The following is an excerpt from The Sales Survival Handbook. You can order the book here or by clicking any of the retailer links below.
Before you dive headfirst into sales life, it’s important to know whether or not the profession will be a good fit for you. The following test will help you figure out if you were born to work in sales, or if you were meant to actually live a happy life.
Please read the following questions and answer each one with yes or no:
- Are you motivated by money?
- Do you have a strong work ethic?
- Are you good at handling rejection?
- Can you handle being ignored?
- Can you handle someone yelling at you on a regular basis?
- Are you ok with working nights and weekends until you feel like you’re going to die?
- Can you survive on a strict diet of energy drinks and potato chips from the vending machine?
- Are you able to handle people repeatedly lying to your face as if you’re some sort of gullible moron?
- Does an inconsistent income make you feel warm in your stomach area?
- When upset, are you able to cry on the inside like a winner?
- Do you enjoy a challenge, even when it’s statistically impossible and defies any and all logic?
- Are you able to smile at someone despite every single human instinct telling you not to?
- In your opinion, is free time overrated?
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where you have to hide in the janitor’s closet in order to find one single moment of sweet solitude?
- Are you an optimist?
Results
Count the total number of times you answered ‘yes’ and see below for the results.
Not a chance (1-3 ‘yes’ answers)
Sales is not for you. You will be chewed up and spit out in a matter of days, and will likely end up bitter at the world for subjecting you to such a grave injustice. You should look for a career that is low-stress and affords you time to spend gardening and doing other things that salespeople never do, ever.
Try doing something else first (4-6 ‘yes’ answers)
You might be able to survive in sales for a little while, but you’re never going to enjoy it. Perhaps customer service is a better fit for you, where you can interact pleasantly with customers without having to convince them to buy anything. You are a coward.
You could make a living in sales (7-9 ‘yes’ answers)
Sales can be a great way for you to pay your bills, but you’re probably never going to be at the top of the board. You have some tendencies that will help you consistently close new business, but you just aren’t aggressive enough to be a superstar. You’re probably very good at compromising with your significant other, and would let your in-laws move in with you if they asked nicely.
You were born to sell (10-12 ‘yes’ answers)
If you look up ‘salesperson’ in the dictionary, there’s a picture of a man in a tie. This man is not you. But you do have all of the characteristics of a successful salesperson, and will thrive as part of a sales force. You will make a lot of money in sales, so be careful that you don’t spend it all.
You’re a true closer but probably need professional help (13-15 ‘yes’ answers)
Your personality is perfectly suited for sales, but you’re likely to experience challenges adjusting to society as a whole. Any sales organization is extraordinarily lucky to have you be a part of their team, and as long as they keep a close eye on you to make sure that you don’t commit any federal crimes or violate the company’s harassment policies, you’ll be Salesperson of the Year in no time.
Order The Sales Survival Handbook here.
