--- title: Closing Sales description: Closing 'hard to convince' prospects. --- # [SELLING IN THE 21ST CENTURY](https://www.rickroberge.com/) [![header-sm-linkedin-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465400397-png/images/header-sm-linkedin-blue.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge) [![header-sm-twitter-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465371692-png/images/header-sm-twitter-blue.png)](https://twitter.com/RainMakerMaker) [![header-sm-google-plus-red](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-462412948-png/images/header-sm-google-plus-red.png)](https://plus.google.com/+RickRoberge/posts) [![header-sm-rss](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-480298330-png/images/header-sm-rss.png)](https://www.rickroberge.com/rss.xml) # [Science for Sales Rock Stars](https://www.rickroberge.com/) ## [Closing Sales](https://www.rickroberge.com/closing-sales) ![](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RR.jpg?width=35&height=35&name=RR.jpg) By [Rick Roberge](https://www.rickroberge.com/author/rick-roberge)   May 30, 2014 7:34:48 AM My client was trying to 'convince' a prospect to buy. How do you handle 'hard to convince' prospects? Do you give up? Do you strip line? Do you ask what the objection is? Do you tell your prospect that they're stupid? Do you ask, "Why?" Do you ask what they need to see/hear that will change their mind? Let me share **three thoughts**. **First,** let me suggest that your prospect is probably trying to decide if they ***want** *what you have, but they have decided that they ***don't need ***what you have. Here are some examples. - When I throw steaks on the grill, I want to have a glass of wine to drink while I cook. I need propane or charcoal to fuel the fire. Without propane or charcoal those steaks don't get cooked, but they can get cooked without the wine (although it won't be as much fun.) - Do you need to go to college to be successful? Ask Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller, James Cameron, Mark Zuckerberg, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Lady Gaga, Tiger Woods [what they think](http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1988080,00.html). Apparently, they didn't want to, but still attained some level of success. - Some people don't need a car. They live near mass transit and can rent a car when they travel outside the limits of the transit system, but some people that don't need a car choose to have a car because, for whatever reason, they want one. Here's the point. **If you want to avoid the objection altogether, you need to help your prospect figure out what NEED they won't be able to fulfill if they don't have what you're selling.** (Read that again.) Need is different than want. Many WANT to be in the **[Top 1%](https://www.rickroberge.com/Blog/bid/221679/The-Top-1)**, but clearly, 99% don't NEED to. So, my first thought is help the prospect figure out what they need and if your stuff can help them get it, they will buy from you. **Second thought:** Let's assume that you've conducted a good sales process (whatever yours is) and you believe that your prospect should be ready to buy. Try this. "Gotta tell you, Mr. Prospect. Usually at this point, people are telling me, this is great. This is awesome. How do we get going? When can we start? With you, I'm not hearing it. Did I screw up?" They'll tell you how to close them. **Final thought:** I'm a delegator. If there's any way that I can get somebody else to do it, I'm gonna find it and use it. If I don't know what to do next, this is my 'go to' question from my **[best questions](https://www.rickroberge.com/Blog/bid/332796/My-Best-Sales-Questions)**. "I feel like there's a question that I should ask right now. What would you ask you if you were me?" Want to do a role play or have a free coaching call with me? [![Click to schedule YOUR call with Rick!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/229131/c631812b-ea6c-4b37-b17d-c0d13757afda.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/229131/c631812b-ea6c-4b37-b17d-c0d13757afda)   - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Want updates as they're published? #### Enter your email: BTW, do you have an idea or question that would make a good article? Would you like to write or co-author it? Either way, **[ send me an email](mailto:therainmakermaker@gmail.com?Subject=Blog%20article/author%20idea)**. **[Rick Roberge](https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author)** ## About this blog *This blog is for, by and about Sales Rock Stars, RainMakers, Entrepreneurs (and/or those that strive to be)* ## [Read My Articles on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/rickroberge) ## [About Rick](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me) **[The Original ](http://therainmakermaker.com/)****[RainMaker Maker Blog (pre-2012)](http://therainmakermaker.com/)** [**Remote Bookkeeping**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)[** Made Easy**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy) [**Awesome Website Design**](https://www.inbounddesignstudio.com/contact/) Search RainMakers & Sales Rock Stars Search ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Month - [November 2025 (19)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/11) - [October 2025 (18)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/10) - [June 2025 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/06) - [May 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/05) - [April 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/04) - [July 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/07) - [June 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/06) - [May 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/05) - [March 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/03) - [January 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/01) - [November 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/11) - [May 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/05) - [April 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/04) - [March 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/03) - [February 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/02) - [January 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/01) - [December 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/12) - [November 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/11) - [October 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/10) - [September 2021 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/09) - [August 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/08) - [July 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/07) - [June 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/06) - [May 2021 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/05) - [April 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/04) - [March 2021 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/03) - [January 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/01) - [December 2020 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/12) - [November 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/11) - [October 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/09) - [August 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/08) - [July 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/07) - [June 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/06) - [May 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/05) - [April 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/04) - [March 2020 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/10) - [September 2019 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/09) - [August 2019 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/08) - [July 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/06) - [April 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/04) - [March 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/03) - [February 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/11) - [October 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/08) - [July 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/07) - [June 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/06) - [May 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/05) - [April 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/04) - [March 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/03) - [February 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/02) - [January 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/01) - [December 2017 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/12) - [November 2017 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/11) - [October 2017 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/10) - [September 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/09) - [August 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/08) - [July 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/07) - [June 2017 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/06) - [May 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/05) - [April 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/04) - [March 2017 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/03) - [February 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/02) - [January 2017 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/01) - [December 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/12) - [November 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/11) - [October 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/10) - [September 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/09) - [August 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/08) - [July 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/07) - [June 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/06) - [May 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/05) - [April 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/04) - [March 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/03) - [February 2016 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/02) - [January 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/01) - [December 2015 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/12) - [November 2015 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/11) - [October 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/10) - [September 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/09) - [August 2015 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/08) - [July 2015 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/07) - [June 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/06) - [May 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/05) - [April 2015 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/04) - [March 2015 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/03) - [February 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/02) - [January 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/01) - [December 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/12) - [November 2014 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/11) - [October 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/10) - [September 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/09) - [August 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/08) - [July 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/07) - [June 2014 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/06) - [May 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/05) - [April 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/04) - [March 2014 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/03) - [February 2014 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/02) - [January 2014 (14)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/11) - [October 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/10) - [September 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/09) - [August 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/08) - [July 2013 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/07) - [June 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/06) - [May 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/05) - [April 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/04) - [March 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/03) - [February 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/02) - [January 2013 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/01) [see all](https://www.rickroberge.com/closing-sales#) Website designed by [Inbound Design Partners](https://www.inbounddesignpartners.com/)