Basketball: Sell, Sell, Sell (Plus Triple Lagniappe)

"Everything in life is sales. It's so important that you become comfortable with how to sell." - Sara Blakely

We sell every day. Sell energy. Sell emotion. Sell belief. 

Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly said, "I'm not a coach, I'm a salesman." In Daly Wisdom, Pat Williams explained that Daly sold to many customers - players, management, and media. He sold roles, shots, his system, personnel decisions, and belief in the program by the fans. 

Know the customer (players, families, school, community). Understand their needs and their wants. Sell tradition or change. Sell the basics and innovation. 

Pitch and deliver solutions. 

• What's the problem? (How to play)
• What's the solution? (Attention to detail...see Lagniappe)
• Why this is a better solution. (Small sided-games, game-like, more touches)

Selling tests our skills. Overcome fear of failure, embarrassment, and public speaking. What's the worst that can happen? Stage fright is real. Stage sudden death isn't. Have a worthy product - organization, education, execution. Create an experience where players (and parents) want to collaborate, connect, and improve. Fans should want to watch our games. 

But tell the truth. Kevin Eastman says, "you can't fool dogs, kids, or basketball players." 

In Simply the Best, Tina Turner sings, "Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams." But know that people expect promises fulfilled. Don't misrepresent your intentions. Don't sell opportunity and bury kids on the bench. 

Sell, sell, sell. 

Lagniappe: Teach them #HowtoPlay with drills like 3-on-3 top

Lagniappe 2: Buy responsibly. In the Middle Ages, peasants would go to market to buy a piglet. Unscrupulous dealers would package a kitten in a burlap bag. When the buyer opened the sack, they got a rude surprise and the birth of three expressions. 

• "Don't buy a pig in a poke."
• "They let the cat out of the bag." 
• "They were left holding the bag." 

Lagniappe 3. 40 seconds of hilarity. Overcome your fears.