I’ll start this post by saying that I’m a half-century late to the party. Og Mandino’s “The Greatest Salesman in the World” is a book that’s been in my Google Books library for at least a decade now. So strange how great knowledge and inspiration shows itself sometimes.
I find it hard to delve into business related content that’s more than 10 years old. After all, there’s a lot of content from modern entrepreneurs out there to peruse. More than anyone could ever read, in fact.
Anyhow, I was reading a free ebook I downloaded from Amazon by a gentleman entrepreneur named Emanuel C. Ezike II today called The Greatest Ten Self Help Books in the World. The first book recommended was The Greatest Salesman in the World. He followed with The Greatest Secret Ever Told, by the way — another in Og’s “The Greatest” series.
“Love” the Key to Sales Success?
One thing really jumped out to me as Ezike talked about The Greatest Salesman in the World. He quoted Scroll II (Mandino offers a list of 10 scrolls a salesman should live their life by). Scroll II says that a salesman needs to use love as a primary weapon to overcome a prospect and gain their trust. This is what drew me in, but there’s so much more Mandino’s 50 year old tenants have to offer.
Here’s a summary of the scrolls listed in The Greatest Salesman in the World. I hope my take on the book will encourage you to read this. Even if you’ve read it before, I currently feel like this book should be a bible of sorts every entrepreneur or salesman should include in their morning routine to prime their day for success.
1. Everyday a person is reborn – he can forget the failures of the past. Habits are the difference between success and failure.
Straight to the point with this one. Don’t dwell on the failures of yesterday and beyond. If you develop and stick to the habits listed in the next 9 scrolls, those failures can’t define you.
2. Love can be the salesman’s greatest weapon, for even if people reject many particulars concerning the salesman’s wares, love will soften them.
This is the tenant that socked me right in the brain! Obviously we all need to love and look for the best in others. The thing that really struck me was his advice on using love to our advantage though. Mandino recommends silently saying “I love you” when we meet new prospects and letting that feeling show through our eyes. This is such simple advice, but I’d honestly never thought of it. How often do we meet people who have that remarkable way of smiling right through us? Not often…
3. “I will persist until I succeed.” People are born to succeed, not to fail.
I’ll gloss over this one. We’ve heard this before, and all the failure/persistence stuff is very cliche now. Cliche, but true nonetheless.
4. People are nature’s greatest miracle.
The 4th scroll from The Greatest Salesman in the World states that, despite our differences, we all have the tools required for success — eyes, ears, and a brain. This isn’t 100% true, as some people are at disadvantage in these areas, but a great mantra regardless.
5. Live each day as if it were your last. Dwelling on the failures or misfortunes of the past is useless, for we cannot change them.
The present is the only thing that should exist in our consciousness throughout the day. Treat everyone you encounter as if you’ll never see them again, and want to make the experience the best ever for both of you. I’d add that “tomorrow” can be examined in your thoughts before closing your eyes at night.
6. We are masters over our emotions. Although we daily pass through different moods, each of us has the power to control them; to “create our own weather.”
Pure, simple, and so true. We all get in return what we give. The universe gives us what we ask for.
7. ”Cultivate the habit of laughter.” Man is the only creature who can laugh, and the best thing to laugh at is ourselves.
So true. You have to laugh when things are funny and even when they really aren’t. Laughter is the best medicine and it’s also contagious.
8. Seek out opportunities and experiences that will multiply in value. A grain of wheat has not choice as to what it will become – whether it will be ground into bread or planted in the earth to multiply – but each human being has a choice – to grow or to perish.
This one is really cool. Mandino is almost insulting most modern motivational gurus with this one. Humans create their own destiny, unlike the grain of wheat which will always end up as a stalk of wheat in a field.
9. Our dreams and plans are of no value without action. Procrastination comes from fear, and we overcome fear only through action.
Nothing we haven’t all heard before. Procrastination BAD, fear is only overcome by staring it right in the face.
10. Almost everyone, in a moment of terror or anguish, will turn to God for help.
I’m what you could call a spiritual agnostic. So, this scroll isn’t particularly relevant to my life. However, if you’re a religious person, you probably already do this. If you don’t, maybe it’s time to visit your church next time life hands you lemons?
Share your thoughts…
Main Image Credit: Quotefancy
