Professional Salespeople Are Good Citizens

By Zig Ziglar

As you are practicing your powers of observation, you will notice that many professional salespeople are very much involved with their community. This includes those sales pros like the architects, CPA's, merchants, motel managers, doctors, teachers, and others who realize the importance of selling skills in what is traditionally perceived as a non-selling role.
Dave Liniger, the founder of Re/Max, is a firm believer that sales people should get involved in civic activities. However, Dave stresses that your objective in joining worthwhile civic organizations should be service oriented. He feels that if your major objective in joining the organization is to market to the membership, you are probably going to alienate many of the people you want to influence. I concur with that assessment because, in essence, that has to do with manipulation and not motivation. If you're in the group, organization, or club with a 'what's-in-it-for-me?' attitude rather than a 'what-can-I-do-to-help?' attitude, you are doing the group, and yourself, a great disservice.

If you love the city you work in and want to give something back to your community and help make it better, you should get involved. Dave points out that your spirit and attitude will make a favorable impression on the people you're with. As a result, friendships will develop, and the members will want to do business with you.

Once relationships are established and the conversation turns to what you're doing, it is permissible to share with these friends that you do have something to offer and that your goods or services can be of value to them. That way you've created a friendly 'win-win' environment that can be beneficial to all concerned. Intent and integrity are the key words.

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