25 Inspirational Quotes for Sales Reps and Leaders

There are lots of motivational quote lists but none that we know of which are all quotes from women. Why all women? The women listed below are all great role models for other women (and men) building sales careers.

Sellers (and sales leaders) have a challenging role. If you are a seller, you deal with rejection and you help people and companies make changes for the better. Change is tough. If you are a sales leader, you are constantly coaching your reps, building a pipeline of new, solid reps, and working to inspire your team to success.

After talking with Barb Giamanco (host of the podcast Conversations with Women in Sales) it hit home even more. Barb and I recently spoke to a group of mostly women (and some great male allies) at a sales event in Atlanta and Barb shared:

“What I’ve been astonished to discover in setting up interviews with women for my podcast is how often women tend to downplay their experience and expertise. Ladies, your experience and perspective IS unique, and you have a SUPERPOWER to share with the world! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”

Here’s to some great women who know what you’re feeling. Get inspired and then go make a few sales calls – or coach a rep – or focus on reaching out to some new future buyers! Get busy!

“It’s the cold that’s dead, not the calling.” – Trish Bertuzzi @BridgeGroupInc

“Start working with your prospects as if they’ve already hired you.” – Jill Konrath @JillKonrath

“No amount of pre-call planning is going to help close business if you aren’t able to ask for what you need in order to conduct business. It’s a classic case of working on the wrong end of the problem.” – Colleen Stanley @EiSelling

“The customer’s perception is your reality” – Kate Zabriskie

“People don’t just buy your products that they can see; they buy your attitude that they can sense” – Roxanne Emmerich

“Nobody cares about your product, service, or solution All they care about is the difference you can make for their organization.” – Jill Konrath @JillKonrath

“Never confuse activity with accomplishment” – Lori Richardson @ScoreMoreSales

“Buyers do business with YOU, not with your company and not with technology.” – Joanne Black @ReferralSales

“If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” – Nicki Keohohou @DSWANicki

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou @DrMayaAngelou

“People trust more, listen more, buy more when they learn about you from someone they respect and trust.” – Jennifer Gluckow @JENinaNYminute

“The biggest challenge in business is not the competition, it’s what goes on inside your own head.” – Barbara Corcoran @BarbaraCorcoran

“Failure is not the falling down, but the staying down” – Mary Pickford @TheMaryPickford

“It is confidence in our bodies, minds, and spirits that allows us to keep pushing for new adventures” – Oprah Winfrey @Oprah

“Remember, people don’t believe it when WE say it, they believe it when THEY say it.” – Shari Levitin @ShariLevitin

“Leaders foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships. They strengthen others by increasing self-determination and developing competence.” – Deb Calvert @PeopleFirstPS

“Top leaders are aware that the most significant legacy they will leave, in both their work and families, is of equipping the next generation of leaders.” – Danita Bye @DanitaBye

“Yes is the destination – No is how you get there” – Andrea Waltz @GoForNo

“My motto is ‘learn to earn’. Learning something new every day keeps your mind sharp, expands your horizons and makes your value to prospects and customers worth more.” – Barb Giamanco @BarbaraGiamanco

“A fool with a (sales) tool is still a fool” – Jill Rowley @Jill_Rowley

“Nothing is more dangerous than following each idea and requirement without having a clear strategy and a solid plan for what to achieve. The risk is that many things will be done, but no goals will be achieved.” – Tamara Schenk @TamaraSchenk

“How you sell matters. What your process is matters. But how your customers feel when they engage with you matters more.” – Tiffani Bova @Tiffani_Bova

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

“Do one thing everyday that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as WE are.” – Anais Nin

BONUS QUOTE – this sums it up for women in sales and sales leadership:

“Strong women empower other women. We all need (and need to be) role models.” – Melinda Gates @MelindaGates

Lori Richardson has spent 30 years in the profession of B2B sales and is the Voice for More Women in Sales and Sales Leadership in industries with male-majority sales organizations. She travels around North America teaching what the research shows, sharing insight and proven strategies for inclusive sales teams. Her book, “She Sells, She Leads” will be available in September. Reach her at @womensalespros or [email protected]