Jack Robinson

Selling has a weird emotional weight for a lot of us.

I used to think I hated selling. Then I noticed the real problem was narrower. I hate slimy selling.

I kept asking myself what “slimy” meant, because it is easy to use that word as an excuse. “I’m not a sales person.” “Marketing is gross.” “Business is manipulative.”

For me, slimy shows up when I’m trying to get someone to buy something that does not fit them.

The offer might be legit. The person might be legit. The match might still be wrong.

And the moment the match is wrong, I can feel it. It’s physical. My shoulders tense. My voice speeds up. I start explaining things that do not need explaining. It’s like my body is telling me I’m about to borrow trust I did not earn.

I also think people have a strong radar for this.

Most people do not enjoy being sold. Most people enjoy buying.

Buying feels like agency. Selling feels like pressure.

So I try to run a cleaner process.

I focus on clarity. I say who it is for and who it is not for. I invite questions. I say “no” faster when it is not a match.

It is slower sometimes. It is also calmer. And I sleep better.

If you’ve sold anything, I’m curious about one thing. What does “slimy” mean to you, and what do you do the moment you feel it show up.