11 reasons to teach your kids to sell

Without sales, there are no companies, no payrolls, and no economy. A salesperson will always find a way to survive; there will always be demand for their skill.

It's interesting that the educational system aims to prepare us to earn money in our professional lives. However, you can pursue a bachelor's degree or even a doctorate and never take a class on the skill that can truly make you money: selling. What a great contradiction!

Speaking with Cris Urzúa, a sales coach, negotiation expert, commercial strategies consultant, and creator of Selling Through Service (a new sales philosophy), who started as a corporate salesman in Cancun at 17 with considerable success and currently helps entrepreneurs and business owners acquire this valuable skill, we discover much about why he believes selling is one of the most important personal development activities. "When I formally started selling, the first few months were very tough, but within 6 months, I had managed to earn substantial paychecks that allowed me to become independent. I think I had a great advantage coming from a family with two salesperson parents who knew that this skill empowers you and gives you confidence like no other," comments Cris Urzúa. Cris gives us 11 reasons why he believes it's essential to teach your children to sell, especially in this era of so many changes:

1. They'll be free from fixed salaries: "Almost all of us have been in a job from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm where you have to endure a boss who will pay you whatever he wants. Sometimes, we feel like we don't have many opportunities for growth. Is that really what you want for your children? I don't think so. Recently, I met a 7-year-old girl who loved decorating her notebooks, and they turned out amazing. Her classmates approached her and asked her to decorate their notebooks, and that's how the career of this young entrepreneur began. By charging for this service, she managed to save 500 pesos! Do you know the level of empowerment, freedom, and courage you give a child by being able to create something out of nothing, help others, and earn money?"

2. They'll overcome the fear of rejection: "Something I love about children is that they never accept a NO as an answer. Children insist and insist until they get what they want. In other words, children are already natural-born salespeople. However, over the years, parents tend to dampen this persistence. If you teach a child to never give up, that if something doesn't go as expected, they should try again, you'll already be teaching the essence of sales. If a customer says NO, the salesperson will simply move on to more customers, and it's likely that some will say YES."

3. They'll be able to negotiate the life they deserve with the world: "When a child learns to earn things, they feel self-sufficient, which gives them a sense of responsibility. They will also know that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to with effort. They won't depend on the approval of a boss or a teacher to achieve their dreams."

4. No matter what they do in the future, they'll be leaders: "The best thing you can do for your children is to motivate them to sell from a young age. You can start with classic lemonade stands, baking cookies, making crafts, and selling them. Children are characterized by their great capacity to imagine and create, their curiosity to discover new things, their adventurous spirit, and their positive way of overcoming obstacles. All these points are commonalities between children and the greatest leaders in the world. Use them as a parent!"

5. They'll always have work: "When I was a child, a friend's grandfather told me: when machines replace all the workers in the world, we'll still need salespeople to sell those machines. Without sales, there are no companies, no payrolls, and no economy. A salesperson will always find a way to survive; there will always be demand for their skill."

6. They'll learn to motivate themselves and believe in themselves: "When a human being, especially a child, begins to feel capable of creating things and overcoming challenges, their mind starts to break limiting barriers, leading them to believe in themselves. Even the best salesperson in the world has been told NO many times, but by overcoming rejection and moving forward time and time again, they become the best in the world."

7. They'll have a can-do attitude: "Don't forget that motivation is the key to everything. Typically, children always have an attitude of 'I can!' and never give up on anything. Although there may be times when they need a little push from their parents, always show optimism towards them, make your child feel how special they are, and also teach them not to give up when things don't go as expected."

8. They'll know from a young age that helping others is the best way to live: "The best way to sell is by adding value, a very important principle to teach children. Selling is not about taking; it's about giving, helping, and relieving people's pain in life."

9. They'll understand the true value of things: "The fact that a child is earning their own money and can spend it on things they need or want will teach them to value what they have more and realize that money doesn't grow on trees, so they should take care of their things."

10. They'll set their own price for their work hours: "Teaching your child that they can be their own boss is the best gift you can give them as a parent. However, be careful not to make them think they can do everything on their own. Of course, you'll always be there to guide them, give them all your love and support. It's important to strike a balance between the two. By promoting habits of working at home, the value of saving, and entrepreneurship, you'll be teaching your child not to depend on anyone when they grow up, to trust that they can do things on their own, and they won't be slaves to a 9-to-5 job."

11. They'll thank you for it for life: "Not all children receive an education in sales and business. Even if you have little free time, sit down and talk with your children. Let them tell you what they like and what they would like to do in life, what they want to become in the future. Or perhaps you already know all this, and if so, start taking those small actions that will help your child achieve their goal and bring them closer to their goals and dreams."

Selling is a profession that has been underestimated for many years, often seen as inferior work. However, the world needs more salespeople and entrepreneurs with values, and it's up to us to raise the future bright minds that will lead this world. That's why we must instill in children the skill of selling and give them a good preparation for their future.