The Sell summary

Why do you work? Some people do it for the money, others do it for the joy. What is it for you?

You can only achieve success if you understand what motivates you to work. This is another crucial part of knowing yourself.

Being successful isn't just about performing well at work. It's also about your attitude, health and the way you present yourself.

First impressions mean a lot. In fact, a study at Harvard Medical School found that people assess your competence and trustworthiness within the first quarter of a second of looking at you!

Once you have a good understanding of your product (you!), you need to find your customers, because a great product is meaningless if people don't know about it.

Seek out the people who are looking for your service, product or message. The best way to do this is through social media.

How do you go about selling an apartment, or getting customers to sign up for your service?

The key to making a sale is to accentuate your positive attributes. In any kind of meeting, whether a business meeting or a one-on-one negotiation, the first ten minutes are key. They usually determine what the meeting's outcome will be.

Building a team is an essential part of growing your business, and teams provide you with more opportunities for media exposure. Media is tricky, however, so make sure you use it to your advantage.

Start building your team by finding the people who want to work with you. When you're interviewing people, remember that you aren't looking for other versions of yourself; you need team members with a variety of talents and experiences, and you need to keep them happy!

It's inevitable that you'll pass through difficult times on your way to success. Everyone stumbles, no matter how successful they are. The important thing is to stand back up quickly.

When facing challenges, it's critical that you maintain a positive outlook on life. Live a life of pronoia, the opposite of paranoia. Imagine that the world is conspiring to help you – view any obstacles or hard times as opportunities to learn. You'll start to view your life as a journey, where each step brings you closer to success.