Book Review : A Salesman’s Lesson by C.R. Jena

A Salesman’s Lessons by C.R. Jena

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I was asked to review this particular book, I thought, ‘Why?’ Because I happened to be far removed from the subject matter. I initially thought what is the relevance of this book for a chemical engineering student, then again what is the relevance of an MBA degree in the life of that particular chemical engineering student?!!! That got be going on this book.
As I plodded beyond the first chapter, I discovered that the book happened to be massively important for me for the simple reason that I happened to be a pretty dismal and a bungling Student Coordinator of the Training and Placement Cell of our college. You might say, ‘I learnt it the hard way.’
Each chapter taught me something that I ought to have done differently. I learnt that one has to spend more time on the stay points, discovered that you simply cannot call the HR every two days (1 week is ideal!), discovered I had to improve upon after sales services (!!), increase my WWW (contact list!), stop being so lazy and properly utilize my time (like a king!), understand the basic difference between asking and interrogation, discovered how entropy acts beyond the scope of thermodynamics, learnt it is always more effective to have a telephonic communication then to write a mail and to give 100% focus on 100% clients.
This book is not a one time read, it is a sort of worker’s manual where you visit the chapters as and when you require.
The language is simple enough and the mathematical formulas, though used to differentiate this book from other sales book, drives home the point being made.
Though the author specifically mentions that this isn’t a self-help book, it surely reads like one. Though I loved it!
Postscript: Some guys like Aatish Gohil are born salespersons, others like Vismay Harani learn it by constantly making mistakes by reading this book.