Introduction
Let’s accept it: some of the primary professional lessons we have learned haven’t come from textbooks, but rather from those who have been on the frontlines, doing the work and seeing the results. So, if you are a salesperson who is willing to up his game or someone who is looking for interesting sales trends, then here we are introducing you to top sales experts who have tons of valuable insights to share.
Without ranting too much, let’s take a look at the top salespersons of all times and the lessons you can learn from them.
5 most influential salesperson of all time –
Keep reading if you want to learn what it takes to be a great and successful salesperson.
1. Zig Ziglar – Journey of a top salesperson to being a motivational speaker
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
Zig Ziglar’s story is almost legendary: World War II veteran, writer of over a dozen books, a motivational speaker, and trainer. He became a top seller in a variety of firms, primarily the automotive industry, before making a massive stir in the motivational speaking world.
The reason behind why Zig Ziglar deserves the top position on our list is because of his philosophy, which is to appeal to people’s emotions. With his exceptional language skills, he assisted many people in recognizing their inner selves and achieving their goals. Finding out what your client wants and then providing a way to attain that goal is a golden rule for anyone in sales.
[Lesson Learned: Always keep learning and picturing yourself as a winner. Master a wide range of techniques to succeed so that you can get back up if you are knocked down.]
2. Mary Kay Ash – A role model for women entrepreneurs
“I’ve often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.”
Next on our list is the role model for many women entrepreneurs – Mary Kay Ash, who worked in sales for 25 years before starting her own business. Despite being a high-earner, she was repeatedly passed over for promotions, ultimately leading to quitting the job. At 45, she borrowed $ 5000 from her son and launched her own company, where she put her sales philosophies to use.
Her company made waves when they gave their top salesperson a pink Cadillac. One of her guiding principles was to treat others as you would like to be treated. Her success lies in the fact that she made effective use of incentives.
[Lesson Learned: Create a big network and offer incentives. Make challenges a source of inspiration for you to succeed.]
3. Napoleon Barragan – Rags to riches story
Number three on our list is Napoleon Barragan – a super-successful salesperson who began small and grew into a giant. He started his career by selling beer and soda and evolved into a prominent mattress retailer. When a call came in shortly before Bill Clinton’s inauguration as President, Barragan knew he had made it. He was also the first to set up a mattress business on the web. Over time, he turned 1-800-Mattress into a $170 million-a-year company.
According to him, a salesperson should always focus on the larger picture instead of individual sales. He proved that if you have the tenacity and determination to persevere through tough times, you can become a successful sales rep, no matter where you start. [Lesson Learned: Always dream big.]
4. Erica Feidner – The famous piano matchmaker
“If you cannot tell the difference and thus know which piano is right for you, I haven’t yet succeeded.”
We can not miss her from our list.
Feidner is famous for selling more than $41 million in pianos as a Steinway & Sons salesperson for eight years. She was named “The Piano Matchmaker” or “The Lady That Sold $41 Million in Steinways” for her sales approach, which is to match the stage at which the prospect approaches the sale.
As a salesperson, she learned the unique personalities of over 400 pianos and discovered her talent to match the perfect piano with each buyer that led to her success. Her passion was to convey everything about the product and help the client understand them. She inspired her customers by helping them discover previously unknown musical passions in them.
[Lesson Learned: Never give up on an unsold offer.]
5. Dale Carnegie – The perfect sales guru for modern sales teams
“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.”
Last but not least, author of the famous “How to Win Friends and Influence People” book that has touched millions of people and impacted the lives of many, Dale Carnegie is known for founding the popular training industry in America.
He was so skilled at public speaking that his peers were willing to pay him to learn. Soon after, he began adult public speaking workshops and launched the Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking and Human Relations. Since its creation, the course has been expanded to more than 90 countries worldwide.
[Lesson Learned: Show genuine concern for others without fawning over them.]
You too can be one of them
You can also be a part of this list. And for the same, all you need to do is join the Advanced Certificate Program in Sales to kickstart a rewarding career ahead. You can drop a comment below and someone from the team will get in touch with you.
