Sales

Sales (Photo credit: Nils Geylen)


I really want to start taking astrology a little more seriously when it comes to my every day doings, but my inner child seems to always get in the way of my doing so. Case in point: Uranus.
This planet (last time I checked) is evidently my ruler according to some astrology websites. Anything with anus in it, though, is most definitely not my ruler. But, I get that Uranus (your anus) is potentially a game-changer for me. I used to joke with a former co-worker that “Uranus is supposed to be perking things up for me this month,” when I had a particularly promising horoscope.
Today, December 17th is supposed to have special significance. Business prospects are supposed to be good for me, but love is also supposed to be off the hook, especially for couples. I’m looking forward to some quality time with my honey once the moon comes up tonight. It is going to be a full moon tonight, too, people, and so get your popcorn ready.
The astrological symbols/glyphs used in Wester...

The astrological symbols/glyphs used in Western astrology to represent the planets in astrology (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Astrologers and psychics tend to take money from people who can ill afford to spend it on their services. Nobody knows what the future holds and no one knows what complete strangers are like—two of the things that astrologers and psychics may generalize about, generally-speaking. It always reminds me of scammers, and at the end of the day, although they may not bilk folks out of lots of money, the fact they take anything at all for their forecasts is money that won’t get spent on something it is people who go to them need.
It is also time not well spent. I went to a few astrologers and psychics when I lived in Boulder, CO. Some say that Boulder is one of the epicenters of psychic and astrological phenomena. As possible as that may be, I really tried to be objective when I went along for the ride to see these people.
I’m someone who naturally questions things. Be prepared to articulate and defend your position as to why your services or business are best for me. After all, if I ask questions and get to the root of what it is you can do for me, I will tend to be more satisfied if I go with your product than if I just blindly sign on with whatever it is you are peddling.
If you get defensive, like many sales representatives can, you will lose me as soon as my bullshit radar detects your apprehensiveness. I recently had one such instance when I was considering switching mobile service carriers and inquired as to the availability of refurbished iPhones. His retort was, “Why would you ever consider refurbished products?” After taking the next 90 seconds to educate him about the savings and quality of Apple refurbished products and presenting him my previous generation iPhone refurb with three years of unfailing service, his smugness quotient dissolved entirely.
English: This is an image of the planet Uranus...

English: This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Everyone is different and he probably did not read his horoscope that day or else he might have known I, or someone like me, was coming into the store. I like understated sales people who let their customers take the lead during interactions and who determine how best to further or abandon, their advance sales plan entirely, once meetings are underway. Customers can tell when a sales rep is adjusting on the fly. This is not a bad thing, necessarily, especially when customizing the process reflects consideration of what the customer truly is in search of. Plus, a rep can’t close the deal if he or she is not offering what the customer actually is interested in to begin with.
Good sales people know that the only thing better than persuasion and influence is anticipation. These are the kinds of people who place greater stock in being able to read signs and signals during the process of closing deals. Yes, good sales people are able to persuade and influence when necessary. They are, however, not quick to label anyone, for they know the value of the old adage, Don’t judge a book by its cover. Labeling is another word for judging, though, and at the end of the day, good sales people understand things like not judging people considered grinders or foot soldiers, for instance, can quickly turn to an advantage when these same folks end up being decision-making generals.
Beach Walk #528 - Vedic Astrology with Sally S...
Being likeable isn’t enough, although a lot of grinders may feel that is the one thing that sales people have to do: they have to be likeable—that and they have to play golf. I would suggest that sales people utilize astrology, though. It might come in handy when dealing with a potential prospect who utilizes it before speaking with sales reps.
Knowing Uranus is my ruler might have helped the dude who was trying to get me to come over to his way of thinking on the whole smart phone and wireless carrier service change up. He had me pegged as an old guy who does not know jack (about anything). I tend to be able to read these guys like books. It is like they walk right into my Mr. Obvious zone. That is, it is obvious to me I will be underestimated. Smiling is not enough. I can see behind the wolf teeth enough to know that a sale isn’t happening until you kiss me first. Give me some love. If not that, make me laugh. Use your intuition. If you’re so inclined, take a shot, schmooze me and ask if I’m an Aquarius. If you’re feeling it, open to all possible deal-closing techniques and you’ve browsed the horoscopes, you might just recover from putting your foot in your mouth after saying something stupid.