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Don’t Just Thank—Remember the Lessons and Stories
It’s likely you will be with family over the holidays. Great times. Reunions. Happiness. Tears of sadness and joy. Great food. Gifts. People you love. People you kind of love. And did I mention great food? Most people—not you, of course—add to their waistline during these times. I’m going to share a few strategies that will fatten your wallet.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas, families will gather and talk about old times. Growing up, vacations, past holidays. They all start out, “Remember the time that…” and they go on to tell a funny or poignant story. THESE STORIES ARE GOLD.
In your presentations and informal meetings, telling and exchanging stories are at the core of rapport, relationship-building, and creating a buying atmosphere.
These golden lessons and stories are all around you, and many of them fit your selling situations, and relationship-building process. Real stories make you seem real. More human, approachable, relatable, and even (if the story is the right one) trustworthy.
Now that I have whet your holiday appetite, let me give you the strategies and details of story collecting.
First, get the stories rolling: Start by asking everyone to tell their most memorable story. Then ask about best times or best lessons learned. Request that people jog their memories for stories about lessons learned from mistakes, embarrassing moments, funny responses, and successes.
Listen with the intent to understand (this means don’t interrupt). Listen for incidents where a lesson was learned, listen for funny events or responses that are yours to retell at the appropriate time. At the end of the story, ask questions or request the person to elaborate or fill in missing details.
Look for the reaction of others. It’s a hint as to how your customers may be impacted.
And take notes as you go. Don’t let the lessons, the lines, the humor, or any of stories get lost in the heat of the moment. You will NEVER remember everything without taking notes.
Forget the jokes: Stories are yours—no one else can tell them. You are assured the customer or prospect hasn’t heard them before. And they can have long-lasting effect.
As the stories are told, listen for the lessons behind the endings:
Once you have the story, and can see the fit into your style and delivery, then it’s time to convert it to your sales presentation.
Get the story to fit your presentation:
When retelling the story, keep it short and sweet:
I have told stories about chasing my dog, where I grew up, how I dropped out of college, going to sporting events, big sales, lost sales, flying, traveling, hotels, and restaurants. I have featured my parents, brother, children, grandchildren, teachers, mentors, servers, sports heroes, doctors, customers, close friends, partners, and past wives.
When I am in a sales presentation, or giving a seminar, every story I tell has impact. Every story conveys a lesson or makes a point. Many make people laugh. Many have been collected from holiday gatherings. All of my stories are personal to me. They are original.
The secret to story-telling is your enthusiasm. If you’re talking to one or 101, each person must feel like it’s your first time telling it, even though you may have told it a hundred times before. The passion of your conveyance will lead to the emotion of their purchase.
Now that’s something to celebrate.
