I’m wondering to what extent direct, person to person, sales skills are necessary for entrepreneurial success, especially in the context of a product-based business (like ecomm).
While I’m trying to get my own product-based business going, I’m helping another forum member by doing some sales prospecting for his service-based business. Doing so has helped me remember how much I loathe cold-contacting people. I did inside sales as a first job out of school and think I had a pit in my stomach the entire year.
I’m feeling the same feelings again. Pit in the stomach, etc. Woke up at 2am thinking about cold-contacting people again today. As completely ridiculous as this sounds, dialing out feels like a huge act of courage for me.
A friend/mentor is pushing me to keep going as sales is a skill I will need to develop for my own business. But I’m not sure.
I’m more than a little introverted. I’m an INTJ on the Meyers-Briggs. The funny thing is, I don’t mind talking to people in general. I don’t mind talking to warm sales leads. I have relatively little trouble speaking to folks at parties. I have no fear of public speaking. I just hate cold-contacting individuals. Even when I’m the customer. I’d rather order a pizza online than make a call.
Yes, I absolutely believe in the service I’m selling. Yes, I really think it can help the people I’m contacting. But I struggle with the cold prospecting and am wondering if it is a skill I really need to develop for a product-based business. If it is ever necessary, can’t I just hire around my own limitations?
I guess I’m thinking that with a product-based business, cold-prospecting isn’t necessary. But maybe that is naive. At higher, more successful levels of a product-based company, do direct sales skills come into play? Does the owner need to have these skills?
Part of me thinks: “Cold-prospecting is a learnable and valuable skill. The more you do it, the better you’ll become. There are techniques you can learn, etc.”
But another part of me thinks: “Why torture yourself to become barely competent at best when there are others who love this stuff and are naturally good at it? Focus on your own strengths.”
Do I really need to develop my own direct cold-contact sales skills for a product-based ecom business?
Thanks in advance!
While I’m trying to get my own product-based business going, I’m helping another forum member by doing some sales prospecting for his service-based business. Doing so has helped me remember how much I loathe cold-contacting people. I did inside sales as a first job out of school and think I had a pit in my stomach the entire year.
I’m feeling the same feelings again. Pit in the stomach, etc. Woke up at 2am thinking about cold-contacting people again today. As completely ridiculous as this sounds, dialing out feels like a huge act of courage for me.
A friend/mentor is pushing me to keep going as sales is a skill I will need to develop for my own business. But I’m not sure.
I’m more than a little introverted. I’m an INTJ on the Meyers-Briggs. The funny thing is, I don’t mind talking to people in general. I don’t mind talking to warm sales leads. I have relatively little trouble speaking to folks at parties. I have no fear of public speaking. I just hate cold-contacting individuals. Even when I’m the customer. I’d rather order a pizza online than make a call.
Yes, I absolutely believe in the service I’m selling. Yes, I really think it can help the people I’m contacting. But I struggle with the cold prospecting and am wondering if it is a skill I really need to develop for a product-based business. If it is ever necessary, can’t I just hire around my own limitations?
I guess I’m thinking that with a product-based business, cold-prospecting isn’t necessary. But maybe that is naive. At higher, more successful levels of a product-based company, do direct sales skills come into play? Does the owner need to have these skills?
Part of me thinks: “Cold-prospecting is a learnable and valuable skill. The more you do it, the better you’ll become. There are techniques you can learn, etc.”
But another part of me thinks: “Why torture yourself to become barely competent at best when there are others who love this stuff and are naturally good at it? Focus on your own strengths.”
Do I really need to develop my own direct cold-contact sales skills for a product-based ecom business?
Thanks in advance!
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today