Comments on: Conversations With My 8 Year Old Nephew: The Things I Learned About Sales

By: maria gudelis

maria gudelis — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:24:33 +0000

Thanks Joel – yes – kids can teach us so much!

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:00:40 +0000

Inspiring story Maria, it's so true that some kids are just naturals at asking for the sale, and what they want. They're so good at it, it puts some of us to shame, lol. I guess the lesson learnt is to essentially stay focused on what we want to achieve until we get it.

Cheers, Joel.

By: daria

daria — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:21:54 +0000

I think about this all the time because I have realised that I am totally self conscious now about a lot of things I didn't care about when I was much younger. Fifteen years ago, I was proud to play the piano in front of people when I was 9. Now, I don't want to in case I make a mistake and they realise I'm not that good. I would be too embarrassed to ask for anything I wanted in a shop now, like Kaz.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:09:17 +0000

That's funny. I have a nephew with the same name, looks just like yours, and would do the same thing yours did. What a small world:)

By: admin

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:47:29 +0000

I love it! this post may just end up becoming a book from all of your comments – this is very insightful Warren
and I love the thought you’ve put into it…maybe we should have all the kids teach us sales eh?

Great quote of yours:

They have a target, a desire, and go after it. If denied, they don’t spend the next week going over every detail of why they didn’t get it, and it sure won’t prevent them from asking again.

cheers, Maria Gudelis

By: Warren Peterson

Warren Peterson — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:27:42 +0000

What I have learned from a child on selling? LOTS! As a father of four, I've been able to watch this up and close for years. I've actually thought about this lots so I'm going to do my best to limit my comments here - or this will quickly get too big! Children have yet to learn to be fearful of being told no. As adults we have learned to be fearful of the answer, "They might say no!" Yes, and? So What? Get over it. Move on. Kids know that, we forgot it. Virtually all of the toys or other "stuff" that children want matters little a few days (or even minutes!) later on. They have a target, a desire, and go after it. If denied, they don't spend the next week going over every detail of why they didn't get it, and it sure won't prevent them from asking again. (Kind of like when Dad says no, the kids go ask Mom.) They get over it, and move on to the next hot item. We should learn that lesson. Go after the potential client. If that client says no, go ask another client! Along with the above, kids are great at asking for the close. When was the last time a parent went to the store and the kid (in a somewhat subtle manner) quietly suggested that perhaps that new candy bar might be a welcome addition to the shopping cart, but only if Mom or Dad felt it was appropriate for today, and the right budget, and within the time constraints of the shopping trip? Um, no. Kids simply tell you what they want, direct and to the point. They go for the close. They don't hint. Often they'll just throw the thing in the cart on their own! We need to learn this, to go ahead and move past the discussion and ask for it. Kids know, if you don't ask, you won't get it. One thing all kids use is social proof. (Ha! Look at me fitting in all the terms the cool kids use!) All parents are very aware of hearing, "Well, Suzy's mom let's her." or "All my other friends do it." And so on. We get testimonial after testimonial. Sometimes the kids even bring the other kids along to tell us their testimonials in person. Forget video, how about in-person testimonials! We have learned the power of testimonials from our own children. As the kids get a little older, they learn the buttons to push and boy do they do that well. For any of us who are fathers of girls, we know instantly what is coming when the question starts with "Daddy" versus "Dad". You know what? Even though we know it… it works! Because by using that not-so-subtle shift in words they have been able to appeal to the emotional side we have as men of not wanting our daughters to grow up and away from our control, so we'll give in to keep them young and close. (All along we know it is a sales pitch, but we let it work anyway.) We want to be sold. We want to hear Daddy instead of Dad, and the best sales folks use the language the client wants to hear. My quick summary. From my kids I have learned that they ask for what they want, and they ask for the close. They love using social proof, and are really good and adjusting their language for the client. If we all did those things in our businesses (any business really), we would all be more effective - and much happier with our results. Thanks for everything. I'm loving this new path. -Warren As far as Kaz, the answer was up before I posted this, so that isn't fair, but there was little doubt he would get the phone. (PS - my kids have done the same.)

By: James Stuart

James Stuart — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:09:17 +0000

I forgot to add #4 to my original post…
4. Expect to get what you ask for
James… "Now may I have the book "

By: James Stuart

James Stuart — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:02:18 +0000

What I learned from this is quite simple:
1. Know what you want… Just like Kaz did
2. Go straight to the Decision Maker
3. Ask for what you want

By: Rich Avery

Rich Avery — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:56:32 +0000

Maria, I think you’ve got a budding entrepreneur on your hands. I’ll say “Yes, he got the fake mobile phone.” My 5 kids just got free ones a few weeks ago at the phone kiosk at our local Costco.

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:54:03 +0000

When we enter this world. we have only 2 fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. All the other fears are those that our mind has created or those that we have learned through our experiences.
Kaz is inspiring. He had a desire, backed by focus, and took action. Of course, he got the phone.
Great story Maria.