Day #1 of my startup: Making sales calls.

My startup currently does not have a blog (nor does it have a finished website), so I decided to post this here as a way to assist others in breaking the ice on day #1. After worrying for about 2 weeks about how to get sales, I decided to jump right on it, and start cold calling / faxing / prospects. Now, my startup is nothing new or even exciting: I sell low-cost, ready-to-use websites for small business. You might say "Wait, that's not a startup!" Well, after I get around 5 or 6 paying customers, I will launch an online business directory that will feature some useful apps for the local market. The apps are not yet coded completely, but (I guess) that qualifies it as a "startup" startup. Anyway, I woke up early, went over my sales script, went over my marketing materials, and sat in front of the computer for about 2 hours. I was terrified. The idea of picking up the phone and calling a total stranger (to sell them something!) was absolutely terrifying. So I postponed and lost a lot of time while thinking of ways to get me to make the calls. Life, eh? We dream of getting things, and accomplishing goals, but when the time comes, we get scared. What is it about fear that makes up want to drop our dreams? Is fear more important than our goals? Nope. For me, it is not. I finally sat down, picked up the phone, and called my first prospect. To my surprise, they did not hate me. Hell, they treated me very well! Not only did I realize that the enemy within was harming me more than anything else, but that sales require a lot of organization. I did 4 more calls (a record for me), and decided to stop. I stopped to organize my sales related stuff. Without an organized system (term used loosely), you really can't call fast enough. Here is what I learned on day #1: 1. Your fears will try to stop you from achieving your goals. Don't let it stop you. You are way more powerful than fear. 2. People are open to hearing your ideas, if you treat them properly. 3. Sales is more about the salesman, and less about the customer. 4. Being organized is a must. Prepare a prospects list before picking on the phone. 5. The fax is still a worthy tool of communication. 6. Realize that a startup is about building something. This will require you to roll up your sleeves and get "dirty". 7. There is no time like the present to get things done. 8. After all, you will realize that getting what you want is way more fun than settling for what you don't. Even though it may seem like I did not accomplish anything (plus I did not make a sale), the lessons of today will allow me to continue working towards my goals. I must go now. Have a nice day, and kick some ass.