How to Become a Rainmaker by Jeffrey J. Fox

Recently, I read a book titled "How to Become a Rainmaker - The Rules for Getting and Keeping Customers and Clients" by Jeffrey J.Fox.

After reading the book, it dawned on me that ever since we are born, we become salesperson in our different stages of our life. From baby to toddler, either we act innocent and be good kids or we create a scene by screaming and shouting to make our parents buy the things we want and the attention we seek. When we enter school from primary school to university, we make friends with our school mates and be good students so that we can get what we want from them. Upon graduation from university, we are selling ourselves in front of the interviewer so that we can get the dream job in that company we want. When we start working, regardless we are working in sales department or not, we have both internal and external customers that we have to work with so that we have more sales coming in and that means that we have a higher chance of pay increment and promotion. When we are of marriageable age, we are selling ourselves in front of our the other half and their family to show them that we are the right one for them. Throughout our whole life, we are consistently selling.

Of course, this book is meant more for business purpose rather than personal use, but when you read this book, you can also link certain key lessons to your personal life as well. The reason why Rainmaker is used in this book because the Rainmaker is the salesperson everyone else wants to be. The Rainmaker brings the art of the deal to new levels. He brings in the most money, gets the best paycheck, commands the most respect. Whatever item or service the Rainmaker sells, it is sold effectively and successfully.

I shall touch on a few key lessons of the book and it's best you read the book yourself too so that you can understand more.

1) Customers Don't Care About You

The only thing customers care about are themselves and their problem. Therefore, you do not talk about yourself; rather, you ask probing, preplanned questions. You listen to what the customer says. Clarify. Summarize.

2) Rainmakers Turn Customer Objections into Customer Objectives

Customers always have concerns or issues that must be satisfied before they will buy. Rainmakers welcome customer objections because they know objections are simply the way customers express their desires. The objection tells the Rainmaker that the customer does not yet have enough information to make a positive buying decision.

3) Dare to Be Dumb

Good questions get the customer talking, get information, allow the salesperson to listen, and demonstrate to the customers the salesperson's genuine interest. If you don't do a proper diagnosis, you won't have the correct prescription. Customers love questions, customers love to talk. Customers feel more secure with the salesperson who asks questions and listens.

So the question you have to ask yourself today is "Do You Want to be a Rainmaker of Your Life?"