Addressing the Price Question

At some point in any sales conversation a client will ask, "how much does this cost?"  If the subject of price never comes up, then you're not selling.  At best, you're marketing.  At worst, you're practicing your conversational skills for when you interview for your next job after you get fired from this one because you can't sell!  (Sorry to be so blunt...do you need a minute?)


The flip side of the coin is when the interaction is only about price.  When that happens we're also not selling so much as taking orders, exchanging money for a product, and leaving ourselves vulnerable to any fool who can sell what is perceived to be the same, or similar product for less.

That said, the longer we delay the inevitable pricing question, the more we're engaged in selling the experience, the benefit, the value of the buyer/seller relationship.  As my old boss used to remind me in our "no price haggling" operation, "if the customer objects to the price, you haven't sold the product.  Go back and sell the product."  (and it might not have been the right product for the client - go back and listen to the customer this time!)

A wise man I know used to say to his team, "anyone can give it away, I hired you to sell it."

Hallelujah.

Living the Vocation of Work

Those who begin their career with a purpose for the most part are exercising a vocation.  A vocation is loosely defined as a calling.  One is compelled to do and to be because one can't resist the call. 

Along the way, for some of us, it becomes a job.  We get bogged down in the details of the where and the what, and turn our backs on the why.  When you've got a mortgage, a wife and kids, two car payments, aging parents, a dog and a March break getaway to pay for the why takes a back seat to the how, as in "how am I going to manage this?" 

(Usually the why pays less anyway.)

I see politicians who've lost their drive, teachers who've traded their passion for benefits and a sick-day payout, and so many middle aged zombie managers who have forgotten how to take a risk.  It's disheartening.

For those of us still in the game, remember the wisdom of the seventies: "hang in there, baby".  The next generation needs role models even though they might think they've got it all figured out. 

If nothing else they need to see what it looks like when good people still strive to make a difference for the love of it.  Hang in there, baby.