WHY I WILL NEVER ‘SELL’ YOU MY ARTWORK
If I say to you the word ‘salesman/saleswoman’, what comes to mind? I don’t think I would be out of place to state that the majority of the population are able to pull up images / thoughts with a more negative sway, because, let’s face it, we’ve all had some pretty nasty experiences, haven’t we?
Photo Credit: (c) Neil Cannon
In fact, my last bad experience was only a few months ago and there were metaphorical red flags all over the place. I was targeted separately by two different men at a training day, both very charming and friendly (a great way to deceive me from their underlying persuasive tactics). There was a distinct dominant pressure and time-limit urgency in their offer which meant they kept pushing and bending me to their desired outcome. There was a strong male energy and I felt like I was being passed between wolves, played with to see who could wear me down. I know they were enjoying it, they were hungry to get the sale, get their bonus and get my money in their account.
I ended up in an out-of-body experience, my rational/logical mind completely shut down, I didn’t want to be there, I just wanted them to stop. They were listing all the benefits, making it all sound so wonderful even though I felt very unsure and I got to the point where I didn’t feel I could say no. I didn’t want them to further lay-on sales tactics because I knew this was not their first rodeo so-to-speak; they knew exactly what they were doing and I was quite frankly the lamb to the slaughter.
I signed up knowing that there was a caveat to cancel before noon the next day. I felt I had to let them think they had got a sale just so that I would be allowed to leave but I knew full well that I would cancel as soon as possible.
Needless to say, I got in my car and cried most of the journey home. As soon as I was on my own, in my own space, with my own energy, my mind returned and I knew with intense conviction that everything about the situation was wrong and not something I wanted to do. I hated how weak and vulnerable I’d felt, I hated feeling too nice thinking that I might offend them if I turned them down and I hated being in an overbearing situation where I struggled to have any sense of control or opinion.
It’s easy to look back on the situation and think I should have just said no and walked away but it really didn’t feel like that was possible at the time. I also think the men involved had no awareness to the extent that their sales process had affected me.
SO ……..
I appreciate not all ‘sales’ are like this experience, but this is why I never want to ‘sell’ my artwork to you.
I can hand-on-heart say that I will never be ‘that’ salesperson. I want no association with underlying psychological selling games or time pressure tactics.
I show up to inspire and to motivate people. Within my social media posts, I also share possibilities of how to live happier and more fulfilled lives because self-development is something that is really important to me.
I want people to feel they can come freely towards my artwork. I want you to buy because you connect with it and because you’ve simply fallen in love with what my hands have created. I want my artwork to be a true investment and to have pride of place in your home.
Maybe this stance goes against the grain of what ‘successful business people’ do (they say you have to keep repeatedly asking at least 7 times in order to make a sale), but I have to stay true to myself and follow my values, my morals and most importantly, my heart.
If you are interested in buying my artwork, I welcome you to get in touch, and if you aren’t, I really hope you enjoy looking at it, absorbing its energy and appreciating the part of me that has gone into making it.
Thank you for your continued support.
Photo Credit: (c) T J Allen Art