Why Having the Best Widgets and Gidgets Isn’t Enough
Success is often measured by the quality of your products and services. However, as my mentor used to remind me, having the best widgets and gidgets in the world is just the first step. The real challenge lies in selling them effectively. In this post, I will get into the wisdom of my mentor’s advice and explore why the art of selling is just as crucial as having top-notch offerings.
My mentor’s words, “you can have the best widget or gidget in the world, but if you can’t sell it, you don’t have squat,” have resonated with me throughout my career. At first, I couldn’t help but cringe when I heard those words. Back then, when I was sweating bullets because I was behind on my quota for the month, I really hated hearing about not selling widgets and gidgets. But over the years, my attitude softened, and with experience, I began to appreciate the wisdom behind his advice.
In the early days, I despised the idea of focusing on sales. I thought that if we built a great product, customers would come knocking on our door. However, my mentor knew better. He understood that even the most exceptional products and services could remain undiscovered if they weren’t effectively marketed and sold. It wasn’t just about having a fantastic widget or gidget; it was about persuading others of its value.
Time passed and I gained experience, I began to understand the importance of what my mentor had been trying to teach me. We were not just in the business of creating widgets and gidgets; we were in the business of making those widgets and gidgets accessible to those who needed them. That shift in perspective was a game-changer.
Then came the pivotal moment in my career when I decided to venture out on my own. I was no longer receiving a steady paycheck from an employer, and the success of my business rested squarely on my shoulders. Suddenly, my mentor’s words took on an entirely new meaning. I realized that without effective selling, my business wouldn’t survive, let alone thrive.
Transitioning from a salaried employee to an entrepreneur emphasized the importance of selling even more. It was no longer just about meeting quotas; it was about putting food on the table, paying the bills, and ensuring a sustainable future for my family and me. The absence of a steady paycheck heightened my awareness of the need to sell effectively to sustain and grow my business.
As entrepreneurs, our survival depends on sales. It doesn’t matter how groundbreaking your product or service is; if you can’t sell it, your business will wither away. This realization pushed me to embrace sales as an integral part of my entrepreneurial journey.
We are constantly innovating, improving, and striving to meet the ever-changing needs and desires of our customers. However, it’s not enough to innovate on the product or service front alone. An equal amount of attention must also be given to the “selling your product/service” part.
Imagine you’ve developed a revolutionary widget that could change people’s lives. It’s faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective than anything currently on the market. You’ve poured your heart and soul into perfecting it. But if you don’t have a strategy to effectively communicate its benefits to your target audience and persuade them to make a purchase, your widget might as well stay in the shadows, forever undiscovered.
The cycle of innovation is relentless. It’s a requirement we must meet, and if we are not constantly evaluating our products and services, seeking to improve and build on our past successes, then we’re going backward, not moving forward. However, innovation should not stop with the product itself. It must extend to how we present, market, and sell that product.
Finding the right balance between product or service improvement and sales efforts is critical. It’s easy to get caught up in refining your offerings and lose sight of the fact that, without effective sales, those improvements may never reach your intended audience. Successful businesses understand that innovation and sales go hand in hand. They invest in both the development of their products and services and the development of their sales strategies.
So, how can you master the art of selling? It begins with a customer-centric approach. You must understand your target audience inside and out, knowing their pain points, desires, and motivations. This understanding allows you to tailor your sales approach to their specific needs and preferences.
Effective selling also involves building strong relationships with your customers. It’s not just about making a sale; it’s about creating a connection and earning trust. A satisfied customer can become a loyal advocate for your brand, leading to repeat business and referrals.
Embracing technology is another key aspect of modern selling. In the digital age, businesses have an array of tools and platforms at their disposal to reach a wider audience and streamline their sales processes. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, social media, and e-commerce platforms can help you connect with potential customers and manage your sales pipeline more efficiently.
Measuring success is crucial in the world of sales. Without metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), you’ll have no way of knowing whether your sales efforts are paying off. By tracking your progress, you can identify what’s working and what needs improvement, allowing you to refine your sales strategy continually.
Listen, having the best widgets and gidgets in the world is an fantastic starting point, but it’s just the beginning. To thrive in business, you must also master the art of selling. Whether you’re an employee, an entrepreneur, or a business leader, the ability to sell effectively can make or break your success.
And it doesn’t matter what you’re selling. You can be anything from a vendor selling hot dogs from a push cart to a financial advisor to a airplane salesman to a doctor! You can be the best doctor in the world, but if nobody knows about it – you won’t have many patients.
As you continue to innovate and improve your offerings, never forget that it’s not enough to have a great product or service – you must also know how to sell it. As my old boss and mentor wisely put it, “you can have the best widget or gidget in the world, but if you can’t sell it, you don’t have squat.”
Stop running around like a chicken with your head cut off!
You are not required to go through the same challenging process I did. Instead, you can benefit from the wisdom of those who have preceded you, enabling you to expedite your journey towards both professional and personal success.
If you relate to this situation and believe you might be interested in having a conversation, schedule a call with me, and let’s talk.
You arrange a phone conversation, please show up as your authentic self, not a version of yourself you believe you should present. I assure you that you will get the most genuine, candid version of me. It’s just a conversation – that’s it.