Best Fictional Salesperson and What Makes Them Exceptional

April 10, 2023
Tom Jose

What Made the Best Fictional Salesmen Great?

Numerous well-known fictional salesmen exist. In addition, numerous dramas and movies showcase competent salesmen making wise financial decisions, from The Office, Michael Scott, to Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. But who is The Office's finest salesperson? And from which fictional salesman can you take the most inspiration? Continue reading to find out who we think is the finest fictional salesperson in TV and cinema and what makes each one great.

The Office: Michael Scott

It isn't easy to think of a renowned fictional salesperson without thinking about The Office. You may like Dwight Schrute's or Jim Halpert's techniques, but you have to accept that Michael Scott has the greatest expertise in sales—and every time he steps in, a deal is made. Michael Scott's sales strategy is centered on people. Perhaps you laughed when he remarked, "Everything in business is personal; it's the most personal thing in the world." However, there is more to it than that.

One of the clearest examples of Michael Scott's sales abilities occurs in the seventh episode of season two when Michael and his employer Jan meet with Christian, who represents the government's paper interests in the neighboring county. It's significant because Dunder Mifflin, the paper firm Michael works for, is struggling. However, this transaction has the potential to save them.

Michael initially changes the meeting venue to avoid appearing "snooty" by meeting at a local hotel. Instead, much to Jan's chagrin, he chooses to accompany Christian to a nearby Chili's for lunch. This renowned fictional salesperson seals the transaction at Chili's because, rather than diving directly into business and attempting to complete the sale, he first gets to know Christian. He begins by cracking jokes and offering to split the "amazing bloom" onion. They converse, joke, and chat before Michael expresses his wish to produce paper for the county. Jan is both surprised and charmed by the personal touch. And that demonstrates why Michael Scott is the finest fictional salesperson in the world.

Mad Men: Don Draper

Don Draper's notoriety precedes him as being the most well-known fictional marketer on television. Indeed, if you Google "Don Draper Sales Techniques," you'll discover many articles praising Don's skills and instructing you on how to emulate him. Of course, Draper teaches various things, but one of his most essential sales secrets is being proactive rather than reactive.

In the season one finale, Eastman Kodak hopes to develop a slide projector campaign around the wheel. In many circumstances, sales personnel may anticipate the client's needs. Don Draper, on the other hand, seeks to challenge convention. He takes a bold, outside-the-box step to distinguish himself from the competition.

He injects nostalgia into his presentation by insisting that using the slide projector "is not referred to as the wheel. It's known as a carousel." Carousels have a fanciful and entertaining vibe. This renowned fictional salesperson used a unique method and a grasp of his customer's company to build trust. He's done his research and taken the time to understand everything he can about his client's goods and services. As a result, he can finally bring a proactive resolution to the table that meets his client's demands and surpasses his expectations.

Good Girls: Beth Boland

While Beth Boland's character in the TV program Good Girls, portrayed by Christina Hendricks, is not precisely a salesperson, she has numerous memorable moments that propel her to the top of our list of greatest fictional salesmen. In the program, Beth, her sister, and their lifelong friend become involved in a money laundering scam, and each finds themselves in desperate financial straits.

In the second season, Beth takes over her husband's auto lot to acquire cars with false money and resell them for real money. Despite her contentious conduct, Beth sells considerably more automobiles than her husband and his top sellers because she recognizes the number of busy mothers who come onto the lot and can connect to them. Other salespeople attempt to sell to these women based on the horsepower and random characteristics. Still, Beth leverages her understanding as a mother to win them over by emphasizing the aspects that moms desire and need: storage space, car seat room, and safety.

Beth's sales are customer-focused. Rather than marketing with the same format every time, she identifies common ground with her customers and uses it to connect with them and address their problems. She provides imaginative examples, such as how simple it is to vacuum crumbs from the car floor or open the trunk while your hands aren't free. Beth Boland joins the list of the top fictional salesperson because she outsells even her husband's top salesperson.

The Wolf of Wall Street: Jordan Belfort

Jordan Bellfort, a famous fictional salesman and a real-life sales star, must be featured on any list of the finest fictional salesperson. Jordan Belfort's role in The Wolf of Wall Street is famous in the sales industry while somewhat controversial in his schemes.

Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, rose to prominence by selling penny stocks to people over the phone. He developed a call script that made sales foolproof—and pocketed a healthy commission on each transaction. However, the lesson salespeople can take from Jordan Belfort is not to get rich by duping others or profiting from terrible investments. Instead, Jordan Belfort's actual lesson is to be eager for success.

During the film, Jordan Belfort and his team develop a solid sales procedure that combines planning with self-assurance to achieve their objectives. As a result, they can make a reputation for themselves and dominate the banking business. Sure, Belfort's main flaw is that he gets too caught up in the euphoria... However, real-life salespeople may create a mix that stimulates development and desire while being anchored in reality by understanding their victories and errors.

The Pursuit of Happiness: Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner's character in The Pursuit of Happiness, played by Will Smith, goes from destitute, traveling salesman to earning a full-time stockbroker job he persistently battles for. He is confronted with unpleasant situations and occurrences that create numerous roadblocks in his path to achievement. On the other hand, Gardner never quits up, which is one of the reasons he makes our list of the finest fictional salesman.

Gardner is constrained by limited work hours while homeless and completing an unpaid internship in order to find a job that would help support him and his young child. However, he understands that the only way to obtain the broker position he desires is to maximize his clientele and revenues. To do this, he thinks beyond the box. Gardner eventually developed methods for making more productive sales calls, such as reaching out to certain client groups. He begins making sales calls to potential high-value customers, breaking business procedures.

His resourcefulness and determination ultimately secure him the stockbroker post. He exemplifies how to persevere in adversity to achieve one's goals. In sales, one of the most valuable qualities you can cultivate in yourself is a willingness to do everything to achieve where you want to go. As a result, Chris Gardner is one of our top fictitious salespeople.

Glengarry's Ricky Roma: Glenn Ross's

Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning film Glen Ross is the character who accompanies cutthroat real-estate marketer Ricky Roma, the final fictional salesman on our list today. Ricky Roma has some sales experience, which gives him confidence. He uses his confidence to draw his client's — and potential clients' — attention with admissions.

In the film's opening, Roma meets a stranger in a Chinese restaurant and gets him to invest in Florida land, which he initially rejects. He begins by declaring that railway cabins smell like crap, and the worst part is that he's grown accustomed to it and doesn't mind, adding, "That's the worst thing I can confess."

This kind of disclosure gets people's attention. Most listening individuals are undoubtedly curious as to why he is saying this, and this is how he hooks clients. Roma uses confidence and a solid hook to pique clients' curiosity and lure them in. As a result, this character remains an excellent example of one of the best fictional marketers in modern culture today.

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