What the Greatest Showman Taught Me About Effective Selling

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

For many startups, this is the last thing they want to focus on. They are so focused on spreading their product that they forget about the importance of sales. This article will provide you with some basic selling lessons for startups and . Selling isn't just about making a sale, it's also about understanding your customers' needs and providing them with what they need to make their lives easier. in the movie, The Greatest Showman, was a great case for learning how to sell effectively. Here's why:

The greatest showman = great entrepreneur

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 American musical drama starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson. The film celebrates the birth of show business. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a show that became a worldwide sensation.

Related: 10 Movies Every Entrepreneur Should Watch on Hulu

Be passionate and embrace your vision

Passion is what will drive you. This is what will make you work hard and keep doing it even after the first few weeks of your business. Every entrepreneur should have a clear vision of where they want their business to go and how they want it to be perceived by the world. They must also have a motivation that pushes them to move forward in order to achieve this vision.

There's this bar scene in the movie that I've probably watched over 1,000 times on YouTube, which shows how to convey your passion and your vision. Jackman's character, P.T. Barnum, tries to convince Efron's character, Phillip, to work at his company. Barnum tries everything - passionately describing his vision and showing that Phillip will finally be free if he works with him. He paints a more fun future for Phillip and tries to convince him.

As an entrepreneur, you must also be passionate about your product or service. Not in a boring way, but in a way that you're really proud of what you're creating. Offer the benefits not for yourself, but for the other person.

It is important to give people space

There is a moment in the film after Barnum's performance, where he gives Phillip the space to think about the offer. Barnum ends his offer with the words, "But I guess I'll leave that to you", and he sits down in his chair. This is a key moment, as Phillip stops and really thinks about the offer for a few seconds, before turning around and starting to negotiate with Barnum.

There are many opportunities in a sales meeting that can be used to grab the customer's attention. For example, if you notice that he is distracted by something, you can offer him some space. It means getting away from them and giving them space to breathe. Another way is to create a space for yourself and offer it to the customer. This could mean moving your chair or standing up while they sit. This way you both give each other space and make sure there is enough room in the meeting for everyone.

Related: 8 Simple Keys to Becoming a Better Salesperson

Be authentic and embrace failure

The only way to connect with your audience is to be authentic. We're all human and we have flaws, but it's important to share the best versions of ourselves and accept failure from time to time. Later in the film, Barnum makes a few mistakes that not only got him into financial trouble, but also trouble with his wife and family. After a time of regret and reflection, he realizes the important values, what really matters in his life and why he is in business in the first place - for his own family.

This has happened to all of us. Something is wrong, then we have to make some tough decisions. Don't be too proud. Take responsibility and be authentic in your . Try to be a problem solver and focus on the good things that have already happened.

In many ways,