What the Month of March Teaches Sales Professionals

In Taunton, Massachusetts where Princess House is headquartered, the month of March begins with roaring winds and the chill of winter and exits to the lovely sounds of birds singing as the temperatures climb to their springtime best.

For those in any field that requires one-to-one sales, the month of March holds lessons in how the sales process unfolds, from the first contact through closing a sale.

Prepare for Any Weather

Every morning in March, we have to look through our arsenal of clothing to decide what to wear for changing weather. In sales, before going out and making the first contact, it’s essential to be prepared as well. Over my career in direct selling, I’ve been dedicated to always understanding the right tools, support, incentives and inspiration women need to succeed in direct selling, which has yielded sales results. Princess House has logged a 36% sales increase since I became president in 2012 and is now ranked #74 in the Direct Selling News Global 100 – the most prestigious ranking of direct selling companies in the world.

High Wind Warnings

Making a good first impression is akin to a gust of wind: come in strong and self-assured, wrapped in your company’s mission. Princess House has been helping women be successful in their own business for over half a century. We make sure that at their core, our consultants embody two essential pillars of our company’s mission statement: “Our power is our people,” and “Our business inspires dreamers, rewards excellence, and transforms lives.”

Marching with Motivation

Similarly, self-discipline should be worn like a scarf, protecting us from the elements with personal flair. Being disciplined is a first step to becoming self-motivated, which is essential for success in any sales role. My personal discipline means getting up at 3 a.m. when I’m home on the west coast to maintain the same work schedule as when I’m at Princess House on the east coast. I hold remote meetings at 5 a.m. pacific time and I’m always dressed and made up, the same as I would be at 8 a.m. eastern time. I believe that my own discipline sets a companywide example that translates to all our employees and consultants.

Sunny Skies Ahead

Being determined at every step of selling a product or service is key to success. We succeed by giving our all, all the time, everytime. Getting a frosty reception at first should not derail a sale. As Thomas Edison said, “The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.”

Warming Up

As winter turns a corner towards spring in mid-March, savvy salespeople need to bring warmth to the process, especially when dealing with a member of one’s own community. Start with compassion – there is always time to listen and care. And, always be respectful, treating everyone the way we want to be treated.

Changes Like the Weather

Those who brave northeastern winter know that just when it looks like spring has sprung, winter comes roaring back. These changes provide a metaphor for the power of agility. Seeking new opportunities and challenges despite setbacks is essential. In our direct selling business, every day I see women the world over conquer obstacles, even lacking rights, power and freedom in their countries, to achieve great success as entrepreneurs.

A Season to Believe In

Lessons for sales success are always in season. Even as April showers promise to bring May flowers, every day is a new opportunity to be results-driven in every aspect of selling and achieve what matters. At Princess House, each day we work to support our consultants by continuing to evolve the tools and technologies they need — from product development to training and marketing. At the corporate level we have a vision for success that includes improved distribution and logistics systems and a state-of-the-art technology platform and back-end systems — all to ensure the company is positioned to continue to lead the industry in providing a real, cost-effective and results-oriented business opportunity for everyone.

Connie Tang is President and CEO of Princess House, a Boston-area based premier direct selling and business opportunity company offering exclusive products for cooking, dining and entertaining. Scroll down for a more detailed bio.

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