Title: How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling
Author: Frank Bettger
First published January 1, 1947
192 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780671794378 (ISBN10: 067179437X)
Rating: 4.26
Overview
Discover the secrets to becoming a successful salesperson with How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger. This book is a must-read for anyone whose job it is to sell, whether it’s houses, mutual funds, or ideas.
Bettger’s own journey from a failed insurance salesman to a highly-paid salesperson provides readers with invaluable insights into the principles of successful selling. Inside this book, you’ll find step-by-step guidelines, instructive anecdotes, and foolproof principles that will help you develop the style, spirit, and presence of a winning salesperson.
Learn how to harness the power of enthusiasm, conquer fear, and turn skeptical clients into enthusiastic buyers. Apply Bettger’s keen insights and seven golden rules for closing a sale to become more efficient, profitable, and valuable to your company.
About the Author
Frank Bettger was more than just a salesman and author, he was a man who found success in life through enthusiasm and hard work. Born in 1888, he played baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1910 under the name Frank Betcher, but after a brief career, he returned to his hometown of Philadelphia.
There, he started collecting accounts for a furniture store on a bike before eventually becoming a life insurance salesman for Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania. However, he struggled at first and almost quit after just 10 months.
It was during this moment of reflection that he remembered his baseball manager’s advice about his lack of enthusiasm. Bettger made a promise to himself to start acting more enthusiastically during his insurance presentations.
He also met a successful salesman who advised him to read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Bettger realized that Franklin’s method of asking “key” questions might work with selling policies.
He tried it, and it worked. Bettger’s technique improved over time, and he became the Top Salesman for 20 years with Fidelity Mutual.
Eventually, Bettger met Dale Carnegie, who encouraged him to write his first best-selling books: How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling and How I Multiplied My Income and Happiness in Selling. His first book was translated into over a dozen languages, and he also gave a series of lectures to Jaycees organizations nationwide with Dale Carnegie.
In 1960, Bettger wrote his last book, How I Learned the Secrets of Success in Selling. The book focused on his life and the lessons he learned during his short baseball career.
It reflected how those lessons helped mold him into the successful salesman he became. Frank Bettger’s story is a testament to the power of enthusiasm and hard work, and his legacy lives on through his books and teachings.
Editoral Review
How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger is a timeless classic that has been inspiring readers for over seven decades. Bettger was a successful salesman in the early twentieth century who made a fortune selling insurance, and he later became a renowned motivational speaker and author.
First published in 1947, this book is a memoir that recounts Bettger’s journey from a failed minor league baseball player to a successful insurance salesman. The book is written in a straightforward and engaging style that makes it accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
Bettger shares his real-life experiences and offers practical advice that can be applied to any sales profession or even to life in general. He emphasizes the importance of developing positive habits, building strong relationships with clients, and taking responsibility for one’s successes and failures.
Bettger’s writing is peppered with colorful anecdotes and memorable quotes that illustrate his points and keep the reader engaged. He also includes exercises and checklists to help the reader apply his lessons in a practical way.
One of the strengths of the book is its timelessness; even though it was written over seventy years ago, the lessons Bettger teaches are still relevant today. This book is not just for salespeople, however.
Anyone who is looking to improve their communication skills, build effective relationships, or overcome self-doubt can benefit from Bettger’s insights. His advice on goal-setting and visualization can be applied to any area of life where one is seeking to achieve success.
While there are no major flaws in the book, some readers may find the writing style a bit dated or simplistic. Additionally, some of the anecdotes may come across as contrived or formulaic.
However, these are minor quibbles, given the overall quality of the book. In conclusion, How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling is a classic that deserves to be read and reread by anyone seeking to improve their communication skills or achieve success in any area of life, not just in sales.
Bettger’s writing is engaging, practical, and memorable, and his lessons are still relevant today. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve themselves, and I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
