Is Personality a Missing Key to Offline Success?

[Ricky Parker]

I believe it is.

There are a bazillion methods and ways you can learn from OTHER people how to properly approach a client. But at the end of the day you still are not THEM.

Here is the method I use...


BE YOURSELF!


It sounds easy but it seriously is the key to you getting the clients you want. And the clients you want are the ones that you gel with.

[BlueStar]

Originally Posted by Ricky Parker

I believe it is.

There are a bazillion methods and ways you can learn from OTHER people how to properly approach a client. But at the end of the day you still are not THEM.

Here is the method I use...


BE YOURSELF!


It sounds easy but it seriously is the key to you getting the clients you want. And the clients you want are the ones that you gel with.

Absolutely. Don't be someone you're not, it won't work and you won't enjoy what you're doing.

Myself, I'm gruff, talk tough, very blunt, and NOT politically correct. Ask any of my clients if I like Obama

50% of my prospects Love me and the other half want to kick me in the arse.

Guess what happens? The ones that like you, LOVE you. They will do anything you say, within reason. They stay with you and don't question your tactics. They know I am the BOSS, end of story or I quit. It's really that simple. I will not allow a client to tell me MY business.

I had a female client ask me if I really hate Obama. I said yes, I can't stand Obama. She was shocked. I asked her if she was a Liberal and she refused to answer (they always do). I told her we couldn't work together because we will never see eye to eye. She said "are you firing me?" I said absolutely. She then went on to say "you can't do that." I said "wanna bet?" I knew the 2 of us would never get along so I cut ties immediately.

It's a free country, they can fire me anytime and likewise.

BTW, when you're really good at marketing, they see that also ;-)

[Kyle Tully]

Personality helps with any type of sales.

People buy from people they like.

For example, some online marketers have built their ENTIRE online businesses on the strength of their personalities.

That doesn't mean you have to be "out there" or outrageously out-going, like you said, just be yourself and you'll naturally attract the type of clients that like you.

[kenanmedia]

I think that you really need to have a high self esteem if you are acting like you really are. The MOST important thing is to observe the situation and know the consequences. Then it isnt a problem to behave "normal".

The problem is that we all have many behave modes, like different personalities in one piece called "me". So you can be real, but choose the false personality of yourself. Thats the tricky part.

[chrisnegro]

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

That doesn't mean you have to be "out there" or outrageously out-going, like you said, just be yourself and you'll naturally attract the type of clients that like you.

Yes....I think it was John "Bass Fishing" McCabe that gracisiously said one time: Yeah...you don't want to be that guy that walks around with blinkly lights on his hat and shirt selling his product. That over the top stuff does not work with intelligent business owners

Chris Negro

[findtips]

Originally Posted by chrisnegro

Yes....I think it was John "Bass Fishing" McCabe that gracisiously said one time: Yeah...you don't want to be that guy that walks around with blinkly lights on his hat and shirt selling his product. That over the top stuff does not work with intelligent business owners

And yet I see it all over this forum (and others). There are some in here that may as well have blinky lights on their hats selling (or trying to sell) you this get rich quick stuff. It's really funny.

Yea, I know... "it works". Yada yada.... Whatever - - I don't buy from anybody that approaches me that way. I want real people that don't insult my intelligence. Nothing less.

[artwebster]

First rule of client acquisition - don't think - reflect.

People buy from people they like and people they like are people like themselves!

You will get a lot further if you reflect aspects of your prospect like the use of language, the use of hand signs, tone of voice and so on. This does not mean not being YOU - it means being YOU but having a good awareness of who THE PROSPECT is.

[jsherloc]

Art hit it right on the head. Taking me back to my classes in Interpersonal communication hehe. Obviously you want to be yourself, but you also need self-awareness. Don't be someone you're not, but still take the time to UNDERSTAND someone you're not. If that makes sense.

[CPA Affiliate Coach]

Originally Posted by chrisnegro

Yes....I think it was John "Bass Fishing" McCabe that gracisiously said one time: Yeah...you don't want to be that guy that walks around with blinkly lights on his hat and shirt selling his product. That over the top stuff does not work with intelligent business owners

Chris Negro

Reminds me of an answer Harrison Ford once gave as to why he had enjoyed such longevity. His answer was "if you've never been 'in style' you can never be 'out of style.'" It's always best to just be yourself, be honest, and try to help people.

[GoGetta]

Agreed!

People Buy People!

GoGetta

[igorhelpsyousucceed]

Originally Posted by Ricky Parker

I believe it is.

There are a bazillion methods and ways you can learn from OTHER people how to properly approach a client. But at the end of the day you still are not THEM.

Here is the method I use...


BE YOURSELF!


It sounds easy but it seriously is the key to you getting the clients you want. And the clients you want are the ones that you gel with.

Hey Ricky,

Great Tip!

Notice that even the gurus like Frank Kern, Jonathan Budd
and Anik Singal, have their own unique style.
There is no way around that one-just be yourself.

Igor

P.S: really sounds like getting a date for a prom :/

[RecurringRevenue]

Ricky,

Your dead on.

A person can copy all the models they want, but it comes down to rapport and relationships in sales.

We should all be ourselves - unless we suck - then we need to make changes and grow into who we need to be to serve the market best.

For the most part, the people I work with could all be super successful, they simply do not believe in who they are. Instead, they look at others and "wish" they could be a certain way. When who they are currently is all they need to be if they would just unleash it.

Mark Robbins

[AndrewCavanagh]

I hate to tell you this but having studied hundreds of VERY successful sales people I can tell you the people who are most likely to do really well have bland personalities.

I do agree that you should relax and be yourself but it's really not the most important key.

The key is in your attitude and the kind of questions you ask when you're talking to business owners.

If you have the attitude that you genuinely want to help the buisness owners you talk to make more sales and profits...that you want to genuinely help them get what THEY want out of their business...

And if you ask intelligent questions that position you as an expert...

Then you're going to find it very easy to get hired.

You don't need any personality to do either of those things.

But yes...be yourself because if you're doing those things and you're actually talking to business owners not a whole lot else will matter.

You will get hired.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

[Loren Woirhaye]

It's poor sales-practice to antagonize clients with extreme
political views, for example - but you can build a business
on any kind of affinity - just be aware that in general it's
best to be positive, not-confrontational, a good listener,
well-groomed.

I'm pretty opinionated about what sort of marketing stinks -
and if clients hear their marketing stinks that usually is
a little hurtful to them and can actually damage the
relationship - so antagonizing clients and prospects on
matters irrelevant to the problem the want help with just
complicates and endangers the relationship (and referral
opportunities) further.

You can build a business of clients who will accept you chewing
and spitting tobacco, picking your feet, or blathering about
irrelevant opinions at every opportunity - but it's simply easier
to be pleasant and poised, and more lucrative as well.

[JRG]

I stick to that rule no matter what I am doing. I hate people who are different in each area of their life. I am, who I am, know matter where I am! Real life, forums, twitter, facebook does not matter you get the real me.

[JohnMcCabe]

One of my favorite movies is "Trading Places" with Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy.

As part of an experiment, two rich brothers take Akroyd's silver-spoons, up-and-coming executive and Murphy's brash street hustler, and reverse their roles. Akroyd is down and out, while Murphy assumes Akroyd's former position as manager of the brothers' trading firm.

The part of the movie that relates to this discussion comes when the driver drops Murphy off for his first day at work...

Murphy: "What am I supposed to do? What if I don't know how to act?"

Driver: "Just be yourself, sir. No matter what else happens, they can't take that away from you."

[Ricky Parker]

Originally Posted by JR Griggs

I stick to that rule no matter what I am doing. I hate people who are different in each area of their life. I am, who I am, know matter where I am! Real life, forums, twitter, facebook does not matter you get the real me.

I hear you fully on this.

When I say be yourself I don't say adapt or blend in to each situation. I say do you no matter what.

It works.

Not all people are gonna like you in life. That's just how it is. In business and personal.