As we enter into Q4, businesses generally place an even bigger emphasis on sales for the end of the year. So, to keep you inspired and motivated to make those sales, we reached out to the incredible CarolRoth.com contributor network of business owners, experts, advisors and entrepreneurs and asked them to share their favorite sales quotes. Their quotes are presented below in no particular order.

*Please note that the quotes and attributions are written in the words of the submitter and may not be portrayed exactly or as originally stated.

1. It's All About Attitude

There are so many inspirational sales quotes that have motivated me throughout my career, but this one is so simple and true:

"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions." -Stephen Covey

You've probably heard of Covey thanks to his bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He's all about establishing a positive mindset (and related processes) to set goals that get accomplished. To me, this quote removes excuses for finding sales success.
Thanks to: Maddy Osman of The Blogsmith.

2. It’s Not Me, It’s You

This is the 2019 theme for the TEDx I co-produce in NYC. It also relates to my favorite quote about sales by Jeffrey Gitomer, “The key to mastering any kind of sales is switching statements about you - how great you are, and what you do - to statements about them.”
Thanks to: Jamie Broderick of JamieBroderick.com.

3. More Than PRICE

"The reason that price is all your customers care about is that you haven’t given them anything else to care about."

-Seth Godin
Thanks to: Bob Shirilla of RJ Manray - Promotional Products.

4. Don't Try to Sell! Try to Help

“Approach each customer with the idea of helping him or her to solve a problem or achieve a goal, not of selling a product or service.” –Brian Tracy

This inspires me because it helps me focus on helping my customers with a need, rather than trying to sell them on a product. I want every customer to walk away from my business feeling like their needs were met, instead of focusing on how much money they spent.
Thanks to: Zondra Wilson of Blu Skin Care, LLC.

5. A Classic from Zig Ziglar

My favorite sales quote is this one from Zig Ziglar: “Every sale has five obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust.”

I like it so much because it perfectly sums up the reasons why people don't buy. If you can overcome these five obstacles, your chances of making the sale dramatically increase. I go out of my way to address these five things whether I'm selling over the phone or writing a sales page for a website.
Thanks to: James Pollard of The Advisor Coach.

6. Quality vs. Price

"Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten" -Aldo Gucci, 1938

I came across this quote many years ago, before I started Company Folders. This particular quote stuck in my mind and I have eventually built my company around quality products rather than cheap prices.
Thanks to: Vladimir Gendelman of Company Folders, Inc.

7. Selling is Heavenly!

My favorite sales quote actually comes from the bible - "If God is for me who can be against me."
Whether I am at my desk prepping a quote or headed into a sales meeting to present myself and my business, repeating to myself this quote grounds me. It allows me to accept a 'No' should it come. After all, if he loves me who wouldn't want to work with me, but maybe it's not the right time or the right service the prospect needs. No is simply No and I move onto the next.
Thanks to: Bernadette Boas of Ball of Fire Inc.

8. Set Goals for Sales

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." -Tony Robbins

This quote is so true for sales. It puts the imagery of thinking thoughts into reality and how powerful this is to your success. Think and take action is the moral of that quote.
Thanks to: Mike Walsh of Mike Walsh Guitar Lessons.

9. My Fathers Last Message To Me

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." -Abe Lincoln

My father & I had an argument one night before I headed back to work about hustle & responsibility. Angry, I went out after work with my boss. When I came home all were sleeping but that quote was on my bedroom desk on a piece of paper and it said love Dad.

That night my mom awoke me at 2AM. My father died from a heart attack.

It was the best note a dad could leave a son & is my daily driver.
Thanks to: Michael Kawula of Dinner Table MBA.

10. Listen More, Talk Less

"Most people think ‘selling’ is the same as ‘talking’. But the most effective salespeople know that listening is the most important part of their job." -Roy Bartell.

This is an integral sales technique to have in one's arsenal - listening to your potential customers. Hear out the side you are trying to sell to, then tailor your pitch accordingly. It increases the chance of a successful sale and more often than not, you convert a potential customer to a lifelong customer.
Thanks to: Srajan Mishra of TSI International FZC.

11. Just Sign Here!

When I was working at another ad agency, a magazine advertising salesman came into our office with a presentation for an annual advertising contract for one of our clients. He said he met with his management and they put together an absolutely fantastic deal and all you have to do is "Just sign here!"
It was the best sales pitch I ever heard.
Thanks to: Robert Barrows of R.M. Barrows Advertising.

12. Selling is All About the KLT

"All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust." -Bob Burg
Thanks to: Donna Chambers of SensaCalm.

13. Tell YOUR Story!

"Why fit in when you were born to STANDOUT!" -Dr. Seuss

Too many people are afraid to stand out! You MUST be different than the crowd, for that is what makes us interesting, demonstrates our true character and our brand. Embrace who you are, what your values are and understand WHO you are valuable to and WHY.

If you can understand how you can help others, and they can see how your solutions are unique, different and solve their problem, they will engage!
Thanks to: Ben Baker of Your Brand Marketing.

14. Lead By Not Following

“The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.” – Henry Ford
Thanks to: Jason Myers of Icarus Witch.

15. Make a Customer, Not a Sale

“Make a customer, not a sale.” –Katherine Barchetti, upscale retailer

In the HVAC installation world, our products are meant to last many years, so there aren’t a lot of opportunities to engage with homeowners after I’ve installed a system. However, I can change that by establishing seasonal services for the client, which allows me to earn residual income, stay in their mind’s forefront & set myself up as their first choice for their eventual replacement years later.
Thanks to: Jeff Simonson of Green City Heating and Air.

16. What Sales Really Is

"Sales is an outcome, not a goal," says Jill Konrath.

This thought is right on point because sales is indeed doing a number of things right, from prospecting to closing the deal. I love this quote because it enables a mind shift where we see the sale as part of a whole. The sale, thus, is the natural, successful outcome of all other efforts in the cycle fitting in perfectly, as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. (From the book Snap Selling by Jill Konrath, page 6).
Thanks to: Helena Escalante of EntreGurus.

17. The Decision to Act

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the procedure. The process is its own reward."

The Official Website of Amelia Earhart - Quotes
Thanks to: Seth Phillips of SP3 Realty.

18. Skills Pay the Bills!

Years ago, I ran across a quote by Jim Rohn that shifted the way I show up as a business leader. He said, "Don't bring your need to the marketplace, bring your skill. If you don't feel well, tell your doctor, but not the marketplace. If you need money, go to the bank, but not the marketplace." Operating from the core of my genius allows me to stay in an elevated state of mind where I can be fully present in the moment. Practice makes polished and polished makes profits.
Thanks to: Kristie Kennedy of Queenfidence Image Consulting.

19. Why Are You Doing This?

"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I've learned that if my 'why' is strong enough in a situation, it will give me the courage to act & persevere when business gets tough. I genuinely enjoy delivering relief from health ailments, so that motivates me. I know the more people I bring back into health, the more people I'm serving, & bringing happiness to their lives. That's incredibly rewarding & if it happens to pay the bills too, then it's a win/win for all!
Thanks to: Dr. Daniel Pozarnsky of Balance Chiropractic & Rehab.

20. Stand Still- Don't Move

My favorite quote comes from Patricia Fripp: "People will not remember what you say, as much as what they see when you say it".

StoryTelling Corner exists so that business owners can make more impact, return more profit and improve self-esteem by gaining and maintaining confidence when facing a live audience or the video camera.

The actions you perform will be remembered for longer and make more impact than most of the words you use. So, give the people a performance to remember.
Thanks to: Ernie Boxall of StoryTelling Corner.

21. Convert Failure into Success

“The successful man (person) will profit from his (her) mistakes and try again a different way.”
-Dale Carnegie

Each person is unique due to genetics and upbringing. Use your clients as mentors. Ask upfront how they select vendors and about their priorities. When a deal is lost, ask how your effort can improve. Show your appreciation for the insight, and indicate you will take their advice. Next, ask if you have permission to contact them again. The answer will be ‘yes'.
Thanks to: Elinor Stutz of Smooth Sale.

22. Measuring

The best quote is the one I use with all of my retail customers:
"Measure Twice, Buy Once" -Adapted from Alistair MacLeod

It is a perfect quote to give parents who buy clothes for their kids, grandparents who want to buy clothes for their grandchildren, actually anyone for anyone at any time for the surprise factor when you don't have them with you at the time of purchase. It's a no brainer and it's foolproof.

No hassles, no tantrums and best of all, an all-round better way to buy sanely.
Thanks to: Lauri Chertok of Measuringupapp.

23. Dare Mighty Things!

My favorite sales quote comes from Theodore Roosevelt who said: "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

It inspired me to give 100 percent to sales and to reach my goals. Roosevelt's quote inspired me to succeed and helped my business grow ten fold. I owe my success in sales, in part, to him.
Thanks to: Tara Langdale-Schmidt of VuVatech.

24. 3 Words Netted 6-Figure Deal

I was pitching a manuscript to a top literary agent in NY. I held the author's pitch sheet in my hands, inhaled deeply, and said in an extremely loud voice: "I smell money!" The agent's eyes lit up larger than half dollars -- and the book sold for six-figures!
Thanks to: Randy Peyser of AUTHOR ONE STOP INC.

25. Sales Success, a State of Mind

My favorite quote:
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" -Robert H. Schuller
Thanks to: Stephanie Hackney of Branding Masters.

26. I Want the Buyer to Say No!

In my first day on a new assignment as the Eastern Regional Sales manager in charge of 20 states and 7 salespeople, a 63 year old veteran (I was 38) taught me the following:

"When the buyer says no the salesman goes to work!"

It has been my mantra for my entire career, as I ultimately managed nationwide sales over $60 million dollars of business at the highest prices and margins in a highly competitive and vicious business.
Thanks to: Andrew Greenberg.

27. A General's Advice

My favorite quote that helps me introduce and sell our firm to prospective clients comes from an unlikely source, General George Patton, who said: “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” This quote from one of America's most famous World War II generals reminds me that it is better to keep our feet moving now by making more sales calls than endlessly perfecting our strategy.
Thanks to: Marco Castelán of The Navio Group.

28. For Greatest Impact, Do This

"Your actions have to match your ambitions" by Gary Vaynerchuk.

This is a great reminder for me every time I start my day or a new project. Since it's easy to get caught up in the minutia of running a business, this simple quote puts things into perspective. It helps me to focus on those activities that are going to produce the greatest results.
Thanks to: Chris Abrams of MJ Life Insurance.

29. No Excuses

My favorite sales quote is, "Don't make excuses because excuses won't make days."
It's actually a quote that I thought of back in 2011, as I was driving home through rural Mississippi after a long day. I was on the phone with some of my direct reports and they were making excuses for not making sales quotas, and the quote just came out! I actually tweeted it the next morning. I still say it today when I start to hear excuses!
Thanks to: Nick Glassett of Origin Leadership.

30. Coffee's for Closers Only

"Always. Be. Closing." –Alec Baldwin as Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross
Thanks to: Kari DePhillips of The Content Factory.

31. Get Over Expecting Perfect!

Creating content for clients can be challenging, I strive to create 30 second commercials that connect with their passion. Sometimes, I procrastinate way more than I should; I want them to be “wowed” when they read it for the first time.

The best advice I received was, “Done is better than perfect.” - Sheryl Sandberg, Author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. She’s right; being done allows you to confidently accept that what you put forth is good enough and move on.
Thanks to: Laura Templeton of 30 Second Success.

32. Be a Competitor

"You can’t always be the most talented person in the room, but you can be the most competitive."

–Pat Summitt
Thanks to: Brandon Bruce of Cirrus Insight.

33. Activity Vs. Achievement

I have a sign that hangs above my desk for our sales (and operations) teams to see when they come to meet with me: "Don't mistake activity for achievement" -John Wooden

As I listen, I'm looking to see if they are busy with a purpose or busy for the sake of being busy. When they plan and work on something, it should be done with a purpose and at the end of the day, they can look back and ask: what did I accomplish today?
Thanks to: Mike Wolfe of Delgado Stone Distributors.

34. Don’t Sell. Make Them Buy.

My favorite quote on sales comes from Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Red Book of Selling: “People don’t like to be sold, but they love to buy.”

I find this quote a whatness of sales. In order to sell something, you have to try not to sell it, but to make a person buy it. At first, it might seem to be a bit counter-intuitive, but when we think about the thought process that happens when we suddenly feel the need to buy something, it all starts to make sense.

Don’t sell. Make them buy.
Thanks to: Jakub Kliszczak of CrazyCall.

35. Sales Success Starts Within

“Increased confidence brings increased capacity.”
-Alister Christopher

Sales is an internal game. While we expect highs and lows, many business builders are high-achievers who take rejection personally. It’s easy to feel stuck, defeated or overwhelmed. The quickest way up is to find the positive. Celebrate the wins. Ask, “What are all the things I am doing well?” A confidence boost from within is much more stable than external validation, and the foundation for sales success.
Thanks to: Charlene DeCesare of Charlene Ignites, LLC.

36. Stay in the Middle

The best advice & quote I was given when it came to sales was "Don't get too high with the highs and don't get too low with the lows".

A friend in sales gave this advice when I asked him how he handled it, how he handle the objections, the no's, the disappointments and being rejected. It was the best advice and I have since coached many women in business with the same advice. Mindset is key when it comes to sales and we just need to focus on the activity, not the outcome. Stay in the middle.
Thanks to: Pam Guyer of Living HIPP.

37. My Fav Sales Quote

"Be a PLEASANT, PERSISTENT PEST!!!" This quote is from my colleague and senior sales consultant at Fusemachines, Carol Bunevich.
Thanks to: Preeti Adhikary of Fusemachines Inc.

38. Conviction Over Persuasion

"Ninety percent of selling is conviction and ten percent is persuasion." -Shiv Khera

Newer sales representatives may think that they must have the ability to argue like a politician in order to make sales. Instead, you should cultivate an earnest belief in the value of the product you’re selling. Meet your prospect halfway, and show that you care enough to stake your reputation on the pitch. Your customer will feel much better about putting their money where your mouth is!
Thanks to: Jordan Wan of CloserIQ.

39. People Love to Buy

"People don't buy because they understand what you sell. People buy because they feel understood." by Dan Lok

This quote is exemplary of how sales should be. There is a false concept that selling is only successful when people are convinced and pressured to buy. However, consultative selling, where you ask a lot of questions and qualify a prospect, is more effective. This way, the individual believes that you have their best interest in mind.
Thanks to: Kimberly Ihekwoaba of instagram.com/iamkihek/.

40. Social ≠ Sales

"Facebook is your lead generator, not your sales generator." -Amy Porterfield

The reason I love this quote is so many businesses get into social media with a goal of "making sales", which puts them on the wrong path. They need to start by building relationships first, which, if done properly, will naturally lead to sales conversations. But, if you start with sales, you'll turn people off.
Thanks to: Anita Kirkbride of Twirp Communications Inc.

41. Be Too Proud to Buy, Beg & Bug

"You can buy attention (advertising). You can beg for attention from the media (PR). You can bug people one at a time to get attention (sales). Or you can earn attention by creating something interesting and valuable." -David Meerman Scott

It’s no longer enough to be omnipresent online, be a sales strategy wunderkind or have the most meetings. In the end, we’re all salespeople. If we lose sight of the value of connection through a creative story, there’s nothing meaningful to sell.
Thanks to: Michael Hammond of Storyboard Media Group.

42. Driven By Passion

"Passion trumps everything." -Dave Tate

Failure happens when we stop trying and we stop trying because we simply do not love what we do. When we finally find that one thing that we love doing and are so passionate about, no matter how difficult, we will keep doing, or die trying.
Thanks to: Grace Chan of KingPurr.

43. Simple Little Sales Secret...

"Don't stop Selling, until your CUSTOMER is done Buying." -Vicki Fitch

From: Direct Selling 101: The Step by Step Guide to #RockThatDream in the Direct Sales Industry
Thanks to: Vicki Fitch of VickiFitch.com.

44. Keep Your Eyes on One Prize

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." -Unknown

When I was starting off in sales, I’d chase dozens of different leads at once. I’d inevitably lose focus and let my follow-up process slip. A missed email here and a late phone call there, every mistake feels so small, but when you add them all up, they make a huge difference. I really like this quote because it reminds me to focus my attention on one deal and close it before moving onto the next one.
Thanks to: Will Craig of Lease Fetcher.

45. Quote on Sales

"The problem with experts is that they do not know what they do not know." -Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan.

In sales, only rarely will you talk to someone who will immediately want to buy what you are selling, particularly a professional who believes that they know everything about their field. If they did, they would already have it. Any successful sales pitch must therefore begin with a demonstration of what the client does NOT know and how you can help them fill this knowledge gap.
Thanks to: Stepan Lavrouk of Gyana.

46. Consider Why You Sell

"Selling On Purpose is an intention, a way of life, the philosophy from which you operate--not a slogan. It's caring." -Spencer Johnson

Why this quote inspires: My purpose in life is to help people. Our software is the vehicle to help the hospitality industry be more efficient, profitable & to create a better guest experience. It’s critical for my team to be genuine & always sell on purpose. We can help more people get what they want & provide valuable results for organizations to thrive.
Thanks to: Samantha Urban of Urban Translations.

47. Be a Friend, Not a Salesperson

My favorite selling quote is from Derek Sivers:

*Don’t always be selling yourself. That keeps people at a distance from you, because it shows you’re not friends.*

*So even if it starts professional, get personal as soon as possible. Be a friend. That’s how things are done.*

I like it because he points out the deep human tendency to buy from people they trust, aka friends, as opposed to salesmen or people who are always selling.
Thanks to: Stacy Caprio of Stacy Caprio.

48. Build Up, Don't Tear Down

Henry Ford once said, "Don't find fault, find a remedy," and I couldn't agree more.

In business ownership and sales, problem solving and enthusiasm are must-haves to achieve success in the ways that matter to you.

The mindset to stay positive and avoid playing the blame game is advice for life, leading you down paths of building others and yourself up. Paired with the humility to know when (and how) to adjust your plans as you go along, this quote's a quick, simple plan for greatness.
Thanks to: Rachel Sheerin of RachelSheerin.com.

49. Attitude is Everything

"Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman - not the attitude of the prospect." -W. Clement Stone

W. Clement Stone built an empire from nothing by selling newspapers to restaurant customers back when it was unheard of to sell newspapers anywhere but the sidewalk. He then started selling insurance policies inside office buildings, when door-to-door home sales were far more common. He attributed the lack of resistance he saw in these new arenas to his politeness and confidence.
Thanks to: Jim Milan of Auto Accessories Garage.

50. Increase Your Actions!

"Never lower your target; increase your actions." -Grant Cardone

This quote has stood the test of time for me in all my business dealings. Whether I was on the phone or just trying to increase the revenue for my company, this has always been some of the best, and simplest, advice. A lot of times, you can't sell more if you just don't work more. Productive hours put in have always resulted in results.
Thanks to: Sean Dudayev of Frootful Marketing.

51. Road to Success

This powerful question from a wise leader can positively impact your future:

“Great success seldom comes from doing twenty things right. More often, it's the result of focusing on the right one, two, or three big things. What are those?”

―Linda A. Hill, Ph.D. the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard
Thanks to: Kelly Isley of Author of Adapt Now.

52. My Quote for Me Everyday

"If you think you can or think you can't, either way you are exactly right." -Attributed to Henry Ford
Thanks to: Beth Bright of Advanced Traction Systems, LTD.

53. Who's Driving?

"Don’t say, ‘If I could, I would.’ Say, ‘If I can, I will." -Jim Rohn

One of the top PGA golfers says 'the 6 inches between your ears' is your most important golf tool. It's not your driver or putter.

The same is true about selling. Whatever your attitude and thoughts are when you pick up the phone, write an email or knock on a door, drives the results.

When I need sales motivation, I look at this quote and know that "I Am Driving!"
Thanks to: Vickie MacFadden of PROMOrx.

54. Motivating Sales Pros

Art Mortell, Malibu CA, taught me this 30 years ago.

"When selling, use words for what they will do, not for what they mean."
Thanks to: Jim Herst.

55. Good, Fast, Cheap

Our Executive Director C. Panzarella always has this saying:

"If its good, if I can get it quickly, and if you're not charging an arm and a leg, I'll take it!"

This helps to keep us focused on what the consumer is looking for. If we make the process too long for them to get what they want, then they'll probably pass on it.

The Good, Fast, Cheap mantra is alive and well in our offices!
Thanks to: Brian Rob of Consumer Center For Resources.

As always, many thanks to everyone that contributed to this article!

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