Presidential Candidates Need to Celebrate National Salesperson's Day: George and John Could Learn a Thing or Two From Effective Salespeople

March 5, 2004 marks the fourth anniversary of National Salesperson's Day. The purpose of this day is to recognize the skills that sales professionals use to help people make the best buying decisions. Politicians need the same skills.

DALLAS, (PRWEB) March 5, 2004 -- March 5, 2004 marks the fourth anniversary of National Salesperson's Day. The purpose of this day is to recognize the skills that sales professionals use to help people make the best buying decisions.    

The biggest myth about salespeople is that we chat all day, go out for long lunches and dinner and golf in the afternoon. Great salespeople do a lot of work behind the scenes that their customers never see," said Maura Schreier-Fleming, president of Best@Selling.

Maura proposed that this day become listed in Chase's Calendar of Events in 2000. Chases Calendar of Events responded by designating the first Friday of every March National Salespersons Day.

Being an election year, she noticed how both candidates could benefit from using techniques effective salespeople employ everyday. George Bush wants to sell his past record as president and his future plans for the country. John Kerry is selling the notion that Bushs tenure has been ineffective for the country and that a leadership change is necessary to get the country back on track," Maura added.

To sell the voting citizens of the United States, Maura believes that the two candidates must do the following:

1. Tell the truth. Bush sold the American public on the war in Iraq because intelligence told him that weapons of mass destruction were likely to be found there. We still haven't found them. Bush was smart to admit that our intelligence was faulty. He could have had the information classified and the truth hidden since the CIA reports to him. Good salespeople know that telling the truth is critical. They also know that most people inherently distrust salespeople. Telling the truth is good for both salespeople and politicians.

2. Be consistent. John, you voted for the war in Iraq. Now you think it wasnt the best strategy. George, you criticize John for taking money from special interests, and you've collected record amounts. The two of you can't have it both ways.

Salespeople whose words match their actions are successful. You can't create loyal customers when you say one thing and then do another. Gentlemen, your customers expect you to be consistent.

3. Follow through. The sale is not over till the check clears, and the customer is satisfied. Salespeople who sell and leave customers to figure out how to use their products or services on their own have short-term customers. The political equivalent is much like the Iraqi and American customers." Bush is getting Iraqi police trained and on the streets of Iraq in record time. While Bush first got caught without a follow-up plan in Iraq, he quickly focused on training police.

Anticipation is critical for successful selling. When salespeople anticipate customer problems, they can avoid them. Kerry needs to anticipate changing public opinion. See Howard Deans campaign for more information. Kerry also needs to be more specific about how he is going to solve the key problems plaguing America. He needs to do much more than simply criticize Bush.

For more information, call Maura at 972.380.0200 or send an email to her at maura@bestatselling.com.