“Positive thinking is fine in theory. But whenever I try it on a systematic basis…I end up really depressed.” – Ted Boynton, in the movie Barcelona
Ted is American sales rep working in Barcelona, Spain. He thinks a lot about what it takes to be a great sales professional, but as the movie progresses, he begins to think he may not be cut out for sales. He’s not bad at it, but he’s not superb either. The humorous statement I quoted above helps us see why.
Like many salespeople, Ted puts techniques and strategies into practice, but he doesn’t really practice them. He doesn’t seem too intent on developing skills.
I’ve talked a lot about the importance of having a positive attitude. Being positive increases productivity, sales, customer satisfaction, and employee job satisfaction. Thing is, unless your acting chops are a step above those of your typical Hollywood action star, you can’t just go through the motions. You have to develop a positive attitude as you would any other selling skill: by practicing with the goal of improving. Being systematic isn’t enough; you have to be skill-oriented!
