Every day we sell our ideas. Mom sells her five-year-old on the need to finish his brussel sprouts, the awkward teenager pitches attending the prom to a love interest, and we lobby for our favorite restaurant on date night.

The confident sales rep knows her product will genuinely change the client's life for the better. This pitch is easy.

What about the other circumstances?

The anticipation can feel like you swallowed a millstone for a mid-afternoon snack.

What does it look like to:
Build a case for full partnership
Approach the boss about a raise
Convince dad it is time for assisted living
Sell your spouse on the job opportunity on the other coast
Notify parents of your alternate college or the impromptu wedding plans
Pitch management on a radical new direction, you are confident the customer is ready to embrace

We are all grown-up and can't hide under the couch cushions or bed sheets. But it doesn't mean we don't want to try or find other ingenious ways to postpone the discussion.

We all want the benefits of closing the sale but struggle with the final sales pitch to close the deal.

Where do you struggle with selling you ideas?

I stayed busy with a network marketing business for several years. I would read the books, go to the functions and even signed up a few people. You know, I was busy moving, but too busy being scared of what others thought of me, and not moving the business forward. I never achieved any measure of success for all my busyness.

What is your current sales struggle?

What are your previous sales successes?

What value are you delivering to the other party?

What is your process for moving your ideas forward?

What is the story you are telling yourself about this particular case?

How can you take one step closer to closing the deal?