The same struggle that Seth Godin talks about in his recent blog post is applicable to sales pros: Do you aim for "electability" or "marketability"?
Are you trying to go about your job/business/career in a safe, "electable" way? Do you not push the envelope or take chances or be remarkable for no other reason than the fact that you want at least 50% or more of your customers to not be offended or turned off? As Seth points out, you are probably doomed to a career full of mediocrity and frustration. Ordinary and blah sales representatives are a dime a dozen. And that's how it will always be.
Being "marketable", as Seth argues, is probably the road less traveled. Why? I'll let him spell it out:
"To be marketable, you must be remarkable. Marketing isn't about getting more than 50% market share, it's about spreading your idea to enough people to be glad you did it... 3% of a market may be more than enough, especially if you have a local business or an expensive service.
The temptation of the marketer is to try to get elected. To be beloved by everyone. As a marketer, you hear from someone who doesn't love your product and you work to change it. Eventually, that strategy leads to boredom, to sameness and to stagnation."
As we begin 2007, are you looking for an edge in the way you sell whatever it is you sell? Think about becoming marketable, not just electable.
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