Do you spend more time doing what you love?

4 replies
Interesting post over at Seth Godin's blog...

Seth's Blog: Clearing the decks

With this nice little takeaway:

One thing to consider: finding and retaining a great salesperson is more difficult than you might think, since a great salesperson might very well contribute even more value than you do.
#love #spend #time
  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Originally Posted by FormerWageSlave View Post

    One thing to consider: finding and retaining a great salesperson is more difficult than you might think, since a great salesperson might very well contribute even more value than you do- Seth Godin

    What a profound statement.

    A business partner asked me years ago "Why do we have to have the nicest office".

    I told him it was because if your sales people ever thought you needed them more than they need you its over, the tail is wagging the dog!

    Good post. Im outta thanks but thanks!
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    • Profile picture of the author TheShark
      It's a great statement. It's one of the reasons you should always keeps the salespeople from knowing at least 3 keys of the business or

      1) They will leave and start their own
      2) They will go to your competitors
      3) Or, if you truly need them, more than they need you, they will attempt to extort (had it happen a few times, they are now unemployed)

      TheShark
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by TheShark View Post

        It's a great statement. It's one of the reasons you should always keeps the salespeople from knowing at least 3 keys of the business or

        1) They will leave and start their own
        2) They will go to your competitors
        3) Or, if you truly need them, more than they need you, they will attempt to extort (had it happen a few times, they are now unemployed)

        TheShark
        Absolutely. Me too. Learn from our experience! Dont let the tail think it can wag the dog!

        Happens to me online too, when I try to promote people... I teach them everything, let them use my site as a platform to launch themselves for mutual benefit, and then they forget about me thinking they know everything I know and dont need me anymore.

        For a rare one here and there its true, but for most its not. Most end up coming back later broke with a new username, because they jumped ship before they got the nuances and key understandings...

        Its very common for sales people to think "I can do this on my own and start my own company".

        Well in most cases it isnt true for very long, because they aren't developed entrepreneurs, just sales people... and they only see your position from a shallow perspective...

        BUT , it still hurts to lose them.

        Much like I have had web designers say "I can do this on my own" once they saw how many of their websites I could sell... but the fact is, prior, they had been out of work and hadnt designed a website in months...because it takes other qualities than just being able to produce a product.

        My response is always "Good luck, I was placing an ad when I found you".

        But if you can avoid it, keep everything you can from them but their sales pitch, thats all they need to know.
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        • Profile picture of the author redcell1
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Absolutely. Me too. Learn from our experience! Dont let the tail think it can wag the dog!

          Happens to me online too, when I try to promote people... I teach them everything, let them use my site as a platform to launch themselves for mutual benefit, and then they forget about me thinking they know everything I know and dont need me anymore.

          For a rare one here and there its true, but for most its not. Most end up coming back later broke with a new username, because they jumped ship before they got the nuances and key understandings...

          Its very common for sales people to think "I can do this on my own and start my own company".

          Well in most cases it isnt true for very long, because they aren't developed entrepreneurs, just sales people... and they only see your position from a shallow perspective...

          BUT , it still hurts to lose them.

          Much like I have had web designers say "I can do this on my own" once they saw how many of their websites I could sell... but the fact is, prior, they had been out of work and hadnt designed a website in months...because it takes other qualities than just being able to produce a product.

          My response is always "Good luck, I was placing an ad when I found you".

          But if you can avoid it, keep everything you can from them but their sales pitch, thats all they need to know.
          John, I have come across this as well. A local print shop that was a decent refferal source tried to do it themselves. So after hiring some Elance "gurus" they failed their clients. The local print shop then tried to revive our business relationship however I knew then that I would not ever do business with them.

          Personally I never understood why some people cannot delate/outsource things to the proper people. Like why not pay a bit more and have it done by someone who does this day in and day out? Save yourself a headache and focus on what your good at.
          Signature

          Just here to see the shenanigans.

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