Blog | Entrepreneurship

What Type of Entrepreneur Are You?

It’s not always the most tenacious entrepreneur that wins. It’s knowing what breed you are and how to excel because of it

Have you ever noticed how pet owners tend to take on the look and attitude of their pets? Or maybe it’s the other way around?

Either way, it gets a little scary when the similarities tend to grow outside looks. Take the close-cropped macho guy and his Doberman or the drooling cuddly Golden Retriever who will do anything for his beta-owner.

Though our taxes are probably paying for an in-depth study to prove this theory, it doesn’t matter. The fact of the matter is you can tell a great deal about a dog simply by their breed, as each breed has similar personality traits.

As an entrepreneur, imagine the power you would have if you could gain an understanding of these traits. That’s what I’m going to give you in today’s post.

The Holy Grail… of Mistakes

If there’s one thing everyone makes early in their sales and business career it’s this: assuming there’s one particular set of skills that all salespeople need to have in order to be successful.

Where certain traits like persistence and patience are required for anyone who wants to be successful, there isn’t a “perfect” salesperson. While it’s important to constantly seek to better ourselves, it can be self-defeating and soul-crushing to mirror what we perceive to be perfect.

I once heard the saying, “Don’t compare your chapter one, to someone else’s chapter 20.” It’s so true. Instead, stop comparing yourself and your results to someone else. Compare who you are today to who you were yesterday.

But first, you need to know what breed of entrepreneur you are.

Put simply: Sales are about convincing others to do something (or not) that they previously were inclined to do. The same could be said of leadership, parenting, motivating or negotiating. These all require some salesmanship.

The SalesDogs Methodology

What I’ve learned through my years of working with sales people, in all industries, can be summed up into five breeds of professional salesmen. Though there are some cross-breed mutts, most sales people can be considered one of the five.

As anyone in sales can tell you, education and good training will equal not only personal satisfaction but cash. And as any entrepreneur knows you must always seek opportunities that will provide the best training available… not the biggest commission.

Know Your Breed

Though we’re focusing on business and sales, knowing what breed of salesman or saleswoman you are can greatly affect how you handle all your relationships.

After you’ve identified the different breeds in people (and yourself), sales and relationships of all kinds become second nature. You’ll instinctively know the right thing to say to anyone in any situation.

You’ll develop leads quicker than ever, pursue prospects with ease, make fearless presentations and close deals… with confidence. Instead of chasing the “best way” you’ll understand the “best way for you” and your breed. This also means you’ll avoid the shaky ground you sometimes might find yourself in. You’ll be in control in any environment.

Various breeds of salespeople

1. Pit Bull
   Probably the most stereotyped sales person out there, the Pit Bull will attack anyone that they perceive to be a prospect. Their methods are both awe inspiring… and terrifying. All they need is the cuffs of pants to latch onto and they’ll never let go.
2. Golden Retriever
   Almost universally considered to be everyone’s favorite breed of dog, these fluffy furballs will do anything for anyone willing to give them even the slightest glance. These salespeople will sit attentively waiting for the next command from their prospects. With eternal optimism they sit, waiting for the phone to ring, hoping their prospect is still interested.
3. Poodle
   Then there’s the poodle. Though intelligent, they can sometimes come off as highly strung and focused on looking the part. Whether based in the real world or not, these salespeople are bigger on flash than substance. They often judge a book by its cover and their prospect by their cars.
4. Chihuahua
   Whatever you do, don’t judge them or their results by their size. Identified by their rabid enthusiasm and energy, the Chihuahua can often times get on people’s nerves. Though lacking in people skills, these salespeople have unrivaled passion and product knowledge.
5. Basset Hound
   These reliable pooches will stay with you to the very end. Bassets are never ruffled, never stressed; they are constant and dependable. In fact, looking at the breeds we just discussed, I identify with the basset hound the most. Their ability to build strong, loyal and long-term relationships through sheer strength of personality and personal rapport is amazing.

So, what breed of entrepreneur do you consider yourself to be? Are you the typical Pit Bull armed to the teeth or are you flashy like a Poodle? Do you simply fall in love too easily like the Golden Retriever or scare people off with your passion like the Chihuahua? Regardless, spend some time learning the differences to take your entrepreneurship skills to the next level.

To learn more, grab a copy of my book Sales Dogs.