Sales Professionals Have A Clearly Defined Manifesto, Do You?

“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way we can grow is if we change. The only way we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we are exposed is if we throw ourselves into the open.”

- C. Joybell

How many of you are a having personal growth conversation with yourself?

A series of honest internal conversations can spark lasting and meaningful change.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said,

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”

One can say, we have been through some turbulent and challenging sales times. Are you rising to the occasion to change the course of your sales career? Or, are you allowing the circumstances in front of you to control your narrative?

A heartfelt, sincere sales professional leads their sales life through a manifesto. They have open, honest and personal conversations with themselves.

A personal manifesto gives your sales life meaning.

A manifesto...

Do good work every day... Stay noble... Be honest... Be perfectly clear... Be myself...

A manifesto is a declaration of one’s beliefs, opinions, motives, and intentions. It's a document declaring what's important to someone. This serves as a statement of principles or even a call to action.

A manifesto may challenge assumptions, foster commitment, provoke change or may even challenge the status quo.

A personal manifesto can help serve the following:

• As inspiration to live your life with purpose.
• As a foundation upon which to build your life.
• As a frame for your life
• As your sales NorthStar

It's a safe bet to say many in sales don't have a personal manifesto. Stop, think and reflect upon this for a moment... could a public declaration of your intent, help you rise above the sea of sameness? May this change the perception around what you do and who you are?

BENEFITS OF A MANIFESTO

A manifesto becomes valuable and serves as a constant source of inspiration. It becomes something that can easily be read on a daily basis.

Imagine waking up in the morning, rolling out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee or tea, self- reflecting before you start your day as you spend a few minutes reading through your manifesto.

This would help keep your mind focused around your priorities. On a daily basis you're reinforcing your values over and over again.

What are your sales values?

Here's where your manifesto could have a huge impact to your sales career.

Imagine sharing your manifesto with others. Think about sharing with your clients, future clients and friends. Imagine how this could elevate your status within their minds? It now becomes your public creed through which you're presenting yourself, your beliefs and your future self.

THE SELLING FROM THE HEART MANIFESTO

As the last chapter of Selling From the Heart comes to a close, I incorporated a personal Selling From the Heart manifesto.

Here's a sampling of the manifesto...

A selling from the heart sales professional is a new class - genuine, authentic, the real deal, in touch with who they are and are brutally honest with themselves.

A selling from the heart sales professional wages a war and becomes a minister to their clients in a profession riddled with unscrupulous, fake and disingenuous sales reps.

A selling from the heart professional leads with the heart and not the wallet.

A selling from the heart sales professional brings the human approach to sales by making it about their clients and what's important to them.

A selling from the heart sales professional seeks first to be understood as they turn transactional sales opportunities into transformational experiences.

You can find the entire manifesto on the Selling From the Heart website - here

WRITING YOUR MANIFESTO

I'm not here to tell you there's a right or a wrong way to write a manifesto; the style is completely up to you. You may want to make it simple, straightforward and state with passion why you believe in each principle.

Write down your beliefs, motives and the intentions around each of the topics. Your manifesto is an opportunity for you to lay it all out there by being real, genuine and staying true to YOU. Lay all your cards out on the business table for everyone to absorb.

I will help kick start the process for you with a few questions:

• What do you stand for?
• What are your strongest sales beliefs?
• How do you want to lead your sales and personal life?
• How do you define yourself?

I encourage you to clearly define your purpose and stay true to your values. When you fail to uncover or struggle to clearly define your values, you wind up drifting along with your sales career.

"Take the time to define yourself and define your value. If you're having a hard time doing that, ask yourself: What is something I would say to someone I love?"
Beyonce Knowles

Attempting to fulfill or live up to other's expectations instead of your own is brutal. Quite frankly, before you know it, your life becomes misaligned and unmanageable.

Living a sales life without core values is mentally exhausting, leaving you feeling empty, lifeless and unfulfilled. Conversely, living a sales life in line with your core values brings you purpose, direction, happiness and a sense of well-being.

AND REMEMBER

I sincerely believe this will elevate your status and enhance your sales career. This will allow you to professionally grow, and help you live out those beliefs.

When all is said and done, the true hallmark of a sales professional is knowing what you believe and having the guts to live it. This is what selling from the heart is all about.

Sincerity, substance and heart will set you all apart