what it hates, and what it thrives on. Each plant in
your garden has unique needs, and you have to listen
and learn to understand what they are. When you
find that out, you can determine what kind of special
treatment each plant gets and then give it just the
right amount of water, the right amount of plant
food, and the right amount of care and attention that
will allow you to reap a bountiful harvest. Isn’t that
right, Gardener?”
“Couldn’t have said it better
myself,” he said. “And you’re
right. Plants, like customers,
each have unique characteris-
tics, and they require various
kinds of care and nurturing. But
when you can provide that spe-
cial kind of treatment, your
sales garden is bound to thrive.”
Ted nodded. “I remember
one story my dad told me when I’d just graduated
from college and gotten my first sales job. It taught
me a lot about the importance of listening to my cus-
tomers and asking the right questions. My dad was an
104
SPROUT!
EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SALES
Always do your
homework. Always check
out assumptions. Always
be asking questions.
Always be defining your
customers’ needs.