Salesman Is Not A Bad Word

Tags

Bill Gates, charity, Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg, missions, pastors, sales, Starbucks, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett

One of the words I absolutely despise in my work travels is “salesman”.

Often when working with a new account or prospect, I get labeled when I walk in the door.  “Are you a salesman?”  “What are you selling?”  “We don’t see salesmen!” “Mr. or Mrs. Smith, A Salesman is here to see you”

I am not sure why it carries such a negative connotation.  Maybe this is what the used car industry has done to us

Or maybe it is because I see myself as so much more than just a “salesman”.

I want to challenge you that the next time you want to call someone a “salesman” look at it just a little different.

Look at the fact that after all, we are all salesmen and saleswomen if we really think about it.  But we really are much more than just that.

Let me show you how.

You married?  If yes then you obviously sold yourself to your spouse in terms of what a great partner you would be, right?  The hardest sale in life some would argue.  Salesman=Husband or Wife.

Are you a stay at home mom?  If yes, then you have sold the idea to your family that being at home with the kids is more important than a job.  Plus all of the countless fundraisers you have done with your kids…that is really selling. Saleswoman=Mother.

Are you a Missionary?  A Pastor?  If yes, then you sell your church to help gain members and bring people closer to God or as a missionary the funding of your missions.  Salesman or saleswoman= Missionary or Pastor

Are you a Barista at Starbucks?  If yes then you sell each and every person a slice of life in the morning when we are all struggling to get our days underway.  Salesperson=Barista

See…sales.  No matter what you label it.  But all very important.

Another way to look at this is that “salesmen and saleswomen” are vital to the world.

If you look throughout history, the most prominent providers in societies have never been the doctors or lawyers.  They have always been the business owners.  They are after all the largest providers of jobs, community service and usually donations.  I am not slighting doctors (I am lawyers ) because many do a great job of servicing poor areas and third world countries, but per scale, it is the business community who provides the massive amounts of provisions.

If you look at the worlds largest donors for example, you will find that almost all of them are tied to sales.  In fact, all of them.  Did you know that 84% of all donations to charity are from individuals and not foundations or companies?

Here are some of the biggies.

Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Steve Forbes, Donald Trump, and the list goes on and on.  This small list represents sales in Financial Sectors, Technology and Real Estate.  This list also accounts for over 40 billion dollars donated just last year.

In reality, the “salesman or saleswoman” is really so much more than just someone dropping in and trying to sell you something.

We are the providers of hope for millions all around the world.

We are the economy drivers.

We are the people working to being Faith, Love and Hope to our congregations.

We are the one’s providing a chance to those in need through our missions.

We might be called “salesmen and saleswomen” but in reality we are something much bigger….

What would you call it?

I really hope this made some sense…it did in my head

Facebook- Social Revolution

Tags

BBQ, causes, church, economy, Facebook, Football, friends, Krispy Kream, Obama, pastors, social revolution, war, Weight Watchers

The 60′s brought Peace, Love and Happiness.

The 70′s, Disco and designer drugs.

The 80′s and 90′s, sex, drugs and rock n roll.

2000 and the turn of the century, the New Millineum and the digital age.

As for 2008/2009, Facebook.  The simple web-site that is as addicting as a designer drug but far more time consuming. Realeased long before now but really coming to light with the 20-60 something crowd.

Facebook is a complete social revolution.  A way to connect with friends who you forgot existed or girlfriends you only occasionally thought of thanks to a photo that re-appeared in an old box when cleaning out a closet.  A place where you can share with friends your political beliefs if they care or not, while also sharing a bunch of random causes that make no sense to anyone including the sender.  You can join groups, create them, or simply become fans of just about anything pop culture.  You can add pictures and video of your family for your friends to see.  You can even post updates of what you are doing during the day.

Best of all, you can build a list of friends a mile long who you don’t even know as long as they say they are your friend.

Facebook is addicting.  But why?

Here is my theory.

Now, this is an obscure theory, but go with me here.

Over the past 20 years we have really had it pretty good.  Most of us had good jobs, were busy raising families, going to school, buying houses, and our life track was going forward pretty nice.

When things started to go a bit south with wars, a worsening economy, job losses and such, we started reaching out.  Reaching out for what is good in our lives.  Re-connecting with friends and family who bring about good memories.

And if you really look at your friends on Facebook, they rarely to ever put something bad in their lives on the page for all to see.  Most often, it is the things they love.  College Football Waves, Favorite Shows, Fun Groups and weekend updates  from the neighborhood BBQ.  Some Pro Football trash talking is always in play.  My pastor friends post cool updates from their churches and tidbits of wisdom now and then for us to live by.  Most of all, it is just fun.

So, in a nutshell….Facebook is our escape.  Our escape from the real world and what we tend to face each and every day.

I am not saying that we hide behind Facebook, just that it has become our place to live within friendship.  A digital coffee house if you would.  The spot where all is good in the world.

I recently tested this theory.  I posted a comment in my updates.  One that was negative towards a new Obama policy.  Within 2 hours I had dozens of comments defending his actions even from people who I know did not vote for him.  The next day I posted something completly positive.  Number of comments=0.  You ask, how does this tell anything…simple…people did not want the negative on the site and they jumped on it like Krispy Kreams at a Weight Watchers convention.  The positive comment…normal for them, back in the comfort zone…no need to comment.  Maybe not a statistically telling trial but as deep and accurate as most exit polls.

So, here is my question for you.

Do you think Facebook is a Social Revolution?  Do you think it is really a place we go to live in the positive and hide from reality or do you feel it is simply a place we re-connect with friends?

ps.  I personally love Facebook.  Really like catching up with old friends!

My Letter To Pastors, Priests, Ministers and Reverends

Tags

Baptist, BCC, Catholic, christians, church, David Perez, Faith, Methodist, Ministers, pastors, Priets, Reverends

I have thought about writing this letter for a long time but feel that now the time is right.

I am a Christian.  I attend an amazing church in Nashville, TN regularly and give.  Our church has an amazing staff and Pastors that really care about our community.

I am not perfect by any stretch of imagination but try very hard to do right by others and make sure that I represent my church and family well.

I believe that the wealth I am given is a sign of God blessing me and trusting in me to be a good steward of ultimately what is his.

Here is where I am going to shift my tone however…you have now had a glimpse into my life, my beliefs and my church.  I am now going to give you a view of what I see in some (not all) of you.

On a daily basis I read and see where you are destroying the amazing gift that has been given you.

A pastor in Australia faked his own illness to promote an angenda.

Priests for the past two decades have been acused of abuse.

Reverends go on the news and use race as a political tool.

Ministers are caught steeling from their congregations and having affairs with other members.

Pastors go on TV and raise millions of dollars that only goes to provide them luxuries and never help anyone but themselves.

Churches become hipocritical and exclude people from coming into their house of worship because of past failings.

And finally, an entire church community travels all over the United States to protest the funerals of fallen war veterans.

This disgusts me.  This hurts me.  This angers me in that you do not represent even 1% of our faith but your acts are viewed as a representation of all Christians and we are labeled because of your greed, hypocrisy and irresponsibility. 

If taught properly and true to the bible, our faith teaches us to love, give and forgive.  It teaches us to encourage, teach and lift.  It teaches us to include and provide hope.

For those Pastors, Priests, Ministers and Reverends who have done so much to damage Christianity, I pray for you and ask you to stop.  It is time that we as Christians begin to tell the world what we are really about and the above is not it.  I firmly believe we all make mistakes and that we should forgive, and I do forgive.  I just do not want you hijacking our amazing faith any longer.

For your members, leave and find a place of worship that is a good place, a Godly place that lives by a strong set of ethics and values.

Thank you to those Pastors, Priests, Ministers and Reverends who do the right thing.  Those who go out and spread hope and love every day.  Although you are not perfect, you admit it and use it to teach.  Within your teaching, you open your arms to everyone and your congregations prosper.  You are what Christianity is all about and I pray that you are on the front lines of what is being printed in the newspapers, on the news and viewed by others all around the world.  Thanks for letting the imperfect thrive and learn.

Please take a moment and let me know who your amazing Pastor, Priest, Minister or Reverend is?  What Church and Where?

I’ll start…Bellevue Community Church, Nashville TN.  Pastor David Perez.  Awesome and loving place!

Sincerely,

Joseph

Church Success = SALES

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, church, community church, Crosspoint Church, David Perez, Joe Case, pastors, Pete Wilson, sales, salespeople, Uprising Church

disclaimer:  before you read please note that in no way am I criticising the operation of a church or the way a pastor runs a church…this is a positive outlook on the success of churches and at no time was a pastor harmed while writing this piece.

A good friend of mine, Ernie,  and I often talk about churches and why some succeed and some, well, fail.

It always baffles us why certain concepts of churches bring in the masses while the traditional churches are starting to stumble a little.

We also often talk about how the Community Church is thriving.

I think it has finally dawned on me why this is.  Simply put: SOLD.

The new pastors of today know how to “sell” their church. 

From the time you step in the entrance of a church like Bellevue Community Church, Crosspoint Church, Uprising Church or a church of this nature there is something different.  A church designed for YOU.  A customized product that reaches those of us who did not feel comfortable in a traditional environment.  Kids areas that reach out and invite kids, letting them know church is a cool place to be.  In a probably crude example, but the church is becoming a product we want to buy, or, buy into.

Pastors like Pete Wilson, David Perez and Joe Case leading the sales charge (in a good way).  These are salespeople at their finest.  Putting a product out there that is not only what we want but being able to tell us why we will love it.

The reason this all finally dawned on me is because I am a salesperson.  A neighbor was asking me to visit their church (traditional) but with little enthusiasm.  Not a good salesperson.  A few hours later, I was at a trade show and someone invited me to Crosspoint.  This person was completely enthusiastic about what was happening and telling me over and over about all the cool stuff Pete and his staff was doing.  What a difference.  I thought back to all of the conversations I have had about my church, Bellevue Community.  Always sold with enthusiasm.

So, my question for you:  Are the successful churches you attend or see a direct result of a Pastor that can sell?  How do you think they would fare selling goods in a marketplace and not church?