Born Josephine Esther Mentzer on July 1, 1906, Estee Lauder would go on to become one of the most influential businesswomen of the 1900’s. In fact, in 1998 she would be the only woman to make it onto Time Magazine’s list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century.
In addition to building a multi-billion dollar beauty company, Lauder revolutionized sales with tactics such as the free gift with purchase. Her passion for sales and beauty products set the stage for the beauty industry as we know it today, and she achieved all of this through sheer force of will.
Below, read five of her quotes that we hope will inspire you to take control of your life and success with the power of your sales skills.
“Be strong. Be confident. Be the star of your own life.”
Go into every interaction with the mindset that you will succeed. Believe deep in your soul in yourself and your product. This assurance will not only put you in the headspace of success, it will be projected to the other party, helping you to be more trustworthy and capable of building the relationships that lead to repeat business.
“Business is there if you go after it.”
Very few opportunities in life will just walk up and knock at your door. To be successful in sales, you’ll need to leave your comfort zone – both mentally and physically. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new initiatives!
“Keep an eye on the competition…But this doesn’t mean copying them.”
Being aware of current trends as they relate to your industry, demographics, and rivals is always important, but it doesn’t mean that you need to re-work your entire business and marketing strategies every six months to say relevant. Staying true to your core values will build more trust with customers than being trendy will!
“Touch your customer, and you’re halfway there.”
The ability to build relationships is crucial to flourishing in sales. Dale Carnegie agreed with this advice, writing that “showing a genuine interest in others not only wins friends for you, but may develop in its customers a loyalty to your company.” Take it from these two masters of selling, and make a point of connecting deeply with as many clients as possible.
“I have never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard.”
Whether you’re trying to get a customer to buy a specific product, or looking to get a raise from your boss, sales skills are essential! You might not even notice how often you’re using your sales abilities, but they’re likely coming in handy in many unexpected situations. Continue to hone them if you want to reach further success.
“Customers like to feel like they are buying – not being sold.”- Dale Carnegie