Stick with it

So often, sales/clients/accounts/opportunities.........come your way simply by staying the course.  It's a natural reaction for a sales rep to cut bait and move on when a sale or client is lost.  Hopefully, when you're on the losing side you are able to remain in a state of professionalism and respect, and you don't go down by losing your cool and burning bridges.  This topic is for another day, actually it's an entire book in itself.

It's not a prophecy to say that nobody likes to lose.  But it takes control to lose with class, wish success to the other parties, and move on.  Once you do this, you have set yourself for the follow up.  Stay in touch periodically.  Make yourself available as a resource, and display an eagerness to earn another opportunity.  Sales people move very quickly day-to-day, but successful sales people know that this profession is a marathon rather than a sprint.  A sale lost should be just that, a sale lost.  It shouldn't be a client lost, a market lost, or an item to scratch off of your list and forget.

I don't like the theory that there is enough business out there for everyone, as that sets an expectation of regular failure.  But, I do believe that losses can be embraced, learned from, and cycle into future business.  Most sales reps cut bait, great sales reps leave their bait in the water and throw more lines out (OK, I don't fish, I really need to find a new analogy.  That one got away from me.)

** Through my years of travel, I have managed to never step foot in the state of Georgia, which is home to the busiest airport in the country (Atlanta).................until today.