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In sales, and anything else, it is easy to get caught up in the tools you have and the new cool things on the horizon.   “I’d be so much more productive if I had Widget X” or “I could sell 3x as fast if I used Tool Y”.

Really?  The tools and gadgets we use are great and all, but you should remember that the skills you already have are what you really need.  My iPhone is awesome but it doesn’t make me a better salesman.   Does it help to keep my stuff organized and accessible? Yes – but I used to do the same things with a small notebook that I carried around everywhere with me and my old basic cell phone.

As a good salesman all you need is a pen, paper, phone and your brain to be effective.   Don’t let your CRM or your Lead Manager or your email and calendar get in the way.  When the tool gets in the way, stop using it – use the simplest possible solution to get you through.

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