Are you making the ultimate sales mistake?

These two are paragraphs are excerpted from Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People." They are great examples of what many people do wrong, not only sales people. But then again, we are sales people in the game of life, aren't we? Have a quick read, and see how these two brief paragraphs resonate with you.

Excerpts from "How to Win Friends and Influence People"

Thousands of salespeople are pounding the pavements today, tired, discouraged and underpaid. Why? Because they are always thinking only of what they want. They don't realize that neither you nor I want to buy anything. If we did, we would go out and buy it. But both of us are eternally interested in solving our own problems. And if salespeople can show us their services or merchandise will help us solve our problems, they won't need to sell us. We will buy. And customers like to feel that they are buying - not being sold.

The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking. So the rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage. He has little competition. Owen D. Young, a noted lawyer and one of America's greatest business leaders, once said: "People who can put themselves in the place of other people, who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for them."

Is this just sales?

Do you think developing the skill to be able to empathize and connect with everyone around you is incredibly valuable? Invariably, your answer will be yes. if you want to develop this skill, if there, I highly recommend you pick up Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," because I am certain its value is infinitely greater than its tiny cost. In fact, you might be able to find a copy at your library, if it's not already checked out.