BIG CAREER BENEFIT… in a survey of Commissioned Salespeople it was revealed that a high percentage of the participants chose that profession because of the "freedom it offers". This perception of freedom definitely has a ring of truth to it. When you are on commission and your pay plan is driven primarily by your results… you can: 1. Work when you want; 2. Call on who you want; & 3. Say what you want. Those options offer a lot of appeal.
Many people enjoy the promise of the above benefits. It's nice not to have somebody tell you what to do, when to do it and who do it with. Another major benefit for Commissioned Salespeople is that the profession usually pays more than you would earn in a salaried position… often significantly more. Why is that? Excellent question… the reason can be found in the following simple phrase… Freedom Is Responsibility. Have a look at those three simple words: Freedom is Responsibility. A short phrase that seems rather contradictory. If you are on your own, doesn't that eliminate the need for responsibility?
Here is your ACTION STEP…when you are independent, the good news is… "I am in charge of my future. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want!". Of course there are two sides to every coin. For starters, to succeed at a high level you have to make sure that you do all the things that are necessary to get the job done. Things like…going to work every day, being professional, setting appointments, and making presentations. These are "responsibilities".There's a lot more to it than that. Things that the "salaried world" doesn't know about. Let's look at some of the less obvious responsibilities, what are some of the things that are in the job description that make it tougher to succeed?
HIDDEN RESPONSIBILITIES IN SALES
1. The need to always be improving your skills
2. The need to master repetition every day
3. The need to smile when you don't feel like it
4. The need to get over rejection quickly
5. The need to master saying NO
6. The need to be doing only the right things during prime selling time
7. The need to start every day at zero
8. The need to have a plan and follow it
9. The need to ignore market conditions
10. The need to stay out of debt and save money
The corollary of all this is that life works in a very predictable fashion. You are paid an amount that is dictated by the degree of difficulty. The more difficult the task, the larger the pay. An obvious example would be that a medical doctor typically earns more than a grocery store clerk. This corollary is certainly very true in the Business of Sales. The responsibility of freedom is not an easy assignment. The amount you earn is controlled by 2 things: how hard you work (work ethic) and your skill level (ability). Make sure that you never lose sight of the "responsibility factor". Sometimes it's the little things that make a huge difference in your paycheck. Enjoy the freedom and use the responsibility it offers in your favor. NO Excuses.