Business experts including Pertinence founders gathered on 25 May, 2024 at the Patron Hotel along Lekki-Epe expressway to educate a host of salespersons at the second edition of the Sales Pro Conference, powered by Pertinence Group.
The event, themed ‘Selling in Tough Times,’ was held in the Lekki area of Lagos and featured a lineup of distinguished speakers who encouraged attendees to build resilience and adaptability in their trade, regardless of the economic challenges in the country.
The conference was co-hosted by Sunday Olorunsheyi, Co-founder of Pertinence Group, who opened the floor with an inspiring keynote. Olorunsheyi shared stories from his journey as a salesman, offering practical nuggets of wisdom on living one’s dreams.
“One of the major motivations to becoming a Sales pro is the desire for financial independence,” he said.
“Dig your well before you’re thirsty, know the tune before you start dancing, don’t dine with naysayers and doubters of your dreams, stay in control to unleash your potential, leverage information and detest poverty.
“In your sales career, it is important to know that communication is key. If you don’t understand how to communicate with customers, you will eventually lose them.”
Celebrity real estate saleswoman, Confidence Molade, who was the second keynote speaker, delivered a compelling presentation on embracing change and seizing opportunities. She emphasized the need for salespersons to stay agile and proactive in the face of market fluctuations.
In her words, “Sales is the lifeblood of every business. If you are not selling, you are not in business. To be able to make sales in a tough market, you must protect your mind from bad news, you must stay positive regardless of the conditions, then learn to build trust and credibility.”
Wisdom Ezekiel, another Co-founder of Pertinence Group, addressed the critical topic of financial freedom for sales professionals in Nigeria.
In his session titled “From Hard Times to Good Times,” Ezekiel pointed out strategies for achieving economic stability and growth, and hammered on the importance of financial literacy and planning.
The conference concluded with an insightful session by serial entrepreneur Victor Gbenga Afolabi, who spoke on the psychology of selling during difficult times. “It is almost impossible to be successful without mastering the art of selling,” he said.
Afolabi described selling as a fundamental survival skill, buttressing that successful salespeople tend to make more sales during challenging times because they understand that hard times are a natural part of life and not a barrier to closing deals.
The event also featured a panel session where two veteran real estate consultants joined the co-hosts on stage to share their personal experiences and opinions on the ever-evolving field of sales as it relates to real estate.
Several attendees who registered for the conference won special prizes through a raffle draw. Six winners emerged, with one receiving a brand new mobile phone, another winning a high-tech drone gadget, a third being awarded a new laptop, and three others earning exclusive mentorship slots with the Pertinence Group co-founders.