This is a true story…

Several years ago, Kalia and I were challenged to a tennis match by two people, one of whom was a grandmother.

Grandma was a killer on the court, but Kalia and I were winning quite handily, and then it happened…

I served and came to the net. Grandma’s partner mishit the return and lobbed the ball right back to me. Grandma was also at the net; the ball went straight for her head when I put away the shot.

Fortunately, Grandma, with her cat-like reflexes, dodged the speeding bullet but was not too pleased. Neither was her partner, Karen, or me. I didn’t mean to try to knock out Grandma with a tennis ball.

But we won the point, right?

And that is the point.

You can use strong-armed sales tactics to manipulate your audience into buying products they don’t want, need, or desire and don’t get them the outcomes they are looking for.

You can win the point but lose the game because that person will never buy anything from you again. You haven’t created a customer; you’ve simply made an enemy.

Selling is about persuasion, not manipulation. And the difference between the two is intent. Is your intent to coerce someone to buy just for your gain or for both your gain and your customer’s gain?

Kick butt, make mucho “DEEnero!”

Dave “He’s No Roger Federer” Dee