SOCOM Sales Tips

Sales tips for money hungry professionals

The Matrix: Lessons in sales

By SOCOM Sales • May 22nd, 2008 • Category: Lead Story, Sales Planning, socom-sales-tips

If you have not had the opportunity to see The Matrix, you should go rent it and watch it a few times. Besides being just another sci-fi flick, The Matrix has a deeper meaning that can be directly applied to sales. I had a Matrix moment at work today.

Photo: ThomasThomas

Take the Red Pill.

Do you believe you are a better than average sales person? Have you just been waiting for that moment to present itself to be a superstar? Stop waiting. Anyone that tells you that ‘opportunity knocks’ is lying to you. Opportunity comes to the person who makes the effort to be better. No MBA program is going to knock on your door, you need to apply and attend. Chances are no major revenue event is going to drop on your desk, you need to look for it. Some people call it drinking the koolaid, but regardless you should do it.

Once you buy in that you can be better and start behaving like a rockstar sales professional, the results will come. Sometimes in weeks sometimes in a few months but if you stay consistent taking the Red Pill will open your eyes to a world of possibilities you had been overlooking or neglecting for a long time.

Know thy Self

There is a scene in the movie where Neo the main character played by Keanu Reeves meets the Oracle for the first time. She asks Neo if he is the one that is going to save the world. Not knowing how to answer the question and being skeptical himself, he says ‘No’. The truth is that he IS but the deeper meaning is that if Neo does not believe he is the one, then he will never be.

As a professional sales person you should know yourself. What are your weaknesses? What are your strengths? Only you know for sure. If you want to go from good to great, you must believe in yourself and act accordingly. Focus on your strengths and drive full force forward. If you believe you can then you will. As long as you hold some credibility with your managers and peers you should be comfortable sharing ideas on what is going to make things better and produce more revenue. Identify the issues facing you and your sales group and step up to fix them. Part of those issues for my team can be explained in the blog The Straight Line by Brian Berlin.

 

Photo: ambientlight

Be the one

Just as in my previous Boiler Room: Lessons in sales post you need to ‘act as if’. Work like you are the top dog that you know you are. If people haven’t noticed your potential yet, they will very soon. Being the one is based on your ability to be and act like a leader. Leadership is one key trait that you must learn to master. It is a process and you will make mistakes. Don’t lose heart, drive on and learn from them.

What other correlations can be made between The Matrix and sales?

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7 Responses »

  1. Barbara Ling on May 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm:

    My favorite part of your post is:

    >> Opportunity comes to the person who makes the effort to be better. <<

    So very very very true. I’ve added your site to my feed reader as well.

    Thanks!

    Barbara

    Barbara Ling’s last blog post..21 Days to a more profitable blog - Day 4! Craft your Why Subscribe? Page and Network

  2. Michael on May 24th, 2008 at 5:43 am:

    Long time reader, first time poster. Great blog btw. I love your pop culture reference. Sometimes you just have to go ahead and do what needs to be done. As long as you’re competent as a salesperson (or whatever job) you should just be assertive and go for it.

    Michael’s last blog post..Make my site rank #1 in Google

  3. TV Bracket on May 29th, 2008 at 2:33 pm:

    I have watched Matrix several times, just never with that midset to view it on the lessons in sales. Luckily it is in my dvd collection so I can pull it out and give it a try.

  4. Gary on June 4th, 2008 at 4:27 am:

    Interesting article. I have the MBA…..now I need to watch the Matrix with a copy of your article to reference!

    Gary’s last blog post..Bluray needs an MBA (or Why Bluray is Failing)

  5. Mike Terry on June 12th, 2008 at 6:51 am:

    Although I am not in sales, in some ways we are all in sales if even in selling out selves to follow our dreams moment by moment until they are realized. To see reality as it is makes one able to see the goal that you really want. My heart sings when I think of the red pill. Send me a case and charge it on my visa! In the matrix it is all a bunch of 1s and 0s anyway right…?

    101010101010101010101010101010 (that is code for saying “thanks”)

  6. Rick NHS on July 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am:

    Great post… as a sales person, it is helpful to read inspirational articles that help remind me what it takes to get those sales. As you mentioned, believing in yourself plays a big role. I’ll have to check out your Boiler Room post now!

    Rick NHS’s last blog post..FHA Mortgage Insurance Changes Just Made This Mortgage Over Priced!

  7. Best CD Rates on July 8th, 2008 at 2:12 pm:

    I agree, it is really important to know who you are as a sales person, and also to keep in mind that you have to improve on your weak points especially if they mean closing on a sale.

    Best CD Rates’s last blog post..6 month cd rates

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