At-ti-tude, n.

One of Webster's dictionaries describes the word attitude as:

a mental position; the feeling one has for oneself.

Your attitudes are mindsetsor points of view based on what you believe to be true about life, other people and yourself.

The $elling Edge, Inc. has taught thousands of selling professionals how to consistently close sales. Some of these people have incredibly high natural sales ability but sell very little and others, with seemingly few innate skills, are able to achieve high levels of closings. What is the reason for this paradox? Very simply, a sales representative or service industry professional's attitude toward selling.

In our research, we have found that many selling professionals do not truly value the role of selling. They dislike being described as a "salesperson" because they see selling as a manipulative process that somehow conflicts with their personal values. When these attitudes are combined with fear of rejection and failure, it is no wonder they would prefer not to undergo the discipline and hard work it takes to succeed in sales.

Your attitudes can positively or negatively influence your ability to consistently perform effective prospecting activities or vital selling techniques. Weak or negative attitudes toward the selling process will block your ability to succeed in vital sales methods. On the other side of the coin, a strong, positive, "can-do" attitude about selling can help you to sell moreeven if you do not possess great natural selling skills.

My Sales Success Strategies series of articles outline techniques you can use to keep your attitude positive, your sales performance high and your selling goals focused. Check out the archive at: http://www.thesellingedge.com/newsletter1.htm

Virden Thornton

Serving Discriminating Clients Internationally Since 1983

Virden J. Thornton is the founder of The $elling Edge?, Inc., a training and development firm, specializing in sales, telemarketing, customer relations, and management training, coaching and marketing advisory services. He has trained, coached and advised literally hundreds of clients, including Sears Optical, Eastman Kodak, Northern Uniform Supply, The Texas Independent Banker's Association, Deloitte & Touch?, Smith Barney, Jefferson Wells International, The Government of The U. S. Virgin Islands, First National Bank of Arizona, City Laundering, Co. and Wal?Mart to name a few.

Virden is the author of Prospecting: The Key To Sales Success, A Realtor's Success Formula, Organizing For Sales Success, and "best sellers" Building & Closing the Sale, 101 Sales Myths. His audio/video tape series entitled Close That Sale, is based on his 50 Minute Series manual Closing: A Process Not A Problem--published by a division of Thompson Learning. He has also authored a client acclaimed self-directed learning series of sales, coaching, customer service, telemarketing, and personal productivity training manuals, outlined in the Books & Manuals section of this site. Virden has a degree in communications (public address emphasis) from the University of Utah.

As a consultant and trainer, Virden has been retained by dozens of banks, savings and loans, and credit unions to help them move from operational, order taking cultures to proactive sales and cross-selling organizations. He has literally trained thousands of sales representatives and managers in businesses as diverse as distribution, auto sales, printing, eye care, uniform and linen rentals, manufacturing, and many others. Virden also specializes in training, coaching and advising service industry professionals (accountants, attorneys, engineers, architects, financial planners, stockbrokers, etc.) in the fine art of "business development."

Virden has taught small business courses at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, a bank sales curriculum at the Center For Professional Development, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and a short course on selling at the School Of Entrepreneurship, J. Willard And Alice S. Marriott School off Management at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Virden and his wife Barbara reside in Avon Lake, Ohio and are the parents of ten children.