Whether or not you have that “ideal” relationship with your father, it is undeniable that we are greatly influenced by their qualities. As an idiom stresses – like father, like son.
For almost a decade in Selling, I was able to capitalize on these three traits which resemble that of Dad. These made me thrive gracefully in the Selling industry.
Dad is an advocate that alcohol is a social lubricant.
Never Prejudge
In my father’s words, “Dili gd nimo matag-na ang kaugmaun sa isa ka tawo”. I find this trait very useful in prospecting, banking leads, and in creating business linkages. My father has always proved to me that letting a person feel important does not need any condition. I never saw my dad change his social treatment when talking to someone, may that be a friend from college who is now well-paid in his job or an acquaintance from the neighborhood he believes is going to be big in time.
Be Vulnerable
I saw him cry. I heard him say sorry. I witnessed him reprimanded by Mom for being rowdy when drunk. I even beheld him off-guarded when a friend proved his argument as weak during a boozing session. These all made him appear tough as a father to me. These made me respect him even more. His being human. His being vulnerable, transgressing both the social machismo and the omnipotent-omniscient father image.
This trait helps me a lot during the entire selling process. That it is ok to let the prospect see how you get disappointed and hurt. That it is ok to be sorry. That it is alright to be wrong (to recognize what is correct) and that does not make you less of a respectable and competent professional. Be “You” on the sales table. Be more of a Sales Human than a Salesman.
Telling stories made me close a lot of accounts.
Know a Lot of Anecdotes
Dad never runs out of real stories. This has influenced me so much that I even use his anecdotes in every pre-pitch talk. It always feels that those stories are mine, and surely warm up my prospect every time. Humans just love being hooked on a storyline. This made me realize how persuasive one can become when people crave the next part of your narration. Telling stories made me close a lot of accounts.
Just if you are asking, my father is not a salesman. Dad is a seafarer. A thoughtful father who catches up from the 9 long months of being away from us, every time he is signed-off from his nautical contract. Happy Father’s Day also to your dad, may you be so like him or just a little bit.
JOHNDAPPERCLOSER 
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