Lou, The Nabisco Guy

...A Holiday Memory...

Lou, The Nabisco Guy, never used selling strategies …Lou had a culture of “selling.”

I was 23 years old when I first met Lou. He was the region’s number one salesman for Nabisco from 1974 to 1985.

One day I was eating lunch with Lou and asked,

“Lou, so what do you do, to be so good at selling?....can you share some tips?”

Lou replied, shaking his head and smiling, “Bob there is really no magical tips, but I do have five core beliefs about selling.”

1.) Love and believe in your product.
2.) People like to buy, but not to be sold to.
3.) I never sell anything, I solve people’s problems.
4.) Never talk yourself out of a sale.
5.) and….Never close a sale, open an opportunity.

Lou died in 1985 from a heart attack at the early age of 63.

Lou’s culture of selling has lived on. Those who adopt it become very successful.

To be the best, you need to have more than just strategies, you first need a culture, a core belief.

Dr.Ivan Misner, New York Times best selling author and founder of BNI (Business Network International) says it best, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Around the holidays,  when I enjoy my favorite Nabisco crackers,  I always think of Lou…
Lou, The Nabisco Guy.

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Throw me a Gam-bone!

We all know the expression, "throw me a bone". It has several meanings, i.e. help me out, give me a hint, lighten up, etc...

The other day I had lunch with a business associate and as he was approaching my table, he called out with a smile, "Hey, throw me a Gam-bone!" 
 I laughed and then asked him what he meant by that?
He replied with confidence, "You are always the 'go-to guy' when I need a little help and advise about my business."  Needless to say,  I was flattered.

The bottom line here is the importance of personal branding. According to Success Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine, "personal branding" continues to grow as a key marketing strategy for running a successful business.

5 Tips to help you with "personal branding" (from Refresh Leadership).

1. Be unique and play to your strengths.
2. Establish your core values-and stick to them.
3. Perfect your craft.
4. Whatever you do, do it with passion.
5. Share your knowledge.

How do you know if your "personal branding" is working?

Your network will tell you... "Throw me a Gam-bone!"

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