Sales is a desirable line of work, and an empowering one: You set the hours, you pursue the prospects, you direct your income. But all these things can become burdensome, too. The payoff is high, but so is the risk. Sometimes, you just need an encouraging word.
We hope that these sales quotes will inspire you, make you think and make you laugh. If you have favorites we've missed that have motivated your sales philosophy, let us know in the comments. And if you haven't seen them yet, check out our 18 best business quotes of all time.
"Enchantment is the purest form of sales. Enchantment is all about changing people's hearts, minds and actions because you provide them a vision or a way to do things better. The difference between enchantment and simple sales is that with enchantment you have the other person's best interests at heart, too." – Guy Kawasaki, (1954- ) author, venture capitalist, technologist and former chief evangelist of Apple Computer.
"The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!" – Marvin Phillips, speaker and author of "Never lick a frozen flagpole!" and other books.
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." – Milton Berle, (1908-2002) American actor and comedian.
"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man!" – Jay-Z, (1969- ) American rapper, producer and entrepreneur. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." – Mary Kay Ash, (1918-2001) American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics.
(Mary Kay Ash, president of Mary Kay Cosmetics, is seen in her Dallas, Tex., office in Jan. 1982. AP Photo)
"People don't ask for facts in making up their minds. They would rather have one good, soul-satisfying emotion than a dozen facts." – Robert Keith Leavit, (1895-1967) advertising copywriter and non-fiction writer.
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." – Josh Billings, (1818-1885) American humorist.
"Fall down seven times. Stand up eight." – Japanese proverb
"In sales, a referral is the key to the door of resistance." – Bo Bennett, programmer, designer and founder of Adgrafix, from his blog Year to Success.
"Today is always the most productive day of your week." – Mark Hunter, speaker and sales trainer.
"Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman, not the attitude of the prospect." –
W. Clement Stone, (1902-2002) businessman, philanthropist and author.
(Chicago businessman and self-made millionaire
W. Clement Stone is seen in this August 2, 1960 photo. Stone is co-author of a currently published book titled "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude." AP Photo)
