"John
Livesay provides an insightful, optimistic, and refocused view of sales from
his 20 years of experience in the advertising and computer industry. He reminds
us that the new way of selling is "Always Be Connected"--connected
to your buyers' needs as well as your own sense of self.
His book examines many of the secrets business developers have learned over
the years and captures them in a straightforward format for successful sales.
He discusses maintaining one's self-respect, integrity, and individuality during
the selling process. This book is proof that you don't need to sell your soul
to be successful in sales. Qualities such as passion, persistence, and mentoring
are highlighted as keys to success... some of my personal favorites!
The introduction sets the stage for the 7 Secrets: The old paradigm--the seller
is commonly thought of as pushy and aggressive, or unreliable, without heart,
believing only that the end justifies the means, like Willy Loman in Death
of a Salesman. This book will show how you can change your perspective and
see that honesty with buyers builds integrity and trust, and that honesty--with
yourself and others--is truly powerful. It creates an environment of mutual
respect and genuine reward.
The author outlines a systematic approach based nn his seven secrets, starting
with the importance of creating your own reality in the role and ending with
the value of mentoring others. The Livesay 7, each outlined as a chapter in
the book, are:
Secret 1: "Your thoughts create your reality."
Secret 2: "Compassion creates rapport."
Secret 3: "Show you care and buyers will share."
Secret 4: "True self-esteem is not defined by results of one sale or one
event."
Secret 5: "Focus on your own progress and you will win."
Secret 6: "When you quiet the thoughts in your mind, you can be comfortable
with the silence in the room."
Secret 7: "Love yourself, love what you do, and let others show their
love to you."
There are wonderful stories and personal selling experiences that illustrate
each of his secrets. Chapter 3 is my favorite--it goes right to the "heart" of
an 18-year career. He states for selling purposes that passion can be defined
as "boundless enthusiasm." You will need this passion to break through
the clutter of the other presentations clients will hear. You want the client
to not only share information with you but also to share in your passion for
what you are selling. WOW: Isn't this the "subjective" thing we always
refer to when a client can't give us a specific reason for a win or loss? Now
we know it by name; they were caught up in the winning team's "passion."
I highly recommend this book to not only the sales veteran with battle scars
and years of experience but also to the new business developer testing his
or her wings. It will re-energize and challenge you to improve not only your
selling technique but your relationships with everyone. Keep it on your bookshelf--it
will be the continuous boost you need as a sales warrior!"
-- Polly Cooper, Director of Client Services, Oakley
Associates Architects
"John
Livesay's book identifies three critical ingredients to mastering the "art
of salesmanship" for today's business world - your voice, your energy,
and your soul. John's unique insights into humanizing the sales experience makes
this book a "must-read" for newcomers, as well as seasoned vets. If
you are looking for opportunities to update your tools of the trade and gain
a competitive advantage in the sales arena, then look no further than this book!"
-- Kevin Carroll, Creative Motivator to Nike designers
(aka The Katalyst), Nike
"John Livesay's vision and philosophy of using integrity and joy to connect
to his clients translates into results that make him a consistent top performer
at W magazine as well as Fairchild publications. He was selected as the company's
top sales person of the year out of the 700 Fairchild employees which publishes
15 titles. His book explains the seven most powerful selling secrets in a way
that everyone can use them."
-- Alyce Alston, Vice President, Publisher W magazine
"Take
this journey with John Livesay and the roadmap of your career will be filled
with nothing but green lights! As a journalist, his book has given me new
ways to earn the trust of the people I interview, and found new tools that
allow me to better trust myself and my instincts. THE 7 MOST POWERFUL SECRETS
should be kept as a handy reference guide in every office, whether you are
in real estate or reality tv."
-- Robert P. Kovacik, Correspondent, National Geographic
Channel
"The emotional stamina and spiritual maturity to serve your customers is
a vital ingredient to success in any profession, especially one as complex as
sales. John Livesay has laid out a clear path of insightful how to's that will
take you through the roadblocks."
-- Jeff Thull - CEO, Prime Resource Group and author
of "Mastering the Complex Sale"
"John Livesay's book steps out on a path to maintaining one's self-respect,
integrity, and individuality during the selling process. This book is proof
that you don't need to sell your soul to be successful in sales. It's about
time the negative connotations that accompany the word "sales" are
rewritten."
-- Michael Marriner and Nathan Gebhard, founders
and authors of Roadtrip Nation.
"Achieving success by finding a balance between the material world and
the spiritual world takes great insight. In his book, Seven Most Powerful
Selling
Secrets, John Livesay has discovered how to bring these two worlds together
in a wonderful, intuitive and practical way."
-- Char Margolis, author of "Questions from
Earth, Answers from Heaven"
"John
Livesay is one of those rare business executives who realizes that the things
we all aspire to -- influence, success, wealth -- are directly proportional
to the quality of our relationships. Having seen John in action, I've seen how
he puts it to work in his career -- and how integrity, passion, and the other
ingredients of successful relationships can produce amazing results."
-- Jon Berry, Vice President, Senior Research Director,
RoperASW; co-author, "The Influentials"
"At
a time when there have been so many scandals in business and so much mistrust
arising because of it, a book like John Livesay's is needed and welcome in the
business community."
-- David Palmer, Senior Vice President Marketing,
Sony Pictures/ Television
"At
last! Spirituality and selling are finally combined to show how anyone can do
business with heart. This book shows you how to integrate spiritual concepts
with selling principles so you will become a better salesperson as well as a
happier, more fulfilled human being. An inspiring book!"
-- Joe Vitale, author of the #1 best-seller, "Spiritual
Marketing"
"The most important secret in successful selling is integrity. Follow John
Livesay's advice and you will enjoy selling everyday in every way."
-- Kathy Aaronson, author and Chairman of "The
Sales Athlete"
"It's
no wonder that John Livesay's new book is called, The Seven Most Powerful
Selling Secrets: Soar Your Way to Success with Integrity, Passion and Joy,
because that's the way John lives his life, with integrity, passion and
joy. John has proven that these secrets work and he offers them in a way
that anyone can understand. Become the salesman you know you can be by
using Mr. Livesay's Seven Powerful Secrets."
--Dr. David J. Walker, Pastor, Los Angeles Church of
Religious Science
"WOW...here
it is! The Seven Most Powerful Selling Secrets takes many of the trade
secrets of
selling professionals learned over the decades and captured them in a quick,
fast read and explosive style that captivates the mind and propels the
body into success behaviors that can be sustained for enduring accomplishments.
This
success manuscript details how to shine above others as a professional
of
integrity and valor when it would appear society is bankrupt of both....this
is a must
read!"
-- Jeffrey L. Magee, Ph.D., author of "The Sales
Training Handbook" and Publisher/PERFORMANCE Magazine