Sun Tzu's the Art of War Plus the Art of Sales: Strategy for Salespeople

I also own Gerald A. Michaelson's Sun Tzu Strategies for Selling: How to Use The Art of War to Build Lifelong Customer Relationships...which is an excellent book and one that I highly recommend...but if you must choose between the two, Gary Gagliardi's format is the most dynamic, the most inspiring, the most useful. Why? On the left side of the page, you get an English translation of "Art of War." On the right, Gagliardi's interpretation of how Sun Tzu's words apply to modern-day selling. In April 2009, we are most certainly in a war. One day we'll look back on these days and "how we made it through them," but now...at the time I'm writing this review...we are IN THEM, waist-deep, fighting for survival. Make it through Gagliardi's book and you might "make it through" the current economic typhoon. Sales is no joke. Professional selling demands a skilled warrior. Does that describe you? If it does, get this book. NOW.

As a sales manager I've read lots of "How to Sell" books, gone to numerous seminars, etc. This gives your sales team some ancient lessons that can be used to get the appointment, convince them to buy, and keep their business. Get it for yourself, or get one for every member of you team.

The rules of war are amazingly applicable on the processes within the sales cycle. Having a military background this book helps me to connect my past to my present. Especially major accounts can be succesfully encountered by using the principles of war translated by Gary Gagliardi into effective measures. Understanding competition has never been put down so well. All aspects are covered. From Analysis to Planning to Positioning to Using the proper Questions...Buy it, read it, be successful and convince your fellow salesmen. Also visit the Art of War website...for lots of useful tips and tricks.

I was given this book my first month in the business. I knew zero when I started. This book was key to my current success. It pulls NO punches. Every possible roadblock to success is revealed along with ways to move them from your path. Don't get involved in sales without this book.This will be the Bible of sales Marketing!! A six star book