"The Navigator" News Blog
Today’s Top Salespeople Sell Systems, Not Products. You Should, Too.
“Troy, you’re not going to believe this,” my friend told me last week. “Twenty-two years with the same customer—gone. And I never even saw it coming.” My friend is a veteran in manufacturing sales who’d serviced … Continue reading Today’s Top Salespeople Sell Systems, Not Products. You Should, Too.
How to Bring Young People Into Entry Level Sales Roles
Inspiration can hit at random times. Yesterday morning, I had no idea what I was going to write about for this week’s Navigator. Then I had lunch at Twin Peaks – and whatever you’re thinking, you’re … Continue reading How to Bring Young People Into Entry Level Sales Roles
Are You Committing Sales Malpractice By Ignoring LinkedIn?
In today’s hyper-connected business world, it’s shocking to me how many salespeople still treat LinkedIn as optional—or worse, avoid it entirely. I was talking with a sales manager recently who mentioned that several of his team … Continue reading Are You Committing Sales Malpractice By Ignoring LinkedIn?
Let’s Be Honest About Dishonesty
A couple of weeks ago, an entrepreneur set an appointment to talk to me using a dishonest approach. The approach is unfortunately common in the sales world – he pretended to be a potential coaching client … Continue reading Let’s Be Honest About Dishonesty
HANDLING THE TRANSITION: Saving Customers in Times of Big Changes
“Hi, Troy,” the email began. “I’ve just purchased [the name of the company that does my Web work], and I just wanted to introduce myself.” This type of email, starting with this type of sentence, strikes … Continue reading HANDLING THE TRANSITION: Saving Customers in Times of Big Changes
You Just Got the Sale. Now What?
A while back, I was doing some initial consultations with a client that does custom machined parts for industry. The salesperson is the outside relationship manager, and they have an internal sales team that handles the … Continue reading You Just Got the Sale. Now What?
In Sales, Sometimes You Must Slow Down to Go Fast.
I’ve said before that I used to drive race cars, as did my Dad and my Granddad. They were better than I was, but I enjoyed it. I’ll always remember one of the best pieces of … Continue reading In Sales, Sometimes You Must Slow Down to Go Fast.
The Long List of Things Your Customers Don’t Care About
I had an interesting conversation with a sales manager recently about a customer complaint. His first response was to list all the problems his company was having – staffing issues, supply chain delays, internal reorganizations. I … Continue reading The Long List of Things Your Customers Don’t Care About
You Can’t Beat Your Competitors If You’re Trying to Be Your Competitors
I had an interesting conversation last week. I was talking to a prospective client and toward the end of the conversation, he said, “You should know that I’m talking to one of your competitors, too. Would … Continue reading You Can’t Beat Your Competitors If You’re Trying to Be Your Competitors
How is the “Amazon Effect” Impacting B2B Selling?
You’ve probably heard of the “Amazon effect.” In fact, you’ve probably read my articles that mention it. Essentially, the “Amazon effect” refers to the way that Amazon’s business model, supply chain, and shipping capabilities have changed … Continue reading How is the “Amazon Effect” Impacting B2B Selling?
