FACT: In 2019, the failure rate of start-up businesses was around 90%.
Scary statistic.
But why?
Well very often, the biggest reason businesses fail isn’t to do with product, marketing, the economy or whatever our mind wants us to believe.
It’s simple and tangible.
It all boils down to SALES.
Sales is EVERYTHING.
Again why?
When you don’t make enough sales, it has a seismic impact on your business (and life).
Because when you don’t bring in sales, you can’t pay your wages.
You can’t keep the lights on.
You can’t pay your rent.
And worse – you can’t pay YOURSELF.
Because when you struggle, everything becomes ugly.
Your quality of work suffers, your dog starts to ignore you and the weather feels miserable even on a glorious 27-degree day.
Do you see it now?
You get stuck in a vicious cycle.
But when you SELL, you live to fight another day.
The undeniable truth is: YOU HAVE TO SELL.
Sales are like a desperate rainfall in the Sahara Desert.
Even billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban said it best: “Sales cures ALL”
And the BIGGEST salesperson in your business is YOURSELF.
Your product might be brilliant but if no one knows who you are and what you can offer, how can you expect your clients to show up and take out their American Express?
Lack of customers = Lack of revenue = Lack of sustainability = No business. And MISERY.
Simply put, you will FAIL if you don’t make sales.
Let me share a story about my father which still resonates deeply with me today.
When I was 8 years old, he started his own plastic manufacturing company because like all entrepreneurs he saw an opportunity.
This was a dream come true for him and he couldn’t be more excited.
He invested in top-notch German-designed machinery, hired his whole Asian brigade of “brothers” to help him, and bought a fleet of the latest vans so he could efficiently deliver his products.
But because he could only speak Asian languages, he was limited to doing business with Chinese restaurants only.
And this was over 30 years ago, so sadly this niche was too small.
He was afraid and intimidated to sell to the Australian community.
He didn’t want to learn English or have the foresight to build a Sales team.
The business failed.
Moral of the story?
I speak fluent Cantonese and English now. I’m also learning German too.
In fact, I’ll sell to anyone who has a heartbeat and willing to give me 5 seconds of their life.
If you’re a business owner reading this right now, then it is proof that you already have what it takes to succeed.
Just like The Shawshank Redemption – you’ve crawled through a mile of grief and come out clean the other side.
Life is meant to be beautiful.
You’ve already overcome the greatest challenge.
So now get up and show up.
Brush your hair and put on your lucky socks.
It’s time to start selling because you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Related Posts:
– Five Ways To Keep Your Sales Team Motivated During COVID Lockdown
– The Rockstar Salesman
– How To Stop Time Wasters In Your Sales Pipeline?
