Right now I'm sitting in a breakout session at the Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization National Convention @ the Hyatt Regency McCormeck in Chicago, IL. This year there's over 1300 attendees and a number of great speakers including a track specifically for the technology industry. I'm coming up with a number of great ideas for a business startup, hopefully completing the next iteration of my business plan by the first of the year.
After watching some elevator pitches, it's clear that sales training is lacking in Colleges. Elevator pitches are 1 minute presentations of a business concept--a skill every entrepreneur should have in case they meet a potential investor or customer. The main problem isn't presentation skills--it's in the close--asking for the sale. Some let their speech end with the audience wondering if the speaker is done. Others have a flawless ending, but no planned closing and stumble out a incoherent "if you like it, let's talk later". The few that get it right and ask for the close, they're the ones that look good. I wonder why UNL doesn't have any classes discussing sales techniques... any individual needs these skills weather pitching themselves in an interview, a business plan, or selling a product.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comments:
That's a great point. I suggest you bring it up to some faculty. Everyone, no matter what their position, needs to have experience in "sales" and especially closing.
Post a Comment