If you are looking for a book that can inspire you to achieve your personal and professional goals, you might want to read "The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino. This book is not just about sales, but about a philosophy of life that can help you overcome any challenge and become a better version of yourself.
The book tells the story of Hafid, a poor camel boy who becomes a wealthy and successful merchant, thanks to the guidance of his mentor, Pathros. Pathros gives him a set of ten ancient scrolls, each containing a principle of success that Hafid must read and practice every day.
The ten scrolls are:
- I will form good habits and become their slave.
- I will greet each day with love in my heart.
- I will persist until I succeed.
- I am nature's greatest miracle.
- I will live each day as if it were my last.
- I will master my emotions.
- I will laugh at the world.
- I will multiply my value every day.
- I will act now.
- I will pray for guidance.
These scrolls have ancient advice that can help anyone change their thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Here are some ways you can use what you've learned from this book:
- Get into good habits and let them control you. Our habits are strong forces that shape our future. If you want to reach your goals, you need to form habits that will help you get there. For example, if you want to be a better salesperson, you should always prospect, follow up, show, close, and serve your customers. To make good habits, you have to do them over and over again until they become second nature. Mandino says, "I will do the things I need to do to be successful by doing what I did today again tomorrow and what I did tomorrow again the next day and so on until these things become habits."
- Start each day with love in your heart. Love is the strongest feeling that can push you to do your best and help other people. When you love what you do, you find value in it and enjoy it. When you care about your customers, you understand their wants and give them something of value. When you love yourself, you know what you are worth and what you can become. "I will love all kinds of men," Mandino writes. "Each has qualities to admire, even if they are hidden."
- Keep trying until you do. Success has nothing to do with luck or ability, but with how hard you work at it. Along the way, you will face many problems and setbacks, but you must not give up or lose faith in yourself. You have to learn from your mistakes and get better at what you do. "I will keep going until I succeed," Mandino writes. "I was not brought into this world to fail, and failure does not run through my veins."
- Be nature's biggest miracle. You are a special and unique person with something important to give to the world. No one else has the same skills, abilities, or interests as you do. You have a goal and a dream that only you can accomplish. You can't look at other people and wonder if you're good enough. You should be proud of who you are and show it off to the fullest. Mandino says, "I am rare, and everything that is rare has value, so I am valuable."
- Act like every day is your last. Life is valuable and hard to plan. You don't know when it will end or what will come out of it. You shouldn't waste your time on small things or bad feelings. You need to make the most of every moment and take advantage of every chance to learn and grow. You must be thankful and happy for the chance to live. "I will live this day as if it is my last, for what shall I fear if tomorrow never comes?" is something Mandino writes.
- Take charge of your feelings. Emotions are strong forces that can help or hurt how well you do something. You can't change the things that happen to you, but you can change how you respond to them. You must not let your feelings rule over you or cloud your judgment. You need to learn how to handle them well and put them to good use. "Weak is the man who lets his emotions control his actions; strong is the man who makes his actions control his emotions," says Mandino.
- Laugh at everything. Laughter is a strong medicine that can heal both your body and your mind. It can help you relax, feel better, be more creative, and make your relationships stronger. You can't be too hard on yourself or life, and you can't let worries take over. You have to learn to laugh at yourself and the world and find fun in everything.
- I will add to my worth every day. This idea means that the salesperson should always try to improve their skills, information, attitude, and service. They will be more valuable to their users, their company, and themselves if they do this. They will also have more chances and benefits come their way. The salesperson shouldn't be satisfied with just being average or comfortable. Instead, they should aim for excellence and growth every day.
- I'll do something now. This idea means that the seller shouldn't wait or think about what to do, but should act right away. The salesperson shouldn't wait for the best time or place to make a sale. Instead, they should make the most of the present moment. The salesperson shouldn't let fear or doubt stop them. Instead, they should be brave and sure of themselves to get past them. The salesperson shouldn't let chances slip away, but should grab them with enthusiasm and determination.
I will pray for direction. This thought means that the salesperson should admit that they need help and direction from a higher power and ask for it. The salesperson shouldn't rely on their own intelligence or strength. Instead, they should believe in God's intelligence and strength. The seller shouldn't be cocky or proud. Instead, he or she should be humble and thankful. The salesperson shouldn't be selfish or greedy. Instead, he or she should be kind and helpful.
The Greatest Salesman in the World is a classic book by Og Mandino that offers a set of principles and practices for achieving success in sales and in life. Here are five key takeaways from this book:
- The book is structured as a story of a young camel boy named Hafid who learns the secrets of selling from a wealthy merchant named Pathros. Pathros gives Hafid ten scrolls that contain the wisdom of the greatest salesman in the world. Hafid must read each scroll three times a day for thirty days before moving on to the next one. This way, he can internalize the lessons and apply them to his daily actions.
- The first scroll teaches Hafid to form good habits and become their slave. Habits are the key to success or failure, and by replacing bad habits with good ones, Hafid can change his destiny. The second scroll teaches him to greet each day with love in his heart. Love is the greatest force in the world, and by loving everyone and everything he encounters, Hafid can overcome fear, anger, and resentment. The third scroll teaches him to persist until he succeeds. Persistence is the quality that separates the successful from the unsuccessful, and by never giving up, Hafid can overcome any obstacle or challenge.
- The fourth scroll teaches him to be a master of his emotions. Emotions are powerful but fleeting, and by controlling them instead of being controlled by them, Hafid can act rationally and wisely. The fifth scroll teaches him to live each day as if it were his last. Time is precious and irreplaceable, and by making the most of each moment, Hafid can avoid procrastination and regret. The sixth scroll teaches him to be a master of his own will. Will is the force that drives action, and by directing it towards his goals, Hafid can achieve anything he desires.
- The seventh scroll teaches him to laugh at the world. Laughter is the best medicine, and by finding humor in every situation, Hafid can reduce stress and increase happiness. The eighth scroll teaches him to multiply his value every day. Growth is essential for success, and by improving his skills and knowledge every day, Hafid can increase his worth and influence. The ninth scroll teaches him to act now. Action is the bridge between dreams and reality, and by taking immediate action on his plans, Hafid can turn his vision into reality.
- The tenth scroll teaches him to pray for guidance. Prayer is the connection between man and God, and by seeking divine help and guidance, Hafid can align his will with God's will and receive His blessings. The book ends with Hafid becoming the greatest salesman in the world and passing on the scrolls to his successor. He also reveals that the scrolls contain the essence of the teachings of Jesus Christ, who was the greatest salesman in the world because he sold His message of love and salvation to mankind.
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Best-selling Books for "Salesman" Recommended:
- Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Red Book of Selling; 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness, How to Make Sales FOREVER by Jeffrey Gitomer. This book offers practical and proven advice on how to sell more and better, with a humorous and engaging style.
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. This book reveals the six universal principles of persuasion that can help you win over anyone and get what you want.
- SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham. This book presents a research-based method for selling complex and high-value products and services, based on four types of questions: Situation, Problem, Implication, and Need-payoff.
- The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson. This book argues that the best salespeople are not those who build relationships, but those who challenge customers to think differently and offer unique insights.
- To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink. This book shows that selling is not only a skill for salespeople, but a part of everyday life for everyone, and offers tips and techniques to improve your ability to persuade and influence others.