COMMENTS
I really enjoy the back and forth and give and take of ideas - so I was pretty pleased when both Dave Kurlan and Gerhard Gschwandtner wrote comments on our blog. To be totally fair, I don't see a lot about the Internet on this blog, either, Dave, but you've written about selling through the metaphor of baseball, so you have to be a good guy.
I guess it comes down to this - the whole selling process could use a little healthy debate - and thank goodness for the Kurlans and the Gschwandtners of the world who are willing to mix it up a bit. Sticks and stones mayb break our bones, but ideas can't hurt us.
Give me more debate, not less. Dave, they say if you're skiing and you're not falling - you're not skiing hard enough. Look at it this way, if your not ticking someone in your audience off, you're probably not speaking true enough.
I am all for the collision of competing ideas and the resulting sparks it can generate. But, I do say there is something to be said for professionalism.
I tend to agree with Dave. There's no reason to get mean or make personal attacks. Not to mention the gender bias in using "girlie-man" as a disparaging remark.
My two cents...
Michael, How long have you been reading? Didn't you read the comments on Godin's "Death of a Sales Call"? Regardless, people don't come to this blog to read about the internet, they come to read about selling. Incidentally, while we're on it, that's the point that made http://hiddenbusinesstreasures.wordpress.com/2006/10/21/is-anyone-doing-sales-training-for-the-new-economy a waste of time. CEO's don't get involved with sales training and development to learn how to use the internet. They want their salespeople's skills and attitudes to improve, but if any CEO ever does ask us to improve their salespeople's ability to use the internet, we'll surely direct them an expert in that area.
Dave
Isn't it interesting how the behaviour of a successful professional can degenerate when technology is used to communicate inplace of real face to face dialogue? In the safety and anonymity of our vehicles we see people every day giving the finger to "strangers" on the road and the next day embracing one another in church.
I've been in close meetings with Gerhard and I seriously doubt he'd call anyone a "girly-man" face to face, although if he did (accent and all) everyone would have been laughing.
The lesson: Never say in writing what you wouldn't say in person. You may be feeling "all pumped up" when you first write the message and hit the enter button but you may regret it in the morning.
Terry Ledden
Sales AboutFace
Ottawa, Canada
Great Lesson Terry! And perhaps Gerhard should take his own advice when he told Michael to "turn off the computer!".
Dave,
In much of our work as sales development experts, teachers and coaches we are often faced with disagreement, "push back" and sometimes contempt for our ideas. All acceptable in the right context, a forum for discussion and as already stated a way to learn.
Often, resistance, particularly mean spirited, is nothing more that an effort to protect the status quo. Often, too, anger is a reaction driven by fear. I wonder, with an angry response like that, what "Mr. G." is really afraid of??
I'm sure you've heard the old expression "Damn me or praise me but mention my name". People will remember the name long after they have forgotten the context in which it was mentioned.
There can be no success in anonymity... you are succeeding! Keep it up.
John Hirth
www.johnhirth.com.
Thanks for your insights John.
Hey. I am Dumbass Girlie Man.
Although the name calling got my attention, I love the point of this post, Dave. I let this crap bother me way too long. It distracts me from picking up the phone again and selling. I wouldn't have recognized this issue without my training from DKA. But, it's good to read it from the man, too.
Good to see a big discussion thread going-on here.
That makes two dumbass girlie men but it would be easier to differentiate ourselves if you would identify yourself. Otherwise I'll have to refer to you as anonymous dumbass girlie man and that's way too combersome.
So, the real test as to whether these things don't bother you anymore is whether you're OK revealing your identity. Up for the challenge?
Me being afraid to reveal myself?
Recognizing this issue was 80% of the battle. Now, I go and vent to someone. Then, I can move on. I got to get to the point where I can just shake it off and move on, though.
Great job. Now the need for approval is gone too.