1 skill to skyrocket your career [Buffett by Roger Lowenstein]
1956, in Omaha, 26-year-old Warren Buffett decided to take more control of his earnings.
After working as an employee for his father’s brokerage and then his mentor - Ben Graham’s fund, the limitation of decision and approach irritated him. Soon, the self-conscious Buffett discovered that he could perform better independently.
But nothing is easy at the beginning, isn’t it? Not only did he have modest savings and no steady income...
but also two toddlers, a house, and a family to tend to.
Buffett needs to raise capital; if he were to grow his own partnership.
The first colossal prospect came to him as Edwin Davis, a famous Omaha urologist, gave him a call in the summer of 1957.
Remember that Buffett, at that time, had neither a track record as an independent operator nor any document numbers to gain people’s trust.
His contract terms, in addition, were seemingly quite absurd in secrecy:
He would disclose nothing about where their money was invested, only a yearly summary of results.
The Davises can only add or withdraw capital on December 31 yearly. Otherwise, the funds would be merely at Buffett’s disposal to “play with.”
An outsider could hardly think how this deal could be successful.
Yet, Buffett did it; he managed to persuade Edwin Davis into putting in…
$100,000!
Apart from the man’s real potential and commitment (Buffett would get no salary, no fee if his results were mediocre or worse), this one skill has helped him to close the deal firmly:
SELLING.
Myths
Many people have the same reaction when hearing the word “sales.” They associate it with smooth-tongued salespeople who use manipulation, maneuvering, and rose-colored future scenes to trick you into buying their products.
However, at its core, selling is the combination of understanding and persuasion. Indeed, we use it more in our lives than we realize.
2. Why is selling a critical skill?
It keeps our social lives on and going.
Nature Human Behavior once remarked:
“Human beings are a social species that relies on cooperation to survive and thrive.”
Because selling isn’t just you talking about yourself all night long, it involves acts like listening and asking supporting questions to gain the trust of your speaking partner.
As a result, if you can thoroughly grasp these core skills mentioned above, your personal life will improve in one way or another.
Be it friendship, romantic love, or family, show that you care and are ready to have a deep conversation. Then you will be able to build and maintain meaningful relationships.
It’s an indispensable part of entrepreneurship.
According to Failory, 9 out of 10 startups fail. Among them, 2 out of 10 new businesses fail in the first year of operation.
Although selling is needed in most industries worldwide, its potential shines the most when being put inside the hands of entrepreneurs.
As a business startup, you must constantly sign new deals and contracts, get funding from investors and motivate your team. Selling is, therefore, a great asset that can fundamentally change the scope of work you intend to do.
It’s a stream of golden opportunities.
Believe it or not, the most usable form of selling is “selling yourself.”
Many people can be intelligent, proficient, and insightful. But without the skills of communicating and persuading, they could hardly advance their career or future. As a result, their name would be left unknown as their talents remain hidden underneath the surface.
Selling could be of the most essential skills in the modern working world. When everyone seems capable, the mastery of persuasion gives you a competitive edge to achieve more and earn more.
3. How to learn sales?
Join a course
The Internet contains many prestigious and trusted online learning platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning …
Not only would the program be given by prominent experts or IVY League Universities, but it would also even provide you with a certificate (with additional fees in most cases) if you need solid credit for your expertise.
Check this post to get some references.
Tip: remember to thoroughly research the program and your instructors before making any study payment.
Buy a book
Sales have begun since humans started exchanging wool for wheat and rice.
Through each period, from the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the world wide web to the world we’re living in right now, people have started to grasp this skill more firmly.
I find this method most helpful in having a variety of perspectives from many periods in which books are written.
From the 1930s, “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie, the “SPIN Selling” methodology in 1988 by Neil Graham, to the buyer-centered selling books in this modern age.
Look and browse through bookstores; you’ll find some exciting deals.
Just do it
This may sound like a weird bullet point, but Richard Branson once said:
“The best way of learning about anything is doing.”
Especially when it’s a skill that involves human interaction, why don’t we go out there and experience it ourselves?
Learn to create a captivating social profile, learn how to introduce yourselves to potential career relationships, and learn how to pitch your idea and products to people around.
Selling may start modestly with the available resources, but by putting ourselves into the world, valuable lessons will flow to us like a stream of endless knowledge.
4. Sum up
There are thousands of different jobs in the world, but if you want to leave a trademark, I believe the art of persuasion and sales is the key.
Love,
mingox
