Close a Sale Like a Kid

My youngest son Aidan (5) has been on an Indiana Jones kick as of late. In fact, it's pretty much all he talks about. He's seen one of the movies (under heavy supervision by mom and dad), he plays the Lego online Indiana Jones game and he's even put together his own version of an Indiana Jones Outfit.



His latest acquisition is a little Lego Indiana Jones figure. Charles, my oldest son Ian's (10) friend, let him "borrow" it. Aidan was elated! But it wasn't long before the time to return the figure started to draw near, so Aidan started coming up with a plan to talk Charles into letting him keep the figure longer.

He started reasoning with his brother that Charles had plenty of these figures and should let Aidan "take care" of this one a little longer. Ian wouldn't bite.

Aidan then moved on to his sister Mia (7). He figured she might be able to work her feminine wiles on Charles and get her to convince him to let Aidan keep Indy. Mia was repulsed!

Well the day to return Indy finally came. Aidan realized he wouldn't be able to elicit any help from him siblings, so he hitched up his britches, walked up to Charles and asked a simple question, "Charles, may I keep Indiana Jones a little longer?" Do you know what Charles said? "Sure Aidan, you can keep him a while longer." I'm willing to bet Aidan will ask for another extension and that eventually, Lego Indy will be a permanent part of the O'Donnell household. We shall see.

So what is the point of all of this? Aidan asked. It would have been easier for him to just assume Charles would say no, return Indy to him and go home, but he asked. Did you know more sales are lost because salespeople don't ask for the sale than any other reason? When you have an opportunity to sell something to one of your customers, don't just hand it to them and hope they will buy. Ask for the sale! The worst they can do is say no. What do you do when they say no? Well that's a topic for another post.

Lego Indy Image: gazraa