Don't Be Afraid to be a Salesman

During his presidency, George W. Bush encouraged people to help strengthen our economy by going shopping. When I heard this, I knew it didn't sound right to me. There was the germ of an idea in there but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Recently it came together for me.

It isn't about how much we buy, it's about how much we sell. And I don't mean how much junk we sell or how many people we can con into buying an overpriced good or service. When a person can sell something that legitimately solves another person's problem or need, then he raises the standard of living for both of them. And when that happens, our economy grows.

On the other hand, if someone sells a shoddy piece of merchandise or a service that doesn't really solve the buyer's problem, then not only was nothing gained but something was lost. Yes, money changed hands and one party came out ahead but the original need stays unfulfilled. So the standard of living for the buyer did not improve. He or she is not only out money but still has the original need.

A good salesman is an educator. He or she helps a person identify the real underlying need and educates them as to the range of solutions that are available to them. If I go into the hardware store asking for a mop to clean up a water leak, an average salesperson will sell me a mop. A good one will help me figure out the cause of the leak and will sell me the tools and material that I can use to fix it. The first one made a sell but the second one solved my problem and raised the standard of living for both of us.

So while President Bush may have had the right idea, he came at it from the wrong angle. Do you want to help get the economy back on track? Then find someone with a problem and help them solve it. Sell them a product or service that addresses their need. Then help them find their next problem and solve that one too. If enough people become problem-solvers, making an honest profit for helping others, our economy will make a huge turn-around.