Sales people come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. We generally know why most people buy from someone. It's because they like them and they trust them. Even though I'm in the business of sales, I have to buy many things from people as well. I've come to the conclusion that there are three types of people I would never buy something from at any point in my future. Those that wear pinky rings, bow ties, or chew gum. Here's the lowdown on these sales personalities.
- The Pinky Ring- I've watched many of the recent Marvel Comics movies including Iron Man and the Green Lantern. Just because you watch one of these movies doesn't mean you deserve to wear a Green Lantern pinky ring or some ruby stoned pinky ring that looks like it popped out of a gumball machine at Publix. The pinky ring screams of Mafioso movies I've watched like the godfather, and every time I get pitched by someone wearing one of these rings I'm fully expecting Joe Pesci to pop out somewhere during the meeting to say, "Whaddya mean you think I'm funny?" I've always had that feeling that salespeople wearing pinky rings are often one step away from missing a mortgage payment or parked their beat up 1983 Monte Carlo around the corner so I didn't know what they were driving. Reminder: Pinky ring salespeople often come accompanied with a gold chain necklace only visible because their collared shirt is two buttons open.
- The Gum Chewer- Salespeople are supposed to be professionals. There is nothing less professional in my opinion then showing one page of a pitch deck of your proposal only to interrupt yourself to shuffle your gum from one side of your mouth to another. Gum chewing sales people seem to always come with a sidekick of a nervous twitch. I had a person who worked for me many years ago that had a gum chewing problem. I swear that one pocket was loaded up with a pack of Doublemint or Juicy Fruit, and the other pocket had Big Red ready to go in case a sale was around the corner. These gum chewers pull out a stick of gum like a Colt 45 ready to be drawn for a shootout at the O.K. Corral. There's nothing less I trust in life than a bubble blowing gum snapping salesperson.
- The Bow Tie- Bow ties should be worn for those special occasions such as a wedding or a high end charity event. Don't ask me why, but I've always felt more like I'm ready to get recruited to the Farrakhan ministries when I'm sold by someone wearing a bowtie. Some people consider bowties cool and see them as a fashion statement, but I've never been impressed at all by those who wear a bowtie who are in the sales business. Instead I'm reminded of images of Peewee Herman and we all know how that story turned out. If you run into a person who has bow tie 'swagger', you might just want to think twice before you sign on the bottom line.
We've all come across salespeople we trust and like, and those that we will never do business with again during this lifetime. What kind of salespeople make you run for the hills?
Written by: Ted Jenkin
Request a FREE consultation: www.oxygenfinancial.net
If you would like to receive more information on making smart money moves for your future, be sure to contact us today!
