I often hear people say that good salespeople are not made, they are born. They are right on one account - sales people are born - but just like anyone else. So, if you are out there reading this and have always wanted to become a salesperson, then, relax, there is no "sales gene". You can become a salesperson with just a little training and proper coaching.

I became a salesperson by accident.  I had graduated from college, didn't have a job and a recruiter called me and asked me if I wanted to go into sales.  Of course I did.  Jobs were hard to come by back then and had he called and asked if I wanted to go into professional lawn care, today I might be a landscaper.  But he had a job in sales and I went on the interview.  Of course, I didn't know a thing about sales at the time.  But I got the job and have been selling for many, many years. 

I was a little hesitant at first, about this sales thing.  I had no training in sales and the idea of persuading someone to do what I wanted them to do, well, that scared me a little.  And there are probably many of you out there today that feel the same way.  Well, believe me, it's not as difficult as it sounds because you do it everyday and have been doing it all your life.

Selling is nothing more than persuading someone to buy your product, idea or service by showing them how it benefits them. As a child, you realized this inherently.  I remember my daughter, when she was just a little girl, coming to me and asking me, during a football game, if she could have a bowl of ice cream.  Mom was not a home, and I was in charge.  Of course, if I allowed her to have ice cream before supper, there would heck to pay when her mom came home so I said no.  She left.

A few minutes later she was back and asked me again, "Dad, can I have some ice cream".  I turned away from the television and said, "No honey, you can't".  That's when she dropped the big benefit on me.  "Dad," she began, in her sweetest voice, "If you let me have some ice-cream, I won't need to ask you anymore and you'll be able to watch the game in peace."

She got her ice cream.  These type of scenarios repeat themselves daily throughout the world.  Sometimes it is a daughter, or a son, or a fiancee or a wife or husband.  Maybe it's a parent.  But we all are in the persuasion business everyday with our friends and love ones.  So, if you can persuade your husband or wife to do something, then you can persuade a stranger and possibly make good money doing it. 

People are losing their jobs.  The economy is still a bit off.  The unemployed are re-training, trying to find new careers, industries, etc., to go into.  But what many don't realize is that selling is fuel that gets the engine going.  Someone once said that "Nothing happens until a sale is made."  That person was right.  When we successfully sell, we get our customers to place orders.  When our customers place orders, manufacturers need raw materials to produce our orders.  They  need workers to make our orders.  The supply chain gets going again.  And when the supply chain gets going, all kinds of good things happen.  It all starts with a sale. 

It's not easy, and it takes hard work.  But anything worth having in life takes hard work and effort.  But the great thing about selling is that there a few barriers to entry.  Unlike any other occupation, if you can perform, you will have a job.  Because performing in selling means profits for those that you are selling for.  And when it comes to selling in business, there is one universal law - if you are making them money, you will never have to worry about unemployment. 

I'm not going to lie to you.  Getting those salary plus commission jobs, or salary with a bonus sales jobs are hard to get.  You are not going to get one without any experience.  But the great thing about the sales is that there are those jobs that pay commission only.  Often, you can get into a commission only job with little or no experience.  Why?  Because you are paid based on your performance and nothing else.  That means that potential employers are more likely to take a risk with you. 

If you want to go into sales, first, decide what you want to sell.  Make sure it is something that you can wrap your arms around.  If you don't like animals, for instance, don't get a job selling pet supplies.  Find out what it is that you are passionate about and try to break into that area.  It may be selling newspaper, food items, cars, promotional items, shoes, or clothing.  But find something that you can be passionate about and go after it.  Then read and learn.  There are unlimited resources on the Internet to help you. 

By the way, no occupation has created more millionaires than selling.  And within selling, most of those millionaires have been created from commission based selling.  Something to think about, huh?

Try selling.  Give it a shot.  You may surprise yourself and in the process make a few bucks.