The Chronicle’s Business blog

Our friend Chuck Mc-Curry recalls a salesman who thought he was smarter than everyone else. His relationship credo was: “Prospects aren’t your friends and never will be. If you want a friend, get a dog.”

This brash young man did not last long.

Chuck spent most of his career practicing what he calls Golden Rule Selling. It’s a simple principle. “Treat others,” as Jesus said, “as you would want them to treat you.”

Chuck first heard about Golden Rule Selling from Zig Ziglar, the well-known author, and Mary Kay Ash of Mary Kay Cosmetics. They were good friends and had similar philosophies about selling.

Mary Kay reps depend on repeat customers. If their customers think they have been taken advantage of or didn’t get their money’s worth, they cease to be customers.

No one can please everyone, Chuck writes in “Maverick Entrepreneur’s Million Dollar Strategies.” Even Jesus was not accepted by everyone. Don’t beat yourself up when it happens, because it will.

But at least be honest in selling. You will be tempted to embellish the benefits of what you are selling. But when the truth comes out, you lose the customer’s trust.

Chuck has talked prospects out of buying if he didn’t believe they would benefit.

Chuck talks more about selling in “Maverick Entrepreneur’s Million Dollar Strategies.” To order a copy, call 803-359-7633.

Copyright 2018, The Bellune Co., Inc