The World Cup and Sales: Lessons Learned
Five things every salesperson can learn from the World Cup
A little motivation for the week
I'm a huge soccer fan (ok, ok, football) and I love watching World Cup Play. As I was watching Argentina dominate Australia yesterday, I started drawing some parallels from the game and the cup play in general, the players, and the different styles on the pitch. Here's a quick outline of my thoughts and what you can learn from these amazing athletes.
1. Speed and quickness afoot mean everything. In watching Argentina play, it just reminded me how truly amazing Messi it is with the ball. His quickness, agility, and the ability to accelerate makes other players look like they're standing in quicksand. As salespeople, a sense of urgency and the speed and accuracy to everything we do helps us stand out from the competition and win. the more agile you are, the more responsive, and the faster you respond and react to prospect requests make you stand out from the crowd.
2. Constant pressure creates opportunity. The Argentinian defense was relentless. With constant pressure on the ball they forced Australia to make mistake after mistake and it created opportunity and in the end points on the board. As salespeople, it's that constant nudging and pressure, in that full press attitude that gets deals across the line. Remember, timely follow-ups and communication and a sense of urgency will help you close more business.
3. No man is an island. Soccer teams have 11 players for a reason: there is no way one player can do it all. On and off the field, these players and teams have a full support system, and the sense of team is constant and always present. In selling, we rely on a full support system of sales engineers, marketing, leadership, and administrative support to be successful. Having a team mindset and taking care of all your players in the game of sales should constantly be on your mind.
4. Everyone can be a leader. Every team has a captain, but every member of the team is expected to lead. Setting the example not only in your smaller sales team, but on a broader scale can have maximum impact. In sales, you can set the example every day through your attitude, your effort, and contribution to the team. Too often we step over our Coworkers rather than helping them up in giving them support. When others achieve and succeed, it brings greater reward and success to the broader team.
5. Never surrender. In everything we do, there are highs and lows, and champions learn from the lows and get stronger through adversity. In sales, the ability to bounce back from rejection, poor quarters and absolute s****y days is what separates the top of the heap from the average salesperson that meanders quarter after quarter.
Little motivation as you enter the week and we come close to the end of 2022.