Be Of Service but NEVER Be Servile

In olden days, when a knight met another knight, he gave the greeting "I am at your service." Being "of service" implies mutual obligation; you are choosing, as an equal, to be of assistance. It's the exact opposite of being servile, which is how a slave acts when he truckles to his master.

Successful sales reps are always "of service." They are never, EVER servile. IMHO, there is nothing (NOTHING!) that will influence your career so your decision about which attitude to take your customers. Here's a list to help you identify the difference:

• Being of service means holding your head high and demanding respect.
• Being servile means manipulating the customer into doing what you want.

• Being of service means only selling what the customer really needs.
• Being servile means selling the customer what he thinks he needs.

• Being of service means setting up deals that are mutual profitable.
• Being servile means figuring out ways to milk customers of extra cash.

• Being of service means telling the truth, even when it's uncomfortable.
• Being servile means dissembling and obfuscating when it's convenient.

• Being of service means always operating from a center of genuineness.
• Being servile means hiding your true intentions lest you be exposed.

• Being of service means having pride in yourself and your career.
• Being servile means pretending that you're not really in sales.

• Being of service means losing a sale (or a job) for doing the right thing.
• Being servile means making a sale (or keeping a job) even when it's toxic.

• Being of service means building relationships that last a lifetime.
• Being servile means never having any real relationships at all.

• Being of service means experiencing a life of courage.
• Being servile means living in a state of constant fear.

• Being of service means a chance to reach the pinnacle of sales success.
• Being servile means forever being (at best) a mid-level hack.