"I once asked a number of business owners and CEOs to name the one skill they felt contributed the most to their success. Each said the ability to sell.
Keep in mind selling isn't manipulating, pressuring, or cajoling. Selling is explaining the logic and benefits of a decision or position. Selling is convincing other people to work with you. Selling is overcoming objections and roadblocks.
Selling is the foundation of business and personal success: knowing how to negotiate, to deal with "no," to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face of rejection, to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, to build long-term relationships...
When you truly believe in your idea, or your company, or yourself then you don't need to have a huge ego or a huge personality. You don't need to "sell."
You just need to communicate." - INC.COM
What is business development?
One answer: SALES
How to sell?
Communicate.
A long time ago, I met Douglas, founder of Vanity Trove who gave me this really useful crash course on sales. Tricks like not being too eager, creating an emotion that you're doing your customer a favour she/he chooses to purchase from your company (think about how successfully Apple does this!) and giving away freebie incentives 'grudgingly' so that the customer will actually value the freebie and not see it as desperation.
The tips he gave me sounds a bit like a con but at the end of the day - its not just about communicating but about communicating to your advantage. And his words are definitely something I try to bear in mind every time I go for an important meeting - be it with investors, collaborators or organizers.
Personally I have a tendency to be a bit over eager and a bit too enthusiastic so people don't always take me seriously or exploit me (yes - its happened!). And its made especially worse by the fashion industry which tends to be a bit more superficial and a wee more concerned with keeping your cool and acting nonchalant. In a way I kind of feel like Andrea in Devil Wears Prada - the "wide eyed girl peddling her earnest newspaper stories" when I need to be more like Miranda!
Sincerity and earnest-ness have served me well but I think its time for a little savvyness to come to play.
I WILL NOT BE EXPLOITED AND I WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!!! AHHH!!! *
