Do you know how many Americans work in sales today, one in nine according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics? In his ground breaking new book, “To Sell Is Human”, New York Times bestselling author Dan Pink makes a compelling argument that the other eight in nine are in sales as well.
Pink writes, “Whether we’re employees pitching colleagues on a new idea, entrepreneurs enticing funders to invest, or parents and teachers cajoling children to study, we spend our days trying to move others. Like it or not, we’re all in sales now.”
I had the pleasure of hearing Pink speak at a late February, Cadre “Selling Spectacular” in Bethesda. I was a guest of a friend, Dr. Sonny Goel, Medical Director of LasikPlus Laser Vision Center. That night Pink challenged everyone in the room to take a fresh look “at the art and science of selling.”
As business leaders, each of us might think of ourselves as the “Chief Sales Officer” of our respective companies. We must now look at each of our employees as being actively involved in the sales process. Pink would expect nothing less.
“To Sell Is Human” is a must read for everyone in your organization. If you intend to be successful in business today, mastering sales is a wonderful place to start.
Jonathan Oleisky is the President of Kalix Communications
