Creating and maintaining the right personal image for you and your company

I remember a time in the past when a person I've worked for told me that I needed to be more "charismatic" when I talk to prospects; that if I talk at them they wouldn't listen. The person also mentioned that sales is "showmanship", that people only buy from those they like.

At the time I've observed how this person sold to customers. The voice was raised an octave higher, and everything the person said was slightly exaggerated in tone. The person also gave me a book to read, to enable me to understand what charisma was all about, and to build confidence. I told the person the reason for her perception of my "lack of confidence" was because I wasn't trained on the selling system of the company. If I had a prospect and didn't know how to go about selling the products in a way that I didn't have to go to the boss every 2 minutes, how can I be confident? Nevertheless, the person said I would not be trained because the person was too busy to train. So a book was lent to me instead.

II read the book, and apparently this person had wanted me to be one of those "bluffers" that I hated. But it was this person's company, and that was the way the attitude was.

I may have written about this in the past, but it doesn't hurt to repeat it once again - I have not been loyal to those who "bluffed" me into buying their offerings. I have been a victim before, and even though at first I thought I had bought something great, I had gone home later, and sometimes even years later, regretting the purchase. These were some of the things that I have been "bluffed" into buying:

• life insurance (not needed in my opinion, if a person has no dependents)
• very expensive clothing (before becoming an image consultant)
• make up that I didn't know I looked bad in
• a perm (what a disaster)
• concerts
• food

Bluffers may make a fast sale, but not many people will return. Unfortunately, most sales people are trained to talk a lot about benefits and features, even after listening to clients' preferences. I, for one, always want the sales person to shut up unless I have a question - and I only want the person to answer that question and no more.

Bluffers have a need to sell, and a need to get approval from others. Hence their sweet talking attitude. They work miraculously on those who are like them - needing others to give them approval, even if the person is not honest to them. In the end, their opinion and thought are based on what others' have programmed into them.

How to avoid being a victim? Stop seeking approval from others! Once you do that, you will realize what you need in confidence, without having others to push you into what you need. And we all know when we get something right - there's a "right" feeling that radiates from the body - a feeling of satisfaction. You don't doubt your decision. On the other hand, if you notice your body feels uncomfortable, it can very well be that the decision isn't right for you. In that case, do not go ahead with it.

Being true to yourself is one of the greatest personal image builder.