Does Communicating Ideas Count as Selling?

[Jim]

Interesting comments left on our video:

"I understand that the author is using it as a metaphor, but I am uncomfortable with the idea of the term "sales" encapsulating so much. Sales are about financial transactions, and it's dangerous to add that subtext to creative or spiritual endeavors. Calling something like MLK Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech a sales pitch for civil rights indeed cheapens it."

And in response:

"I fully understand where you are coming from, and yes their is a fine line. But a politician like MLK sold his idea to the public. Selling an idea is as pure a form of sales as selling a shoe. When someone sells a shoe (per say), the consumer is buying it because they feel they will benefit from it - could be for image or sports, or just to look professional. Selling an idea is the same thing, the person is buying the idea that they will benefit from voting for MLK or Obama or Bush."

What do you think?

[Matt]

I definitely agree with the author. Almost all of us use sales-like skills in our careers and being conscious of that will make us better at our jobs. Pink's book simply aims to make us conscious of non-sales selling and therefore better at it.

The first commenter's opinion on MLK's speech being cheapened by being considered a sales pitch is uneducated. Anyone who has taken serious public speaking courses or has read about communication studies knows that every speech features a thesis and an idea to share (or sell).