North Korea's Kim Jong-un has been called a lot of names over the past seven years since taking over as the Supreme Leader of his country. Turns out that Kim -- the "ruthless thug," the “maniac,” the “madman” is teaching us all a few fundamentals about sales. He’s met with Chinese leaders, sent delegations to other countries and is gearing up for the big kumbaya with President Trump, all with the intention of selling the free world whatever he plans to sell us -- which we may just buy because the guy is just…well…an awesome salesman. It just goes to show that if you're nice, friendly, open, warm and professional you, too, can get the sale. People like to do work with nice people, OK? Kim is also proving that your customers have short memories. If the world can get past these atrocities, don't you think your prospective customer can get by a pricing mistake you made back in 2012 or a bad product demonstration from a few years ago? It's amazing how, after only a few meetings and a couple of well-placed photo opps, the world starts viewing him less as a murderous thug and more of an adorable, pudgy little guy. He gets that the human touch (even with people who are questionably human) is still the most important part of a sales process. Here you were thinking that the world is being saved from a nuclear holocaust when really you were just being taught a few important sales lessons from the new master of sales: Kim Jong-un.
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Ruthless dictator. Human rights abuser. International criminal. Little Rocket Man.
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has been called a lot of names over the past seven years since taking over as the Supreme Leader of his country. But how about world’s greatest salesman?
OK, I admit this is not the guy you want visiting prospective customers anytime soon (although the site of him arriving surrounded by a dozen jogging security guys would certainly create a cool buzz, right?). However, when it comes to sales, Kim is certainly no slouch. I doubt the guy has ever made a cold call in his life. But he sure is swaying a lot of influential people — and world opinion — in his favor as the date of a summit with President Trump approaches.
So, do you think the guy is legit? Kim promises to de-nuclearize his country, sign a peach treaty formally ending the war with South Korea and normalize relations with the rest of the world. Whether or not you believe this sales pitch makes no difference. What makes a difference is that I’m writing this and you, like so many others, are starting to at least consider that he could be — maybe and perhaps — for real. Considering the guy’s past, this is a pretty impressive feat. Turns out that Kim — the “ruthless thug,” the “maniac,” the “madman” is teaching us all a few fundamentals about sales.
Sugar, not vinegar
One of these sales fundamentals is that you always get more with sugar than vinegar. Being nice. Smiling. Hugging. No longer calling the leader of the free world a “mentally deranged dotard.” You know, that kind of thing. Its seems that recently, Kim has followed the old “if you don’t have something nice to say than zip it” model. He has, for the time being, abandoned his threats, his taunts, his intimidations and instead become the world’s most adorable despot.
And we’re buying it! Forget the fact that he’s starved millions, committed countless murders and brought the world to the brink of nuclear conflict. Kim is now clinking glasses, planting trees, sharing a few hearty laughs and hugging it out with his South Korean counterpart. He’s met with…
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