#1076 Inveigle

I just learned a new word, inveigle. It means to persuade with false flattery and deception. Hard Stop! 

I persuade professionally. I write and speak to persuade people to buy into certain concepts, viewpoints, and convictions that I believe will help them personally and professionally. I persuade, driven by a moral imperative that compels me to convince you that these principles I espouse are not mine but are universal truths to adopt for your betterment. I persuade, convince, compel, argue, and reason, but I don’t inveigle.

In my selling life, it’s the same. I’m saddled with the burden of those who’ve inveigled before me, poisoning the well and clouding the air for the professional salespeople who follow. Their stink will always cling, even to the best of us.

I could rail against dishonest salespeople for ten pages but suffice it to say that persuading, convincing, selling, attracting, and moving people in any way is an essential skill in business and life that leaves no room for inveigling.

Once bitten, twice shy, as they say. Being charismatic, convincing, and persuasive is like a high-wire act. People want to be around it, watch it, be wowed by it, and even be touched by its power, but part of them is waiting for a fall.

To falsely flatter or convince by deceptive means is that fall. 

Always be genuine and approach any situation you need to convince another with their well-being in front of your mind. Remember what the great Zig Zigler said: “You can have anything you want in life as long as you help enough others to get what they want.”

Inveigling is a shortcut. Lying and deceiving is often easier than doing the work required to bring folks around to your point of view honestly.

It’s better to lose than to lie.

Own Your Sales Gene…