With Christmas coming up, what do you get for the young folks in your world who are in sales? These gifts may help them not only make more money now but add a few positive habits that will last a lifetime.
Here are a few gift ideas.
Books
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey: This classic book teaches readers how to live a more successful and fulfilling life, both personally and professionally. It is a great resource for young salespeople who want to develop their soft skills and become more effective communicators. Once I read this book as a 20-something-year-old I adopted “First Things First” and “Seek First to Understand” as two primary principles that I use about every day.
“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini: This book explains the psychology of persuasion and how to use it to influence others. Cialdini gives out the basic psychological “secrets” of why people buy. It’s a must read — like getting the answers to the test.
Skills
A subscription to a sales-training course: A subscription to a sales-training course can help young salespeople develop their skills and knowledge. Look for a course that covers a variety of sales topics, such as prospecting, time management, sales process or public speaking. These classes typically meet weekly and cover every sales topic over time.
A gift certificate for a sales-coaching session: A gift certificate for a sales-coaching session can help young salespeople get personalized feedback and advice from a sales coach. This can be a great way for them to learn from someone who has experience in the sales profession. Like any other pursuit, a one-on-one session with a pro can save a lot of trial-and-error time.
Inspiration
A motivational quote book: A motivational quote book can help young salespeople stay motivated and inspired, especially when they are facing challenges. Look for a book with quotes from successful salespeople and entrepreneurs. My favorite is “Life Wisdom: Quotes from Zig Ziglar: Inspire To Be Great!” Zig changed so many lives for the better — including mine. Listening to or reading Zig is one of the best gifts you can give a young rep.
This year, give the gifts that keep on giving. Happy holidays!
John Sterling is the Amazon bestselling author of “Sales for Noobs“ and CEO of NOOB School, an online resource for new salespeople. Previously, John helped build and sell Datastream for over $200 million. He has trained and hired hundreds of sales reps globally. Subscribe to his YouTube channel for new sales content every week. https://noobschool.org
