Sales aren’t always easy, it can be hard to pick yourself back up after a missed sales target or a stressful quarter.
But doing so is the only way to develop your skills and improve your sales abilities. Everyone who's ever been successful has faced failure and they have some great quotes to remind you of it.
So, if you’re feeling a bit low, here are 35+ quotes to boost your morale, lift your mood, and get you ready for another new year in sales.
Quote from business experts
1. "You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new" - Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs built his platform on anticipating the future needs of customers. His quote is a reminder to always think ahead and predict what your prospects want before they even know what they want.
2. "I never lose. I either win or learn" - Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a man full of wisdom. Every lost sale is a chance to look at your process, what went wrong, and what went well? What can you do better in the next sale?
3. "If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on." - Sheryl Sandberg
As a business executive, billionaire, and philanthropist, Sheryl Sandberg knows a thing or two about making the most of an opportunity.
4. "Business opportunities are like buses; there’s always another one coming" - Richard Branson
Take it from a man who expanded into every industry from cola to airlines - there is always a new opportunity on the horizon. You just have to be ready to take it.
5. "Hustle until your haters ask if you’re hiring" - Steve Maraboli
Dr Maraboli knows a thing or two about beating people’s expectations. Insecurity can hold you back in business, but if you have the drive to further your career people will soon be envious for all the right reasons.
6. "Don’t try to do everything by yourself, but try to connect with people and resources. Having that discipline and perseverance is really important." - Chieu Cao
Every good salesperson knows the importance of networking. You can’t do everything yourself, but good relationships are the foundation for building your sales career.
7. "On any given Monday I am one sale closer and one idea away from being a millionaire" - Larry D. Turner
The CEO of Roundhouse Advisors knows all about business growth. Every sale is one step closer to your end goal, so keep that in mind next time you’re struggling for a sale.
8. "Success looks a lot like failure up until the moment you break through the finish line" - Dan Waldschmidt
As a business strategist and extreme athlete, Dan understands the value of perseverance. Success can be hard to quantify sometimes we never know we’ve made it until we have.
9. "When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are."" - Oprah Winfrey
Only you know the value of your skills, so don’t undersell yourself!
10. "All great achievements require time" - Maya Angelou
Nothing worth doing happens overnight. Success takes perseverance, time, and effort.
11. "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Mistakes are what makes us human. So take heed when you see others making errors that you can avoid yourself.
12. "Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln
Do we need to say more?
Direct sales quotes
1. "Great salespeople are relationship builders who provide value and help their customers win." - Jeffrey Gitomer
It’s foolish not to take advice from the author of The Sales Bible.
2. "The harder you work, the luckier you get." - Mike Adenuga
Top advice from a multi-billionaire - hard work pays off!
3. "Growth and comfort do not coexist." - Ginni Rometty
As the first woman to head up IBM, Ginni knows a lot about growth.
4. "I have never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard." - Esteé Lauder
You know the old saying that everything is sales? It really is true!
5. "It’s no longer about interrupting, pitching, and closing. It is about listening, diagnosing, and prescribing." - Mark Roberge
The role of salespeople has changed in recent years, you need to know what a client knows before they know themselves.
6. "Sellers who listen to buyers carefully and then give them the missing ingredients—those are the ones who stand out." - Deb Calvert
Sales are all about communication, the most successful salespeople are the ones who take the time to learn from their customers and build relationships.
7. "You might be a salesman if you insist you do more market research before you and your spouse have another child" - Anonymous
While we don’t know the origin of this quote, it rings true.
8. "Before LinkedIn and other social networks in the sales world, ABC stood for Always Be Closing. Now it means "Always Be Connecting.” - Jill Rowley, Social Selling Evangelist
As a Social Selling Evangelist, Jill knows that networking is key for every salesperson. It’s how they source leads, nurture relationships and expand their client base.
9. "Never ever chase money. You should chase success, because with success money follows." -Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones
Chasing money is a big part of a salesperson’s motivation, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Often money comes from finding your passion and pursuing it until you reach your goal.
10. "A goal is a dream with a deadline." -Napoleon Hill
Sometimes all it takes to succeed is the extra pressure of a time constraint!
Funny sales quotes
1. "My sales objective is to get my prospects to look at my products the same way I look at bacon" - Kurt Mortensen
He’s a best-selling author for a reason and we can’t argue with his method especially when you see the results!
2. Confidence is 10 percent hard work and 90 percent delusion." -Tina Fey
We feel you on this Tina…
3. "There’s never any guarantee that anyone will like you. So if anyone likes you at all, you’ve already won." - Chelsea Handler
Sales is all about building trust. So once your prospects trust you that’s half the battle won.
4. "Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting." -Christopher Morley
Perseverance in business is key, you never know where your work ethic could take you.
5. "The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." - Bruce Lee
Sales is all about keeping your eye on the prize.
6. "There’s so much creativity in brokeness, brokeness will have you making it work." -Issa Rae
Money is a great motivator, and investing in yourself is a great way to grow in business.
7. "The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer."" - John Madden
Isn’t that the truth? The only way to develop is through hard work.
8. "If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." - Shirley Chisholm
Life - and sales - is all about making your own opportunities!
9. "Either run the day or the day runs you." - Jim Rohn
Sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns and make the most of every opportunity.
10. "Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is" -Vince Lombardi
Sure, it’s the taking part that counts, but if it weren't for our drive, most of us would never get to where we want to be.
Honorable mention for the king of sales quotes
The real-life Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belford, is one of the most quotable salespeople in the business. After starting as a door-to-door salesman in New York, he then went on to become a stockbroker and make millions of dollars.
After being imprisoned for fraud, Belfort wrote the best-selling book ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, which detailed his time as a stockbroker. His success saw him launch himself as a motivational speaker to help sales executives perform and sell better.
Here are some of his best quotes:
1. "The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullsh*t story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it."
2. "Act as if! Act as if you're a wealthy man, rich already, and then you'll surely become rich. Act as if you have unmatched confidence and then people will surely have confidence in you. Act as if you have unmatched experience and then people will follow your advice. And act as if you are already a tremendous success, and as sure as I stand here today - you will become successful.""
3. "Successful people are 100% convinced that they are masters of their own destiny, they’re not creatures of circumstance, they create circumstance if the circumstances around them suck they change them."
4. "Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions."
5. "I want you to back yourself into a corner. Give yourself no choice but to succeed. Let the consequences of failure become so dire and so unthinkable that you’ll have no choice but to do whatever it takes to succeed."
How and where to use sales quotes?
Kickstart sales meetings
Using inspirational sales quotes at the beginning of sales meetings can set a positive tone and energize the team. Sales leaders often share quotes to inspire their team, reinforcing the sales strategy and aligning everyone with the company’s goals.
For example, a quote like, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started," can motivate sales reps to focus on their tasks and push towards achieving sales success.
Enhance sales pitches
Integrating sales quotes into sales pitches can make your presentations more compelling. Quotes from successful entrepreneurs can help sales reps connect with potential clients by demonstrating shared values and goals.
For instance, using a quote about closing deals can emphasize your team’s expertise and commitment to quality performance. This approach can help in creating a memorable and impactful pitch.
Boost daily sales motivation
Daily sales motivation can be enhanced by sharing motivational sales quotes with the team. Posting quotes on office boards or sending them via email can keep the sales teams focused and driven.
For example, a quote like, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time," can encourage perseverance and a positive attitude.
Support training sessions
Incorporating sales quotes into training sessions can make learning more engaging and memorable. Quotes can highlight key concepts and provide real-world examples of successful enterprise practices.
For example, discussing a quote about the importance of a customer actively involved can reinforce the significance of customer engagement in the sales process.
Motivate during difficult times
During challenging periods, sales leaders can use quotes to uplift the team's spirit. A well-timed quote can remind the team of their potential and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.
For instance, "A complaining customer represents a huge opportunity," can help the team see complaints as chances to improve and build stronger relationships.
Highlight closing techniques
Using quotes about closing sales can be particularly effective when training sales reps on the final stages of the sales process.
For example, a quote like, "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going," can inspire persistence and focus on closing deals.
This helps emphasize the importance of determination and follow-through.
Promote a culture of excellence
Quotes that emphasize quality performance and continuous improvement can help foster a culture of excellence within the sales team.
Sharing quotes like, "Quality performance starts with a positive attitude," can encourage team members to strive for excellence in every aspect of their work.
This promotes a mindset of consistent improvement and high standards.
Encourage creative selling
Quotes that inspire creativity in selling ideas can help sales reps think outside the box.
For instance, "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere," can motivate the team to innovate and sell ideas effectively.
This approach encourages sales reps to use their own thinking to develop unique solutions for clients, making them more effective and versatile in their roles.
Final thoughts
We all need a little pick-me-up from time to time. Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration to keep you going through the week.
The role of a salesperson is varied, you have a lot of plates to spin and a lot of priorities to manage. But without a plan in mind, you could find yourself struggling to stay organized.
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