Art Of Selling

The art of selling begins with the right selling attitude.

When you combine the right attitude with sharpened selling skills you can achieve everything you want in sales.

There's a lesson from golf I'd like to share with you that may impact your attitude - at least I hope it does.

If you know anything about golf, you know that the U.S. Open was played this past weekend.

It came down to the last hole and the last putt. It was 12 feet long. Sink the putt and you're going to the 18-hole playoff on Monday.

Tiger Woods sank the putt and would meet Rocco Mediate on Monday 18-hole playoff.

I was fortunate enough to play with Rocco 20 years ago in a Ronald McDonald Charity event at the famed Oakmont Country Club.

Rocco has never won a major golf tournament. Tiger Woods has won 14.

So I'm cheering for both guys to win for different reasons.

It got me thinking about inspiration. It doesn't matter if you're a professional golfer or a professional sales representative. We all need to be inspired.

In 1969 Tony Jacklin won the British Open.

In 1970 Tony Jacklin won the U.S. Open.

Several weeks ago he was asked where he got his inspiration from throughout his golfing career.

He said he was inspired by a poem. This poem that inspired Tony Jacklin was written by his caddie John Elnor.

Here's the poem:

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you would like to win but think you can't, it's almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost.

For out in the world, you'll find, success begins in the fellow's will. It's all in a state of mind.

Think big and your deeds will grow.

Think small and you'll fall behind.

Think that you can and you will.

It's all in a state of mind.

Life's battles won't always go to the strong or fast at hand, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

I think it's a terrific poem with a dynamic message for entrepreneurs and salespeople.

Why not read this poem everyday before you make a first sales call.

One of the cornerstones to the art of selling is your selling attitude.

If you think you can you will. If you think you can't you won't.

Why would you ever imagine and think you can't when all it takes is imagining and thinking you can?