Years ago, a mentor told me that she never buys from someone who doesn’t ask for the sale. It was an off-the-cuff remark, but it turned into a powerful lesson for me. At the time, I was just learning how to make sales calls—and how to overcome the associated nervousness. This casual comment somehow bolstered my confidence; the notion of “asking for the sale” seemed to indicate competence and expertise. It has informed my selling—and buying—ever since.






