It’s week 4 of The Apprentice and so far only boys have been fired. Will another chap go this week or is it time for a girl to be ousted? With just 15 minutes to get up, out of bed and ready for action the teams are asked to meet at The British Museum. Standing near the statue of Aphrodite Lord Alan set them the task of creating their own beauty treatment service and making profit. In one of the most profitable industries this shouldn’t be difficult but as we know, our Apprentices have a God-given gift of making even the glaringly simple … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 4
May 25, 2011 By 7 Comments
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 3
May 18, 2011 By 3 Comments
Welcome back to The Sales Apprentice! It’s week 3 and we’re two boys down. The girls think that the weakest boys have gone and they will have the weakest link this week but I’m not so sure… Tonight’s task was to find 10 items for the Savoy Hotel which was just finishing a 3 year, £200 million refurbishment. The team which could find the 10 items in one day and spend the least money would be the winner. Simples. Or so you might think… Lord Alan positioned this task as one of organization, of negotiation and of buying skills … [Read more...]
Feedback! The Food Of Champions!
May 18, 2011 By 1 Comment
To be a good salesperson you need to have a fair amount of resilience and, some might say, a modicum of ego. Certainly, when you are being rejected or told, “No” you need to be able to shake it off, refloat your boat and steer your way back on course. But you also need to hear what’s being said by the people rejecting you so that you can learn from it and improve your approach, techniques and strategies next time. As a sales motivational speaker (and in my past lives as a sales trainer, sales director and sales manager), I have had the … [Read more...]
What Constitutes A Menial Job? Piffle!
May 12, 2011 By 2 Comments
Excuse me whilst I spit feathers... Ok, done! There was an article in one of the national papers today which read, "Meanwhile, research published today shows that many graduates are ending up in menial jobs such as waitressing." I'm sure that for many people this could have just as easily read, "... such as selling." I was incensed. The sheer arrogance of the sentence is an outrage. Just so as we are singing off the same hymn sheet here... me·ni·al [mee-nee-uhl, meen-yuhl] –adjective 1. lowly and sometimes degrading: … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 2
May 12, 2011 By 1 Comment
Here is my video log of sales tips, business development strategies and personal development thoughts from The Apprentice, week 2. It's worth watching whether you watch The Apprentice or not. The transcript is below for thos who don't want video... Transcript of the video below... Hi, my name is Gavin Ingham. Welcome to week 2 of my sales tips from The Apprentice! Now, you know, one of the questions that people ask me is, "Why? Why The Apprentice?” and I think people who read my blogs and watch my videos, they tend to fit into one … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week I
May 10, 2011 By 2 Comments
This year I have decided to cover The Apprentice a little differently. Partly I thought that it was time for a change but also with a large percentage of my newsletter list based around the world I decided that it was also necessary. In my weekly newsletter I may or may not pick up a theme from The Apprentice, like I did this week, but I am moving the Apprentice review and tips into a video format and you can either watch this here on the blog or on Youtube Sales Training Channel.I think this will end up being more fun for those who care and … [Read more...]
Stand Up & Yell, “I Am Proud To Be A Sales Professional.”
May 10, 2011 By 3 Comments
I was watching The Apprentice last night and as Sir Alan Sugar fired Edward the boy’s team leader he told him never to be ashamed of what he is best at doing. This was great advice and it reminded me of the many sales and business people I have met over the years who are ashamed or embarrassed of selling. If you are ashamed or embarrassed of being a sales professional is it hardly surprising when you’re not very successful at it? Who’d want to do something whole-heartedly and well that they were ashamed of? Selling is a noble … [Read more...]
