Let me start by saying that there's nothing wrong with taking the route of the artist. If you want to focus on the art, the product, that is completely fine. It's a different north star, a different purpose, and I respect that. However, if you're going to focus on that side of the equation, you better make sure you have somebody else, a partner, paying attention to the business side of things.
Sales has such a bad reputation because there have been, and continues to be, so many salesmen and women out there chasing a bonus or commission check without actually caring for what they're selling or who they're selling to. To be a true salesmen, you need to care. Being a salesmen is being somebody that cares about the actual product and is willing to put themselves out there to back it and be its advocate.
For me, it's all about the long game. I care about my legacy, so everything I put my name behind, I believe in, and I suggest you do too.
This is part of a Q&A session I did with the students of Cornell Tech Program. For more, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfA33-E9P7FAwwMY6gqBd2pc7m-qjcpr-
Gary Vaynerchuk is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author, self-taught wine expert, and innovative entrepreneur. Find more at http://garyvaynerchuk.com
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is now available on Amazon! http://bit.ly/jjjrhamazon
Sales has such a bad reputation because there have been, and continues to be, so many salesmen and women out there chasing a bonus or commission check without actually caring for what they're selling or who they're selling to. To be a true salesmen, you need to care. Being a salesmen is being somebody that cares about the actual product and is willing to put themselves out there to back it and be its advocate.
For me, it's all about the long game. I care about my legacy, so everything I put my name behind, I believe in, and I suggest you do too.
This is part of a Q&A session I did with the students of Cornell Tech Program. For more, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfA33-E9P7FAwwMY6gqBd2pc7m-qjcpr-
Gary Vaynerchuk is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author, self-taught wine expert, and innovative entrepreneur. Find more at http://garyvaynerchuk.com
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is now available on Amazon! http://bit.ly/jjjrhamazon
The battle between art and commerce is a bloody one.
The playlist is all private videos…:) Can you un-private them please!!!
As an online retail owner I can say this with experience and honesty, while making a dollar is great, I have actually found the most rewarding thing is the feedback customers leave on our store through reviews with us or with the BBB. In some cases, if an item breaks (or is stolen during shipping…yeah, it happened USPS!) and you get back to that customer that's freaking out and say, "listen, I understand the things that were removed from the box upon receiving it, I'll have replacements in the mail tomorrow and I will select a shipping time that will get it to you before Christmas. Just send me photos of the box and damage, I'll report it to USPS and handle it all. I just want to make sure you get your stuff for Christmas".
Then, follow through and get those items in time for Christmas. As a matter of fact, I added in a few bottle openers and other swag brands have left me because I knew it was a gift and it meant a lot to the customer to get it for their recipient. The review that they left us was a 5-star that read:
"Wonderful products and AMAZING customer service. Package got broken into and you guys replaced the stolen productions and then some AND got the new package to me in time for xmas! Thank you very much!"
And you know what? The feeling you get from reading that about my store was worth the additional $6 I spent to rush deliver the items in time for the holidays. It was worth more than the margins that were eaten into (or non-existent) after that transaction. To me, sales is about Customer Satisfaction because you WANT to do it, not because you HAVE to do it.
Seriously – only one comment? OK – here's my 2 cents: the consciousness changing quote from Gary was that you can create legacy very well by creating businesses. It gave me a greater purpose behind sales.
Kenny Lofton and Frank Thomas brought into the conversation. Who'd thunk it?
I am so glad you are helping me snap out of the romantics of salesmanship. I think this is a huge pitfall that I have struggled with and your videos have really helped me think outside of the box. Thanks Gary and hope you had a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year.
Gary The playlist of the Q&A session is private 🙁