By Oladipupo Clement

In the aftermath of a heart-wrenching breakup, I found myself on the path to healing, still nursing the wounds of a relationship that had left me emotionally battered. What stung the most was the revelation that my former partner had been swayed by a web of lies, meticulously spun by someone I held in high regard. It wasn’t just the betrayal; it was the artful presentation of half-truths that led her astray, like a siren’s call she couldn’t resist.

As I picked up the pieces, I realized that life had handed me a crucial lesson in the power of ‘marketing’. That painful chapter sparked a determination to hone my skills in the art of sales and marketing, a skill set I knew I’d need in the pursuit of a lifetime commitment from the woman who would become my wife.

With time ticking away, I embarked on a mission to not only share but vividly sell my dreams for the future. It was a race against the clock to make her not just hear but feel the heartbeat of my aspirations, so she could willingly join me on the adventure ahead. This wasn’t just about convincing her; it was about crafting a narrative so compelling that she couldn’t help but be drawn into the story of ‘us.’

The echoes of this marketing approach resonate beyond my personal life, extending into the professional realm where loyal team members have stood by my side for almost a decade. It’s a testament to the transformative power of sales and marketing, be it matters of the heart or the boardroom.

Interestingly, we are all in the business of sales whether we are conscious of it or not – we’re all playing the role of salespeople. It’s a daily thing, a bit like trying to convince someone to pick us for a job or proving to our bosses that we deserve a step up. Startups have their own magic sales tricks, trying to get investors to believe in their dreams. Even at home, parents sell their values to their kids, and politicians spin stories to win votes. Every day, it’s either you’re doing the selling or you’re the one being sold to.

Now, let’s dive into the business world. In this big game, marketing is like the secret wizard, making sure everything from the idea of a product to it reaching customers is smooth. It’s not about meeting someone and expecting them to buy from you on the spot. That’s a rare thing. The truth is, people prefer to buy from those they know, like, and trust. So, you need to be good at connecting with others. Make it a point to meet people, let them get to know and like you, and build solid relationships. That’s the secret sauce. Through these relationships, you figure out what your dream customers want and how to give it to them in a way that makes them happy. When you do that, selling becomes easy, and it doesn’t feel like you’re pushing someone to buy from you.

While marketing is often one to many, selling is usually one to one. In selling, you simply transfer the feeling and emotions about your products and services to the other party, moving him/her from a prospect to a client. Selling converts prospects to customers and relationships to revenue. Everywhere money exchanges hands, selling takes place. To attract money, you have to learn to sell.

Sales is a contact game. The more contact you have, the more contracts you sign up. This is what Brian Tracy regards as keeping your sales funnel full. The biggest business in the world is the business that makes contacts consistently.

Let’s explore the Sales Cycle and dig into its key elements:

Idea: At the core of the Sales Cycle is the idea – what solution are you bringing to the table for a specific problem? This marks the initial step of the cycle.

Marketing: Next up, marketing kicks in. It’s the engine that generates leads, bringing attention to your solution.

Conversion: The magic happens when these leads are converted into actual money through the art of selling. This is where your skills come into play.

Closing the Sale: To seal the deal, it’s crucial to ask your prospect or client the right questions: “Have you heard enough to make a decision?” If the answer is yes, it’s time to ask for that buying decision. If not, provide the additional information needed. Selling is like putting on a presentation; closing is the game where money comes into play. If you shy away from selling, it’s like saying you’re not interested in money or success.

Now, let’s uncover Seven (7) crucial facts about selling:

1. People-Centric: Selling is fundamentally about people. Understand them, connect with them, and you’re on the right track.
2. Commitment Drives Selling: It’s commitment, not just involvement, that propels successful selling. Half-hearted efforts won’t cut it.
3. Passion is Key: Passion is your secret weapon. It’s not something you talk about; it’s something others feel. If you’re trying too hard to convince people, it might be a sign that true passion is lacking.
4. Believe in Your Product: If you can’t buy into what you’re selling, save yourself the trouble of selling it. Authenticity sells.
5. Embrace Urgency: Selling responds to emotions triggered by deadlines and urgency. Understand the psychological aspect of timing.
6. Laser Focus on Target Market: To succeed, you need laser focus on your target market. Know your audience inside out.
7. Trust and Value: For a salesperson, money follows trust and value. Build these, and financial success will follow suit.

Life indeed is about sales and marketing. You cannot create wealth if you cannot negotiate or sell. If you desire financial freedom, you must learn to deliberately market yourself, your visions, as well as your tangible and intangible products. Wealthy people are intentional about what they market and how they market it. They are good marketers.

(You can read more about how you can sell your way to wealth in my book: Financial Freedom Masterguide).

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