Real Thoughts on Authentic Sales and Earned Influence
- lutzgrow
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
One of the sales coaches that I (Caleb) study shared in an interview, "Ignore the wise guy's advice to 'build a business so you can sell it for a billion someday.' I want to build a business that I wouldn't sell if someone offered to pay me a billion dollars someday."
Man, is this thought process powerful and RARE.
The first choice of "build to sell" leads to
money-only decisions
short cuts
decisions based on optics (what looks good)
going to war with the competition
working with employees you endure because...
fighting time to sell before your real numbers are found out...
a.k.a. STRESS night and day.
The second choice "build so that you never want to sell" leads to
intentional and organic growth
decisions based on values
having a customer base and sometimes even competitors who fight FOR you and join you
having employees who are an extended family
going to bed tired but unbelievably grateful each night that you are who you say you are and that you provide the value for your people that you do
grateful to have customers/employees excited for you when you take a day away for a family wedding (the pic above!) or mid-week funeral (not pictured, but also this last week).
What does authentic sales and business look like in my life?
In sales training, whether corporate or one-on-one, I'd rather inspire than impress. I share my mistakes and what I'm currently learning. I fight for my peers, my clients, to progress. To get their programmed limits out of their head and recognize their giftings and the inevitable growth from consistent, skilled work ethic. To get real with the numbers it takes to grow a business. My peers & clients most often become good friends and the heaviest advocates to our organic growth.
In direct sales and any brand rep opps we take on, it means choosing to only represent products that we use daily. Products or systems backed with a customer-satisfaction and most often a money-backed guarantee. It means never partnering with a B2B or B2C rep unless they understand the short term and long term benefits and investments. It means growing community with trust and clear expectations on what success requires and creates.
In freight and logistics, it means transparent pricing, fighting for my customer's goals, while also educating them how to position their freight for the market. It means the highest level of service at pick ups and deliveries. It means communication picks up and doesn't zero out when the inevitable problems pop up. Sometimes, it means owning up when you missed something and making it right for your carrier or customer.
Authenticity doesn't guarantee the billion-dollar buy out. But it attracts the like-minded business pros who actually create and add value to our communities. It does build trust in who you are to your people. It does earn actual influence. And in my experience, it does lead to more referrals and eventually, more profit.
Even more so, it leads to a grateful & giving life that invites those around you to grow.
That's it for now. Let's grow :) #LutzGrow