8 Motivational sales quotes to get you selling

"Allow other people to speak first; the important factor is not who talks… it’s who listens." – Ilana Eberson

Perfect for: when you feel like you’re running out of things to talk about

Sure, most sales reps are trained to talk the lead into a sale, but this pushy form of selling just doesn’t work. It’s also not very pleasant if you’re on the other end of this conversation. If you really want to sell effectively, you have to listen for clues that could help you win the customer. This will eliminate most of the annoying, repetitive questions you would’ve asked them, and it gives you a better platform to start a meaningful communication.

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them yourself." – Eleanor Roosevelt

Perfect for: keeping your winning streak going

Everything is a learning opportunity. Whether it’s your own mistake or someone else’s (although preferably not your own), these are experiences you can take and learn from so that you’ll never make them (or never make them again).

It’s basically a shortcut to personal and professional growth. Instead of having to go through the grueling process of messing up, reflecting, then learning from it, all you have to do is take notes when you see it happen around you.

People say that failure is a learning experience, but why go through it if you can learn the lesson another way?

“Never say more than is necessary.” – Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Perfect for: when you’re grasping at straws for things to say because it’s been a long day and you’re just checked out at this point

This goes hand in hand with the “listen more” tip. You have to be a good talker, but talking too much is a bad thing when it comes to selling. Know when to stop; you may just talk your way out of a deal.

To eliminate this possible disaster, you should always follow the 80/20 sales tip. Talk less, listen more, and—once you're comfortable, ditch the script.

"People don’t buy because what you do is awesome. People buy because it makes them feel awesome." – Tara Gentile

Perfect for: when you’re having a down day and doubting your own abilities

At the end of the day, it’s not about you. Or whatever you’re selling, even. It’s about your prospects. They’re the heroes of this story, and they’re only going to take out their credit cards if they believe that your product is going to make them a better (smarter, more efficient, kinder, funnier, etc.) version of themselves. Not because your list of features is three times longer than your competitors’.

Are you focusing on the right thing?

"Champions keep playing until they get it right." – Billie Jean King

Perfect for: when you just want to give up

The idea behind this motivational sales quote may seem a bit overstated, but when it comes to selling (or any situation, really), it can’t be said enough.

You’re going to have good days. You’re going to have bad days. You’re going to have days when a competitor just comes out with this awesome feature that’s totally wrecking your teams’ prospecting calls. That’s okay.

You’ll find another way to position your product, to spin the narrative, and hopefully your product and marketing teams will help you out too. Don’t forfeit the game when the match is far from over.

"There is little success where there is little laughter." – Andrew Carnegie

Perfect for: when your conversations are getting dull and making it hard to get your head in the game

As far as sales quotes go, this one might be a little unexpected, but it’s an important one. Never forget about humor. It can lighten the mood, help you connect better with your prospects, and even give you a persuasive edge because humor brings our guards down.

The best thing is you don’t have to be a stand-up comedian to have a sense of humor. No, really, you don’t. No one needs to be rolling on the floor laughing during your call—we’re talking “chuckling” level here. That’s a good enough start.

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." – Tony Robbins

Perfect for: when you’re feeling lost and don’t know why you’re making all these sales calls and sending these emails anymore

Need to set some goals and get a little direction? Sometimes, even if you’re having a decent day and feeling good, it can still feel a little bleh if you don’t have clear targets that you’re aiming for.

And who could blame you?

How can anyone get stuff done when they don’t even know what needs to be done?

Making yourself a list of sales goals, even if it’s just a list of productivity tools to check out or small tasks you want to have accomplished by EOD, will go a long way in giving you that extra motivational kick because you can actually see them. They’re there. They’re real. Now go get em.

"Your expertise has tremendous value. You are offering your expertise, not asking to be hired." – Leah Neaderthal

Perfect for: “Man, I’m super fired up and I’m ready to sell this product. HARD.”

Strictly speaking, this quote’s less about motivation and more focusing that motivation that you already have.

When it comes to selling, the customer wants more than just information about you and your product; they want your knowledge of how it’s going to help them. Sure, knowing what makes you better than the competition will help too, but just remember, this isn’t about you proving a point or being right.

You need to build that relationship by establishing your credibility from the start. Make sure your prospect feels that you’re not only knowledgeable, you’re also looking out for them.

The best way to sell is to actually step into your prospects' shoes and use your expertise for their benefit.

Be as impartial as you can—no one’s going to believe you’re totally neutral because you’re in sales, but hey, it'll make your pitch more persuasive and convincing.

What sales quotes do you refer to regularly to stay motivated?