saving the world, one sale at a time

Lately I've been reading books and articles about selling. They're written for salespeople and speak the language of their profession: a world unknown to me until the past few months or so.

From what I've read lately, selling is a service. Better still, don't even call it selling...you're actually "uncovering" your customer's needs, you're solving a problem, you're healing a customer's pain. From this perspective, if you're in sales, you're a therapist. A troubleshooter. A rescuer. A healer.

And under the best of circumstances, this sometimes actually happens. A good salesperson is someone who listens first, then recommends. And better still, also discourages me from making the wrong choice, like a friend. However, this only happens, and rarely so, when I'm in the driver's seat: when I make the call or go to the store with the intention of buying something or at least researching it. Or when something breaks and I need to replace it right away.

But what about telemarketers? Like the subprime mortgage lenders who call me without my permission -- even now, with the housing crash in the news everyday? Are they trained to believe they're performing a public service, as well?

Does the "you're doing good deeds" philosophy show up in every profession? If so, then everyone must believe that they're making the world a better, safer, cleaner, happier place. One sale at a time.

Shop now...before it's gone

I just got news last night that one of my favorite online record shops is shutting down at the end of October. Fake Science is a small enterprise that sells a limited selection of downloadable ambient electronic albums for a mere $5 (USD) each. That's nearly free to those of you in Europe and a bargain even if you're in Canada nowadays.

Unfortunately, I guess what was good for us wasn't so great for the founder of Fake Science, and so they're shutting down at the end of this month. Go now — and hurry! — if you'd like to get your hands on some of Ultimae's "Fahrenheit Project" compilation series for a good price, or Rena Jones' "Transmigration," or Adham Shaikh's releases, or a few other goodies. And thank you to Fake Science for being such a great service these past few years.