Improve Sales: Decide Where You Will Plug In

The best way to improve sales is to decide where you will plug in.

Allow me to explain.

One of my favorite quotes is associated with the founder of The National Speakers Association, Cavett Robert.

He said:

“Most people are walking around, umbilical cord in hand, looking for a new place to plug it in…”

I love this quote for many reasons. Here are a few of them:

First is what it says about the sale process.

Imagine thousands of your prospective clients wandering around looking for a place to plug in.

They need help. They have problems. You, your company, your product, can solve their problem.

But they don’t know about you. They have no idea what your company can do for them. You may be able to save their lives or, at minimum, improve their situation.

But unless you find a way to initiate a relationship, they may never find you.

Getting that relationship started, letting those people know you can help, that’s called sales.

The next thing I love about the quote is what it says about a commitment to growth.

If you’re not growing you’re dying.

This is a fact of life.

When you “plug in” to a new experience it is a huge opportunity for growth. Each day opens new doors for you. When a door opens, regardless of what is on the other side, you can learn from walking through it.

And that knowledge is power…the power that fuels your growth.

The third thing I love about this quote is what it says about your selection of personal association.

The PEOPLE you plug into are important.

Each of us is the sum total of the people we allow into our lives.

If you surround yourself with successful, positive, ethical people, you will take on the qualities of those folks.

Be careful WHO you plug into because they can shape your future.

So think about it.

Selling allows you to help more people by giving them the opportunity to “plug in” to you.

Growth is essential. Without it your business dies. Plugging in to new experiences helps fuel your growth.

Personal association shapes you. The behavior of the people around you influences your success. This can be positive or it can be negative. You choose WHO you plug into.

These seem like small decisions and it is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activity of your business that you give them no thought.

And I think that’s the most valuable implication of this Cavett Robert quote.

The visual of people wandering around looking for someplace to plug in or someone to help them with this task of plugging in, is powerful.

If you’re not careful, a day, a year or even a decade can pass you by and your business will remain the same.

Just making a decision to take control of these three aspects of your business is a start.

Decide today where you will plug in.