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#350 How To Sell Like Steve Jobs

Founders

Mon May 27 2024



Steve Jobs' Sales Techniques:

  • Steve Jobs was recognized as a top business storyteller, advocating for selling the improvement a product offers rather than just the product itself.
  • He stressed starting with customer experience and working back towards technology to answer the crucial question: "Why should I care?"
  • By using simple language and creating verbal roadmaps during presentations, he effectively communicated solutions to problems, making his pitches engaging and impactful.

Structuring Presentations Like Steve Jobs:

  • Jobs meticulously planned his presentations analogically before transitioning to digital tools like Keynote, showcasing his dedication to preparation.
  • His presentation structure involved condensing key points into three main ideas supported by stories, facts, metaphors, and social proof under each point for maximum impact.
  • The rule of three was a significant communication concept he adhered to due to human memory limitations, ensuring that audiences retained essential information effectively.
  • Practice played a crucial role in Jobs' presentation style; he rehearsed extensively (90 hours per hour on stage) to ensure his delivery appeared effortless and polished.

Importance of Contextualizing Numbers:

  • Steve Jobs incorporated contextualization of numbers during presentations to enhance audience understanding and memorability.
  • Adding context helped audiences grasp large figures better; for instance, explaining 4 million iPhones sold as 20,000 per day made the number more relatable and comprehensible.
  • Providing context is vital for effective communication as raw data can be challenging for people to comprehend without additional information or comparisons.

Utilizing Social Proof in Presentations:

  • Social proof was a key element in Jobs' presentations where he showcased testimonials and favorable reviews to bolster credibility and persuade audiences effectively.
  • Incorporating social proof enhances trustworthiness by demonstrating that others endorse the product or idea being presented, reinforcing its value through external validation.

Messianic Sense of Purpose in Salesmanship:

  • Steve Jobs exhibited a messianic zeal towards creating new experiences for customers through revolutionary products that aimed at changing lives positively.
  • His passion for innovation drove him to believe in serving creative individuals who sought to make an impact on the world through their work.
  • Passion's contagious nature allowed him to transfer belief and enthusiasm about products or visions effectively by conveying conviction authentically.

Selling with Passion and Belief:

  • Steve Jobs and Phil Knight excelled in sales due to their strong belief in the products they were selling, emphasizing the critical role of passion and conviction in successful sales.
  • It was highlighted that sharing one's enthusiasm about a product or service is essential for effective sales pitches, as genuine excitement can significantly impact interactions with customers, recruits, or investors.
  • Expressing authentic excitement about what one is offering is crucial since many individuals fail to convey genuine enthusiasm during sales presentations.
  • The significance of having a messianic sense of purpose when engaging in sales was exemplified through anecdotes involving Steve Jobs and Phil Knight.

Building Relationships at Founders Events:

  • Founders Events are structured to facilitate connections among high-value individuals like founders, investors, executives, and professionals who share similar interests.
  • These events provide structured opportunities for attendees to engage on specific topics of interest, fostering meaningful relationships within the community.
  • By intentionally keeping event sizes small (around 120 to 130 people), participants can quickly establish significant connections with others present.
  • All-inclusive arrangements offered by these events simplify attendance by covering lodging, food, and access to all activities during the event.

Founders Notes: Accessing Collective Knowledge Efficiently:

  • Founders Notes serves as an internal tool used by the speaker to organize insights from history's most prominent entrepreneurs for immediate retrieval.
  • Users can conduct keyword searches within Founders Notes to access information on various entrepreneurship topics derived from past podcast episodes.
  • An AI assistant named Sage operates within Founders Notes, providing profound insights into leadership and decision-making based on historical entrepreneurial wisdom.
  • Subscribers have reported gaining a compounding tactical advantage over competitors by leveraging Founders Notes' ability to efficiently tap into the collective knowledge base.