Customer Reviews

God Is a Salesman: Learn from the Master (Faithwords)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The publisher puts this book in the sales and customer service categories. I would have also placed it in the Christian nonfiction category. What author Stevens says is that in the age of science and reason, people still believe in a God that loves them and cares for them. Some would say this is not rational.

So why do people believe - because God is a salesman and has sold us on that concept. Now, that sounds scary. We have been "sold"!? Except that what Stevens explains in the book is a way of selling that is based on trust, truth, integrity, having the best interest of the customer in mind, etc. So, it starts to sound less like selling and more like serving.

Throughout the book Stevens explains how God has "sold" himself (in the Judeo-Christian tradition) to mankind - and then parallels how this can be applied to others types of selling. Near the beginning of the book he provides a table that contrasts the traditional way with the Master's way. It includes things like:

Traditional Way
Meet expectations
Satisfy customers
Give customers what they expect

Master's Way
Exceeds expectations
Thrill them
Surprise them with gestures of thoughtfulness

Basically what Stevens says is that God the Salesman wants a lifetime relationship with people that love Him and that too often companies are looking for the minimum they can do to make a sale and perhaps make another sale later.

Someone who wants to improve sales and customer service will find much in this book to learn from. Someone who wants a fresh look at how the God of the Bible treats His people will find that as well.

Armchair Interviews says: A business book with a Christian foundation.

I've read a lot of business books, but never one that incorporated God into the subject--I was intrigued! The author makes a lot of great points that gave me food for thought, including: "Religion never says, 'look folks, we really want you to attend church...so each time you do, we'll give you a free appliance." The author describes how to use religion as a divine example, because religion never demeans itself with cheap gimmicks (like the stereotypical used car salesman'). Instead, religion is founded on belief, faith, love, morality, etc. This and similar concepts made me say, "Wow, here is a business book that tells us we can be more successful by using an ethical, thoughtful approach. I believe I will use the lessons from this book everyday.

I was given this book by a "salesman" friend of mine. Even though I am not in the sales field, I identified with the message of this book and hope to use this philosophy in several areas of my life. It has fast become one of my favorite books...I am buying three today to share with friends!

This is a surprisingly cool book. It is more than a good title however. Stevens explains that in a world where men are inclined to disbelieve, to be skeptical, to need evidence prior to trusting others this is not true in only one area, religion. He draws parallels between religious and secular selling. E.g.. He shows how the ways people are drawn to any religion can be used as examples of how a good sales/marketing effort has "drawing vs pushing" power. God does not make cold calls, says Stevens and then he makes a very good case for stopping cold calls as well as losing a dial for dollars mentality. Intellectually the arguments are clear and well presented. A short book that you will enjoy (Stevens is the author of Your Marketing Sucks)

Mark Stevens in his 144 page book, God Is A Salesman,
gives one a plesant evening together, visiting as if
good friends. The business world needs the message
conveyed by one who has written more than twenty other
books. Having given this book to my son. I had to buy
another copy to keep.

This script presents a deeper understanding of making a service, product or value based product available and desired. Combining both spiritual and management based conversation, the author makes ultimate sense.

It's a great book. A fantastic overview of a true sales philosophy. In this book you'll learn sales secrets I have not seen in ANY other sales material. And I've been doing sales for 30 years.

This book I would highly recommend to anyone. It is a book that you want to read again and again!

I would recommend this book to anyone in sales or anyone who will talk to or buy anything from a salesperson in the near or distant future ... in other words: I recommend this book for anyone.

For many years I have carried around the same stereotypical view of salespeople that most of us share: they try to sell you what you don't want or need at a price you don't want to pay. This book examines a different type of salesperson, one with integrity, high standards and wisdom, who is focused on meeting the needs of the customer, acting as an advisor rather than pushing you to serve his or her own interests. Think this is impossible? Think again!

Mark Stevens provides several examples of real salesmen and women, those who follow standards set by the best salesman of all, God. "God Is a Salesman" uses God's love and ability to earn the trust and belief of His people as a standard for the rest of us to follow - and a high one at that! His comparisons between sales and religion draw interesting parallels that invite the readers to open their minds and take a different view toward selling.

As a salesperson who is often put off by the dirty, deceptive and manipulative tactics of "traditional" (or stereotypical) sales types, I found Stevens' insights and examples of real salespeople to be refreshing.

While Stevens illustrated the model salespeople from his life, I found myself thinking of my own life experiences and the salesmen and women who have demonstrated good character and extremely high attention to customer service and satisfaction in my own life. I was amazed by how many salespeople came to mind! For instance, my real estate agent, who worked so diligently to find a house that fit the needs of my husband and I that we recommend her to everyone we meet!

As I read this book, I thought of many exemplary salespeople from my life who clearly illustrated how effective honest, sincere salespeople can be at building and maintaining long-term customer relationships that generate repeat and referral sales. The salespeople who stuck in my mind were those who surpassed my expectations, treated me as though I was their only customer, were thoughtful and kind, and showed me they genuinely cared about me and my needs as a customer. It was a relief to see and realize that exemplary work, and adhering to high moral and ethical standards is more rewarding than the sleazy sales techniques of the past.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a quick read, which is great news for all of the on-the-go sales reps out there. If you are in sales, read it - no excuses!

The title initially impressed me as I was always keen to improve my salesmanship and am truly amazed by how the salespersons of religions do their work: 1. how they managed to convert non believers to something that emphasize life after death instead of the tangible benefits in our current daily lives, 2. how it provides transient happiness or 3. how they sell it as an unique form of positive thinking . The belief that cannot, or the salespersons would say, need no proof ( even though the non believers would call this faith product "superstition" )... yet it is powerfully and effectively sold using simply message like "just buy it, it is good for you". What also intrigue me is the fact that critical and thrifty people are willingly buying the belief without questioning the assumptions, willingly dipping into their pockets and willingly donating to the cause. Additionally, the converts are very willingly making referrals to the salespersons. WHY?

I was hoping that Mark Stevens could direct his book at how I can improve myself by following and learning from these salespersons of God on how to package and present my product in the same way without having to present features and benefits of my products i.e. cumbersomely cater to my prospects' left brain.

In short, I am disappointed by the content of the book as it only presents standard sales philosophy and saless skills that i have read from other books. As one of your reviewers said, the book should be more appropriately classified under the Religions section.