Life Is Sales: What The Book Is Really About
It’s about helping and impacting people
Well, I’m about to be a published author as my first book Life Is Sales comes out on October 7th. I’m excited to have achieved this goal that I set years ago. I’m proud of all the work that has been done to get to this point. However, what happens from October 7th on is what I’m truly excited for.
With a title like Life Is Sales, some may have assumptions about what this book is about, especially if they’re a new follower of my content. This blog details what the book is really about at its core.
What it’s about for me?
As someone who strives to be authentic at all times, I hope you believe me when I say this: my new and first book, Life Is Sales, isn’t about feeding my ego, making money, or anything like that. It is about one thing: making a difference and having an impact.
My goal is to impact leaders to help them impact those they are leading. It is about leveraging myself.
Unfortunately, not enough leaders (and people in general) have a high awareness of themselves and their feelings and reactions. This is not a knock on anyone, because I was one of these people not long ago. It takes intentional work over time to grow and develop the skill of awareness. Once we gain more awareness and use it as a lens to filter our everyday lives, it unlocks so much for us. With higher awareness comes the ability to choose. We can all choose how we want to respond and react, and how we want to be.
When I leveled up my self-awareness and began to utilize it in my role as a leader and CEO, I started seeing rapidly positive changes in my teams and company culture. And I led trainings with all my employees on the Developmental Model that helps with awareness and choice (this is explained more in the book). I made the mistake of thinking things would then become easier. What I hope to instill in readers is that as a company grows in customers, revenue, employees, etc., more and bigger problems will arise. Most projects don’t go perfectly; it’s how we deal with and solve the problems that matters. On the flip side, bigger opportunities will present themselves as well.
We will fail, and that’s ok and a natural part of the growth process. In fact, failing is almost necessary to grow. The question for leaders is, can we deal with these changes and grow in capacity with our companies? We must have the awareness, motivation, and tools to do so.
These are all lessons I personally learned over the course of my career. I’m sharing them in this book so that others don’t make the same mistakes I did and can accelerate their journeys to transformational leadership.
Redefining “sales”
As humans, we are always selling. We can sell products and services of course, but we also are always selling ideas, opinions, visions, potential, etc. And I believe that to be most successful in sales, and most nourished and satisfied, we have to be aware and have to be willing to be in rapport and relationship.
It’s common for people to have a preconceived notion of what “sales” means due to various stereotypes in the media and even from our upbringing (e.g., the sleazy car salesperson). The best salespeople understand that sales is service. A simple reframing makes all the difference.
What it’s about for readers
As I said in my last blog covering the backstory of the book, it was written “to inspire the salesperson inside all of us.” This is because we all sell (and serve); we just have to realize and embrace it.
Selling extends beyond the workplace and influences our interactions with family, friends, and even strangers. Readers will begin to understand sales as service, and that a better understanding of ourselves leads to improved communication and interactions with others. In order to better serve others, a level of social-emotional intelligence is required so we can pick up on the intricate details of individuals, teams, and cultures that we come across.
We all have feelings, and we all bring them into our daily lives. Don’t try to pretend they’re not there. I tried this for a long time as a young adult, to be stoic and impenetrable. It didn’t work well in relationships. It took a lot of personal work on my social and emotional intelligence to realize that I am having feelings all the time, and awareness of these feelings can be a superpower. Let’s embrace all of our feelings and use them to our advantage.
Just about nothing in this world is linear. Most things worth doing will be a winding road filled with ups, downs, and sideways turns. The key is to stay consistent and continue making progress one step at a time. Any action is better than no action. Success is a journey, not a destination. It’s all about the process, growth, and experiences along the way.
Every business and leader has their own story of growth. What will your story be? Remember, you are the author of it!
Life Is Sales officially launches on October 7th, but the good news is you can preorder it now by clicking the button below.
Reviews for Life Is Sales
“Rich Lyons’ Life Is Sales isn’t your typical sales guide; it’s an exploration of how sales principles apply to all aspects of life. He cleverly blends personal experiences with business wisdom, demonstrating that true salesmanship involves understanding needs, building relationships, and empowering others to succeed. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, sales professional, or simply seeking a more fulfilling life, Life Is Sales offers valuable insights and practical strategies for achieving your goals while fostering deeper connections with those around you. It’s a compelling and insightful read.”
—Tom Ebling, board member and advisor to SaaS companies, former CEO at Demandware
“Simply put, Rich is real. Rich is evolved. Rich is a unique leader. Not because he is more talented than others, but rather because of his intention and commitment to develop himself and his company at being the absolute best through the exploration of his ‘self’ and the service of others. Rich walks his talk. He believes that awareness and conscious choice are the keys to business and life success, and lives the principle that ‘sales’ is the opportunity to ‘serve,’ which is one of the most honorable activities a human being can undertake.
Life is Sales is a must read if you truly choose to be better and live your best life. It is a testament that a commitment to your personal development works in business and life, and equally important, that it is a privilege to sell and serve. BRAVO!”
—Scott G. Stephen, chief growth officer, Rate; former COO, Playboy Enterprises
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