Selling is a martial art!  Not that you should be punching kicking and throwing your prospects, although many sales pros have had that fantasy.  Rather selling and martial arts both attempt to gather, evaluate and teach effective strategies, tactics, and techniques for the purpose of effecting the outcome of an encounter with other people. 

There as as many schools of sales training as there are different martial arts. In both selling and martial arts some things work better than sothers. Some martial arts are very effective and some will get you hurt, some sales methodologies will get your prospect’s signature on the dotted line and some will result in an warning not to let the door hit you on the way out. 

There are a lot of arguments about which martial art or selling style is the best.  But truth is there is no one best martial art or one best selling style.  In reality different styles may be better for different types of people and different situations. There are hard, linear styles like karate and tae kwon do and soft circular styles like Aikido and judo.  This is true in selling too. Fighting skills that would be used in street fight are not necessarily appropriate dealing with your drunken brother in law at a family picnic.  In sales the B2B or B2C, market characteristics and selling cycle all impact what will work best.


Need a Speaker for Your Meeting?

Consider "Selling is a Martial Art"

This entertaining use humor, audience intereaction and demonstration to enhance learning and retention.

What do you want your team to do differently?  Tips, tactics and motivation based on your goals are customized in to a fun martial arts format, delivering the results you seek.

On the surface martial arts is just about kicking, punching or throwing an opponent.  But even a untrained brawler can do those things. A martial art is really an organized system of strategies, techniques and tactics for the purpose of controlling the outcome of encounters with others.  A martial artist is able to predict the likely next moves of their opponent and is prepared to counter them and even use them to his or her own advantage.  A true master defuses conflicts and creates harmony with all involved.

Isn’t that what selling should be?  There is a clear advantage for sales pros who know where they are at in the selling cycle, what is likely to happen next, and can choose from a number of practiced moves to move things in the right direction.

What Kind of Speaker is Best For YOU?

Celebrity speakers may attract a large attendance to your event. Your audience will be excited that they saw the celebrity. You'll pay higher fees because these speakers are popular.  But what long term value will your audience gain from an actor, reality TV star, athlete or ex-politician?

Educational speakers provide information and teach skills.  When these presentations are delivered without interaction, stories, or humor, your group may feel like they're being lectured to.

Entertainer speakers entertain everyone with humor, music or magic. But they do not provide potentially life-saving information your audience will value for the rest of their lives.

Motivational speakers inspire people to stretch, push and persevere. People will leave feeling wonderful. Yet, many motivational speakers don't provide long lasting results.

Or, you can choose a fun, interactive program that will provide your audience with skills so valuable they'll want to share them with friends and family! 

There is no better way to show you care!

5 Rules for Success in Martial Arts & Sales

1. Look the Part

Putting on a martial arts uniform causes the martial arts student to feel that they are participating in something special and valuable which requires their full attention to here and now.   The same is true in sales, when you know that you look the part, you'll feel and act the part more effectively.

2. Relax

Relaxing is hard to do when trained martial artists are punching you, but it's a skill that can be learned. It is easier sales pro who is relaxed and confident to "get in the zone" where they can focus on help the prospect make a decision.

3. Control Your Emotions

If you can't control your own emotions it is harder to tune in the emotions of others.  Fear, greed,  and anger leave you open to being controlled by others.

4. Practice

Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.“  Learn what works and practice, practice, practice.

5. Leave Your Ego at the Door

Showing off your skills and knowledge feels good.  But getting your emotional needs met in selling or martial arts reduces effectiveness.