Being a sales rep isn’t always the easiest profession. You’re constantly hustling, whether it’s making calls, going to appointments, or working on your sales pipeline. They may be working long hours, chasing targets, and dealing with rejection on a daily basis. It’s easy for them to become bogged down and lose sight of their goals. 

It’s hard to keep moving and stay motivated when you’re constantly hearing “no” or getting doors slammed in your face. That’s why it’s important to have a few inspiring sales quotes in your back pocket to help you power through the tough times.

Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar are two of the most well-known salesmen and motivational speakers. They’re living proof that sometimes you need to hear a little bit of motivation to keep going. As successful as they are, they’ve both had their fair share of downfalls, but they’ve bounced back each time — and that’s what resilience is all about.

Here are some of the best motivational quotes we personally love and are absolutely applicable to all things in life. Take the time to sit back and meditate on this list of motivational sales quotes to inspire your sales team, and motivate yourself before meeting a client or whenever you’re having the toughest of days.

1. “Hope is not a strategy.”

Sales professionals are often told that “the best salespeople hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” And while it’s definitely important to have a positive attitude, simply hoping that things will work out is not a sales strategy. Hope is more likely an emotion, not a plan. Success comes after taking concrete actions and steps.

Picture this: Your sales and marketing team is getting restless. They’ve been working hard and not seeing the results they want. The management decides to give a pep talk, focusing on the power of hope. “Don’t give up now!” they said. “There’s still hope for this quarter. We can turn things around.”

But what your team needed wasn’t more hope — it was a new strategy. The old one wasn’t working, and simply hoping that things would change won’t fix it. In the sales world, you need to be proactive, innovative, and constantly adapting to the ever-changing landscape. If you’re just hoping for things to get better, you’ll likely be disappointed.

2. “Read your message aloud. If it sounds weird, it is.”

You know that feeling when you’re about to click “send” on an email, and you have this sudden realization that what you’ve written sounds really weird? But then you second-guess yourself and think, “No, it’s fine. They’ll understand what I mean.”

Well, turns out it’s pretty common for our brain to read things differently than how they sound out loud. And when it comes to sales writing, this can be a big problem. See, the thing with sales copy is that they’re often very formal and technical. And while that might sound okay in your head, it can come across as really stiff and robotic when you read it aloud — which is not exactly the best way to build rapport with your prospect. 

To succeed in sales writing, take a minute to read it aloud before you hit send. If it sounds weird, chances are it really is. And maybe try toning down the sales-y language a notch or two. Your prospects will appreciate it — and you might just close more deals as a result.

3. “You are the asset.”

There’s one thing you need to remember: YOU are the asset. And that means you call the shots. This one is really for anyone out there. You are the one thing that no one can replicate. You are the one thing that makes you irreplaceable. And that means you control your value.

It’s up to you to negotiate your worth. And that starts with believing in yourself and your abilities. So next time someone tells you, “You are the asset,” take it as a compliment. It means you have the power to make or break your career. Use it wisely.

Also, remember that when sales are down, it’s not because of your lack of knowledge but rather a lack of strength to use your sales skills and talents to their full potential. Take control of your value and show the company what you’re really worth. 

4. “Focusing on the other is how relationships and trust are built.”

Your sales success always depends on your ability to open a relationship and build a long-term connection with your customers. When you make someone else the center of your world, you build trust. And when it comes to sales, trust is essential.

Don’t close a sale before understanding the customer’s needs. Effective salespeople know that listening is the most important part of sales, especially when solving a problem or achieving a goal. Start working with your prospects by asking them questions and listening to their answers.

Keep the customer actively involved. Regularly ask for feedback and use it to improve your services or products. It also means being responsive to customer inquiries and complaints. By making the customer feel like a part of the process, you can build loyalty and goodwill that will keep them coming back for more.

Buyers need to feel confident that they’re making the right decision, and that requires salespeople who are focused on their needs, not their own. By taking the time to understand the buyer’s perspective and motivations, salespeople can create a connection that will motivate your sales. We simply cannot only ever be self-serving.

5. “Don’t take it personally.”

A client says no. A deal falls through. The sales cycle takes longer than expected. We make an objection. It happens — and it will happen again. The key is not to take it personally. Because when you let sales take over you, you make sales about you. We make them about our worth, our egos, and our value. But selling isn’t about us — it’s about the customer and their needs.

In a world where we’re increasingly communicating through screens and less face-to-face, it’s easy to see how this could be good advice. Messages can be misconstrued, and intentions are more often assumed. We’re also a part of more micro-communities with their own respective cultures.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in all of the “noise” and forget that we’re just human beings trying to make a living. If you make a sale, great! Keep your eye on the prize and move forward. If you don’t make a sale, no big deal! The next time you’re feeling down about a sales call or email, just remember that it’s not personal. It’s just business.

BD Paths’ Takeaway

If you want to be successful in sales, it’s important to drop your sales mentality and start working on building relationships instead —and that’s the difference between being a successful person and being just a salesperson. The success of any purchase is contingent upon the attitude of the salesman. 

The greatest weakness lies in giving up. When things get tough, it is important to take a pause and be present in the moment. Ask yourself what is ultimately right and good, and then move towards that.

Always keep in mind that the best salespeople wonder and actually take the time to stop and think once in a while. So, get out there and start wondering! The world is your oyster. Or, more accurately, your potential customer base. Go forth and conquer!