Han Solo:
Galactic Scoundrel, renowned smuggler, space cowboy. All things I immediately think of when I think "Sales", right? Maybe thats just the Star Wars nerd in me.
Regardless though, if you look at some of those famous lines said none other than Han Solo, there may be some sales wisdom we can appreciate, and apply to Inbound Selling.
- "Never tell me the odds!"
Sales is a tough job, it is extremely difficult and at times you will often feel like you're facing insurmountable odds. But just like Han Solo himself flying straight into an asteroid field, don't think about everything working against you, focus on what you can control! Prospecting, call volume, and attitude are all things we as sales professionals have direct control over. So instead of looking at what is working against you, ignore the odds and control your inputs.
- "Great, kid. Don't get cocky"
So you've had some early success, maybe you were at the top of the charts one month or quarter, and that should be celebrated. But it can be easy in a selling role to let it get to your head, and let it affect the next quarter or month. A good day, week, or month should be acknowledged and evaluated for what was done right. But always remember, whether it is gunning down tie-fighters or closing deals, that we need to keep egos in check and practice humility to focus on how we can sustain consistent performance.
- "Punch it"
No I don't mean your Cisco phone, although there are times it's tempting not to. I'm talking about that overdrive capability salespeople possess. The ability to tune out everything and crank out an hours worth of high volume activity. Blasting into hyperspace isn't just for Han Solo, but for every SDR or Account Executive that needs to put in that top of the funnel activity. So buckle up, and GO!
- "Look, I ain't in this for your revolution, and I'm not in it for you, princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money”
Okay so maybe there are some things Han has said we don't necessarily agree with, this being one of those. The salespeople of today are not in it for the money, but often times for the challenge, competition, and the value we bring prospects to help them overcome complex business challenges and realize target goals! So sorry Han, we are not in it for the money, and based on the movies, neither are you. Which brings us to our last quote...
- "Laugh it up, Fuzzball!"
I don't know if you can relate to the fuzzball part here, but anyways this is extremely important to a sales career and a lot of times in life! The ability to display humor, and laugh, not only reduces the stress of a selling role but also helps us in the sales process. Our prospects are also humans, and the ability to make them smile and laugh only helps us realize that, and a lot of times can eradicate that dynamic of salesperson/buyer in your conversations. So go ahead, crack and smile and laugh it up!
So there you have it, not only can the captain of the Millenium Falcon make the kessel run in 12 parsecs, but he also has a lot of sales wisdom we can internalize. Maybe more than Yoda.
