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The Secret To Being a Great Salesperson

December 4, 2006 by Ben Yoskovitz

Everyone can be a great salesperson. You don’t need 20 years of experience, formal training, or a degree from Used Car Lot University.

The secret to being a great salesperson is passion.

It would be stupid for me now to say, “I’m not a salesperson,” because that would mean I’m not passionate. And I am. Although it took some help to realize it.

Over the last few weeks two people have said to me (over the phone and in-person), “I can see you’d make a good salesperson.” At first I was a touch insulted (salespeople have a bad reputation after all…) but both people added to their statements: “You’re passionate about this stuff.”

Ah, passion. I thought about it and realized, I am passionate about “this stuff.” (Both discussions revolved around building businesses online, business blogging, social media and making money.)

Selling passion is easy.

It’s easy because you’re a believer, and if you’re passionate enough you can make others believers too.

To be fair to real salespeople (who do have 20 years experience, formal training and a degree from Used Car Lot University) there’s more to sales than passion. Knowing how to close, when to shut up and listen, and how to negotiate are all important skills for being a successful salesperson.

But having passion is still key.

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Filed Under: Business

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Ben Yoskovitz

Founding Partner at Highline Beta, a hybrid venture studio and VC firm that works with large, ambitious companies to identify new areas of opportunity through internal and external innovation.

Previously I was VP Product at VarageSale and GoInstant (acq. $CRM), and Founding Partner at Year One Labs.

Angel investments include: Breather, Spoiler Alert, SendWithUs and others.

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