A treasure trove of hidden gems. Like any book on sales, you’re doing yourself a real disservice if you read it thinking “I already know this stuff.” The real value comes from asking yourself, “How well do I do this?”

I own and have read, many times, all of Jeffrey books. Today as we find ourselves in the throes of economic and financial chaos I find myself seeking ‘wisdom’ to secure our business success. Secrets of Great Rainmakers holds these pearls of wisdom. Nothing is more important to a small business than sales. Nothing is more important to sales than a Rainmaker. I highly recommend this book for the new crop of small business builders that have arisen from the ashes of this the Great Recession.

Secrets of Great Rainmakers: The Keys to Success and Wealth

This is a great book that motivates and teaches you on how to become a super-salesperson. It is a model of thinking and living for success. It is a life-changing lecture!

I’d never heard of Jeffrey J. Fox before picking up this book in a bargain bin at a massive book clearance. But you know what – I bought 10 books there for what I’d usually spend on just one and if the rest of them all tank, the dollars spent will still be a bargain just for this book. Fox illustrates the simple and oh-so-true rainmaker strategies with well thought out examples and stories. The material is accessible and relevant to the person thinking about going into sales right through to the experienced person with 20 years under their belt. And although I’d never heard of the author or of his work prior to reading this title I’m encouraged to definitely read more from him.

Kirsty Dunphey, Author Retired at 27, If I can do it anyone can

I read these reviews for help ascertaining the practical usefulness of a sales book. The thousands of reviews written by fellow authors which abound throughout the review on business/sales books I discount as completely worthless, authors scratching each others backs. Then there are the reviews by all the folks that know nothing of what sales is like in the real trenches of belly to belly selling. Worthless as well. Then the reviews by so called sales people and sales managers that is their opinion of the book being a “good” book or a “bad” book, that have suggestions, systems, etc. that they deem worthy or unworthy based on nothing more then their decree. No help for a salesman looking to better his skills and productivity.

I started last January and used the dollarization principle as part of every sales process for the year. This single principal drove my closing rate into the 90 percentile (93%) when presenting to the decision maker. My closing rate dropped to 76% when I have been forced to “sell by messenger” (i.e. selling my messenger occurred at times due to my own failure to present only to the final decision maker).

I also specifically used the principal regarding a “shot on goal” to close my biggest sale of the year which paid me a commission of a little under $12,000.

I use Mr. Fox’s magic appointment setting words that make setting appointments with qualified prospects a natural, zero stress process (next time you have some one on the phone you have qualified and would like to meet just say the magic words…”do you have your calendar handy?” Direct, to the point and works in setting appointments with folks you want to see.

I’ve read libraries of sales books and my personal feeling has always been that if I pick up just one tip that helps close a sale the book was worth while. Well the rain maker books did that and much more for me. Here are the stats after 1 yr. on a national sales team of 37 sales reps, B2B, financial industry:

* Sales ranking went from 3 in the country to number 1

(4th person in country has 30% of the sales volume as number 3)

* Sales increase 2006 to 2007; 89% increase in sales

* 46% increase in income in 2007 over 2006

So hopefully this was a little more helpful as a review for my friends that are shoulder to shoulder with me in the frontlines of selling.

I’ve read a number of Jeff Fox’s books, and they’ve all been worthwhile reading. However, as someone focused primarily on bringing in new business on a regular basis (I am a 20-year veteran of the Financial Services industry), I can attest to the fact that this is Fox’s best volume thus far.

“Secrets of Great Rainmakers,” like Fox’s other books, is written in an easy-to-read style with short chapters that get straight to the point – fast. There’s no excess drivel used as filler. My copy is now highlited to the max, and I’ll refer back to it with regularity.

Even after 20 years in a sales-related career, I’m smart enough to know that I certainly do not know it all; I’m constantly learning. This book is a welcome addition to that learning process. Very, very highly recommended.

This is the second Jefferey J Fox book I’ve read, and it’s as a good as the first. Great real-world examples. Easy to read. I highly recommend everyone read it.

Mr. Fox’s books are straight to the point. He doesn’t spend a lot of time trying to help you decide if you want to be a Rainmaker, he just tells you how to do it. By learning to use killer questions and dollarize you can get what you want. I am not in sales directly, but have applied the techniques to move on in my career.

HOW TO BECOME A RAINMAKER by Jeffrey J. Fox is one of my

all-time favorite books on selling . . . if you’re in that field or know

somebody who is, do that person a big favor and get him or her a

copy . . . they’ll be forever grateful.

I recently heard the follow-up, SECRETS OF GREAT

RAINMAKERS–written and read by Fox . . . for this latest effort,

he conducted over 50 interviews with industry leaders from a

variety of field . . . .he then shares what he learned in a series

of short chapters that all contain very powerful messages.

The amazing thing about Fox is that he takes what can be

a difficult task and makes it relatively simple, provided that

you listen to his advice . . . what makes it so interesting is

that much of what he shares can’t be found elsewhere.

For example, he tells you not to knock your competition . . . for

if you do, you’re telling your customer that he or she is stupid for

considering somebody else.

He also presents “killer questions” that can be helpful in selling

anything, such as:

* In addition to yourself, who is responsible for making this decision

happen in your country? And what might be their concerns about

going ahead?

* [when a customer has a question] Why do you ask? And how

important is it to you?

There were many other memorable tidbits, including:

* In a sales call, the customer should do 80% of the talking.

* Play Rolodex Roulette at least once a month. Give it a spin,

pick some names, call some of them.

* Always use an intriguing postscript.

* The phone call never sells anything.

* Only after you get the order can you ask a non-business question.

* 90% of salespeople don’t ask for the order.

* Always ask for something on a visit; e.g., a tour of the facility. If you’re

the one being asked to take a tour, that’s a buy signal.

* Take handwritten notes on every call. Then summarize your notes in

a follow-up letter to the customer.

* Don’t mail your proposal. A good proposal, well written, has a 15-18%

winning percentage. Good proposals, when presented in person, have

a 55-65% winning percentage.

* People who ask for the sale in person have four times the chance of

getting it than those who don’t.

And my personal favorite:

* In the future, some power point presenter will be arrested for boring

the customer to death!

This book is a great continuation of the first Rainmaker book. It contains all the basic do’s and don’ts that sales people often forget.