How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling

How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling is hands down the best sales book I have ever read, and one I will return to again and again. Frank Bettger’s story is incredibly relatable, inspiring, and packed with timeless wisdom. His transformation from a struggling salesman to a top performer is not just a narrative of success but a practical guide for anyone looking to improve in sales—or in life. What I loved most about this book is how Bettger breaks down complex sales strategies into simple, actionable steps. He shares personal anecdotes, failures, and lessons that resonate deeply, making it feel as though you’re getting advice from a mentor rather than reading a textbook. The principles he shares—such as enthusiasm, setting goals, and developing a winning attitude—are not just theories but proven techniques that can be applied immediately. The writing is straightforward, engaging, and filled with insights that transcend sales. Bettger emphasizes the importance of building trust and relationships, which is crucial not only in sales but in every aspect of personal and professional life. His emphasis on genuine enthusiasm and integrity truly sets this book apart. I highly recommend How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling to anyone, whether you’re a seasoned salesperson or someone just starting out. It’s an easy read, filled with actionable wisdom that will leave a lasting impact. This is not just a book for your bookshelf—it’s one to revisit time and time again for renewed inspiration and guidance.

After feeling a little bit dissapointed on my performance and ready to quit my position I knew nowhere to look. I found this book and decided to give it a try; knowing nothing about the author but just going by the reviews. I'll tell you. I do not regret a thing about buying this book and I'm actually glad for doing so. I was ready to quit my sales position in my company and was going to enter a "customer service" position which obviously pays less than sales. I felt dissapointed by my performance and my numbers; I thought I knew the business. It was then when I picked up this book. Even though it was written a bit ago, it still reflects proper techniques and successful sales guides that anyone can easily follow. I didn't know that such a strong but often unimportant word "why" would matter so much. After using this word "why not sir..." I could really get customers to go to the real truth; and of course, I had answers that made 100% sense to those rejections. In a couple of weeks I was able to double my commissions and felt more confident about myself. I started enjoying my job more. I felt like my sales job was a game, and I was the leader on my team! Now if I really want I feel like I can get around any rejections and by just asking "why" you can make the sale. It works! Just ask, "WHY?" And you'll get to the point; eventually your customer will not be able to give you an answer strong enough to justify that "why" and will make the sale. Of course, it doesn't happen all the time, depending on your sales offer and your job and your customers. Anyways, so to keep my story short. If you think you're failing at your sales position please give this book a try. Study it, keep it next to your desk, in your pocket or briefcase. Refer to it any time you need it. Learn that enthusiasm is one of the main keys to selling, and learn to love the customer's property, learn to ask "why?" and to agree with the customer. Frank Brettger wrote this book using real life examples from his own experiences, and he shows you how to put them to use. Think again. If you think you've failed, purchase this book. With very little time and dedication, you'll see real results.

This Is 1 of the best books ever written on selling. Do yourself a favor! Get it! Read it. Use it!

This book is positioned as a Dale Carnegie-approved introduction to attitudes to develop for more sales. The book contains the following parts. Each part contains several chapters and key ideas. It is my intent that the discussions of the content kindle your interest and spur you on to buy the book. Part 1. "These Ideas Lifted Me Out of the Ranks of Failure" In this part, the author recommends increasing one's enthusiasm in order to increase sales. The author also recommends keeping careful records of each sales call (visit). Through the records, the author discovers that 70% of the sales are made on the first interview, 23% on the second, and 7% on the third and after. And yet 50% of his time was spent going after the 7%. I could relate to the futility of such an approach. Part 2. "Formula for Success in Selling" In this section the author recommends finding a prospect's inner motivation in order to increase sales. He also recommends asking questions to learn more about the prospect. Based on the stories in the book, the author is a master at the FUD technique of sales (instilling fear, uncertainty, and doubt in others to manipulate them into buying). Part 3. "Six Ways to Win and Hold the Confidence of Others" In this part, the author recommends not speaking poorly about your competitors. He also mentions the power of customer testimonials. Part 4. "How to Make People Want to do Business with You" In this section, the author stresses the importance of remembering names, and not talking too much. Part 5. "Steps in Sale" In this part, the author stresses the importance of selling the interview (meeting), not the product. He also recommends using appointments to manage time more effectively. Part 6. "Don't Be Afraid to Fail" In this section, the author recommends increasing one's effort (such as increasing the number of sales calls) in order to generate more sales. He closes the book by listing the 13 subjects (Temperance, Silence, Order, etc.) Benjamin Franklin discusses in his autobiography, and recommends the reader find his or her own 13 subjects on which to focus. Overall, I found the book interesting with useful elements for traditional relationship-based salespeople. The part I appreciated the most was on effectiveness, such as reviewing sales records to discover that he had been essentially wasting 50% of his time on lackluster prospects.

When I first saw this book, I thought to myself, "why would I buy a book that is so small compared to the others, and includes the word failure in its title"? Thankfully I purchased it anyway because it was one of the best books I've ever read. One that didn't even lull me to sleep since that's what happens when a book gets long winded. I was reading Tom Hopkins' book "How to be a successful salesman" and finished reading this book first! It's truly an amazing book because so much of the principles in it were written over 60 years ago, and it still can be applied today. I'm sure that many of those self help "gurus" such as Anthony Robbins or Robert Kyosaki (I think that's how you spell his last name) have read this book and basically plagiarized it's most important principles while calling it "there own ideas". It truly is one of the better books out there and believe me, there are plenty to choose from. Unfortunately, many of them are real losers but not this one. Mr. Bettger (pronounced bet-cher) uses some his own life experiences which is what makes this book such an easy read because he explains it with so much inspiration and enthusiasm. I guess it's because he uses some of the principles he learned from reading books by the REAL INSPIRATIONAL, if not the original gurus of self help, Napoleon Hill & Dale Carnegie. I tell you, when I started reading this book, I just couldn't put it down. It makes you want to do something right away just as soon as you finish reading it. For example, I've been meaning to loose a little weight (ok maybe alot) for some time, but I never got around to doing it. As they always say, something would always come up. If it wasn't one thing it was another. Well after reading this book, I would've ran to the gym and signed up except that it was about 12 in the morning. So I signed up the next day. I am proud to say that I have lost about 10-12 pounds so far and I'm feeling like a melting snowman. You see my friends, reading this book isn't just for people who are looking for a career in sales. It's a book that inspires anyone who is looking to do something with his life that should have been done ages ago! You just needed that little push and this book can help give you that push. So for anyone who feels his life is in a rut or needs to get a little inspired, or if you're a litte broke and don't have the $10.40 for this book because you just spent $25.00 on the last Anthony Robbins book,(man there's so many of his books) borrow it from someone! I urge you to get this book. As I said before it's an easy read and you can even read it to your children because since it was written 60 years ago, it contains no foul language. And you can "bet your life" on that!

This is a book written in 1949, and so the wording, the amounts, and so on, are based in that era. But my dad was right when he bought this book, read it, and lived by it, and passed it along to me. It's an easy read, and as you read along in it, you see what skills a successful salesman needs (or, indeed, what anyone needs that wants to influence another.) Find out what the other person wants, and then help them find the best way to get it. Dale Carnegie wrote the introduction, and showed his enthusiasm about this book. This book urges one to be enthusiastic, and this book shows one how to be enthusiastic--enthusiasm can't be faked, and enthusiasm works and true enthusiasm helps lead to success. There are lots of other organizational and selling skills discussed in this book. Again, this book shows its years in the dollar amounts and some of the situations that are discussed, but this book keeps its continuing relevance in the wisdom that it conveys. Be honest, and listen, said Bettger. Listen to this review, it's honest, and read this book, and learn from it. You'll be glad to read it, as my dad and I were, and I've asked my sons to read it as well. I looked over the other reviews of this book and almost universally they were very laudatory. You will also be glad to read this book and to look at a lot of ways how you can be more successful and still stay true to an honest view of the world and how anyone can, by looking for what someone else needs, to help them get there, whether you are in sales or you think you are in any other occupation (hey, we all help meet someone's needs no matter what we do, even when we define and meet our own needs or our customer's/client's/friend's/love's/family's etc's needs.)

This book is a must read for anyone seeking to develop themselves and achieve fantastic sales in their business.I learnt a lot about life and business reading this book.

If you only read 1 business book, make it this one. It easily teaches you traits that are useful in business, selling and personal life.

A nearly 100 years old book that still holds up to this day, most of the sales techniques you see today, but where they literally came from. A must read for anyone who ever faced a customer.

libro assolutamente fantastico. lo consiglio vivamente a tutti coloro che devono vendere.

Amazing book. Offer a lot of advice and learned alot. Will read it again soon to refresh myself as it was very powerful

This book really changed my career, where it's hard to survive, it's help me to write a success story

Buen libro para un principiante como yo. Sincero, práctico y positivo. Me ha gustado y lo recomendaré a los miembros de mi equipo.