Ideas, products, stories, services, time, you, me, everybody…

What do these all have in common?

They must be sold. To move into creation, to be of use, to progress, to grow, to advance, to impart value, each of these “things” must be sold. Truly, we sell every day.

So, what does it mean to sell?

One definition is: “to persuade someone of the merits of.”

Have you ever had to do that? Just consider this question.

Have you ever had to persuade someone of the merits of your idea, of your product, of sharing their time with you, of believing your story… even the merits of YOU as a person?

I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to sell SOMETHING, and not just because I’ve worked in sales most of my life. Countless times, I have had to “sell” in order to move forward in my life.

I’ve had to sell to many, many other people, and I’ve had to sell to myself.

I’ve had to sell myself on the idea that I’m worthy, that I’m talented, that I’m skilled, that I’m capable. And I’ve had to sell this idea to others as well. And truthfully, it’s one of my greatest passions.

Here are some other things I’ve had to sell: I’ve had to sell myself on the idea that I can build not just one, but numerous multi-million-dollar companies. And then I’ve gone out and sold others on that idea too.

I’ve had to sell myself on the idea that even though I’m a high school dropout, even though I never read a book before the age of 24, I am fully resourced and connected to the creator of the universe, and I can co-create whatever it is that I desire in my life.

And in order to live out my purpose, I have had to sell many others on this same idea for themselves.

I’ve had to sell myself on the idea that I can have fruitful, vibrant, and fulfilling relationships, even when I felt depleted and hopeless in this area of my life. And in order to build those relationships, in a way, I’ve even had to sell others on the idea that I could be a contributor in their lives, and could therefore build such a relationship with them.

Even if you are not a “sales person,” you are indeed selling every day. And if you deny this, then you are simply operating out of ignorance.

I would go so far to say that if you do not develop the skill of selling and influencing, you will never be able to live up to your full potential. You just won’t! I can’t emphasize this enough.

So, why am I sharing this with you?

Let me put it this way. I have sold over half a BILLION dollars of goods and services… that’s just the tangible sales I have generated.

That doesn’t include the millions (if not greater) of dollars’ worth of ideas, values, beliefs, and products and services that I have indirectly “sold” or that I have helped others to sell.

I don’t say this to boast or to show off all of my accomplishments. I say it as a testament that it wasn’t until I was able to develop my selling skills that I was able to bring my dream to life; that I was able to walk in the fullness of who I was designed to be, and that I was able to help others do the same.

I shared in a recent email that we could all be served to get better at what it is that we do, and what it is that we are purposed to do.

And regardless of what it is that you do, let me suggest to you that one of the most effective ways to “get better” at whatever that thing is that you do, would be to get better at selling.

Selling is influencing; influencing is all about how you relate to other people and yourself; and because people are all around us all the time, influencing is critical to forward movement in life.