stories of what they did before, during and after a harvest. Similarly, a salesman in general should have a clear picture of where they want to be and what they want to have in the future.
2.      Farmers know their Market – Before they plant, they have identified already where to sell their produce so it can be traded for goods or money. It is very important for a salesman to correctly know who and where to sell his products to.
3.     Farmers set the groundwork – Before the first seed is planted, a farmer makes sure the soil is fertile, and the soil is ideal for the seed to grow. Product knowledge is the groundwork for a salesman. Before you make your 1st sales call, make sure you know your product by heart. As the famous adage goes “Eat, sleep and breathe with your product”
4.     Farmers understand their crop – Farmers are the experts when it comes to their crops and well farming of course! They know when it bears fruits, what pests attacked it, how weather can affect its growth. A salesman should before anything else be an expert of his product. Knowing all the strengths and weaknesses of the product before he goes to market is tantamount to winning the deal already.
5.     Farmers are focused – Once a farmer goes out into his field, it is just him and his crops. Salesmen should learn to take away time traps (long breaks or chats) or irrelevant disruptions like personal issues during work hours and instead focus on the task at hand. Success will follow easily if you invest heavily in time and effort.
6.     Farmers are patient – They know that the sometimes tedious, daily watering, weeding and pruning is needed so that the crops will be ready when harvest time comes. Similarly, salesmen should learn to be patient and first take good care of their prospects. They should know when the time is right to close the deal.
7.     Farmers are protective – They protect their crops from weeds, pests and diseases by means of pesticides, herbicides and other techniques known only to their industry. A salesman should know how to protect his clients from other predators (sales reps) by keeping them happy and nourishing the relationship continuously.
8.     Farmers pray and have faith – Farmers pray to their Gods for a bountiful harvest. Similarly, it wouldn’t hurt for a salesman to pray to his own God for guidance, support and divine intervention.
9.     Farmers know the right time to harvest – If a crop is harvested early, the crop is no good. Likewise, reaping the fruits when it’s overripe is a no brainer. A salesman should learn the right & appropriate time in closing the deal. He takes a ‘sweet, slow but sure’ route to success.
10.    Farmers don’t linger too much after a yield – They move straight back to preparing the land for the next tilling and planting. Likewise, a salesman who closes a deal should start all over again with all his successful strategies on one hand and all of his vital learning’s on the other before setting his sights to another successful run.

For consultations, Carl Dy can be reached @ 0917-5316310, 02-216.4565 and e-mail: dy.carl@ayalaland.com.ph & dycarl@gmail.com

Here's the author's photo for those of you who are curious about the guy:




By Paolo Angelo Florenda

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