They act like sales is somehow dishonest and equates them with the stereotype of used car salesman.

他們卻表現得像個業務，有點不誠實，並讓人聯想到典型的二手車業務員。

That’s unfortunate because selling is a fundamental skill in life.

那是不幸的，因為銷售是一個生活中很基本的技能。

It’s a form of persuasion successful people should use all the time.

那是一種成功人士常常用來說服他人的方法。

Here’s one great example. If you have strong career ambitions, one huge part in getting ahead

這邊有個很好的例子，如果你有雄壯的事業心，使你領先的一大竅門，

Is making positive change. Finding things that can be done differently or better and actually getting people to listen to you and help you

就是積極的改變。找到不同或更好的做事方法，讓人們能夠真正的傾聽與幫助你。

That requires you to sell your ideas.

要做到這點，行銷你的點子是必要的。

As long as you keep striving, you’ll be selling.

在你持續努力的過程中，你一定會需要行銷（點子）。

So let’s talk about what it means to successfully sell your ideas at work.

所以讓我們來談談如何在工作場合上成功的行銷你的點子。

Consider these four very useful tactics.

我們有四種非常實用的策略

First, access your credibility.

第一，利用你的公信力。

Depending on the quality of the idea you might want to share with others no matter what your level of credibility.

不管你的公信力到哪個程度，這都取決於你想與他人分享的點子的品質，

Having said that the goal is to be as credible as possible

有人說目標是要盡可能的讓人覺得可信，

That means, first, having a trouble-free, high-quality track record at your job.

這代表著，第一，你在工作場合要有乾淨、高品質的紀錄。

Second, also means having a reputation as a person who is helpful and supportive when others speak up with their ideas.

第二，當他人提起你的時候，他們覺得你是樂於助人的。

Next, do yourself a favor and build lateral support before trying to build vertical support.

再來，先搞好你與同事的關係再來搞定上司，你這是在幫助你自己，

What I mean is that you’re well-served to start with your peers

我想說的是你應該先與你的同儕

And others on your level or below you.

還有其他跟你同等級或次於你的人建立關係

This way you can gauge how well the idea might be received above you.

如此一來，你就能夠預測上級可能會給你的點子的評價，

And you’re likely to receive good feedback that will help you refine the idea and make it better.

而且你很可能收到可以幫助你優化點子的回饋。

It’s also important when promoting ideas to position them in a way that helps others

讓你的點子能夠幫助到他人也是一個提倡它很重要的方法。

It’s your idea and you have your own agenda but that everyone has their own goals and agendas.

那是你的點子而且你有自己的事要做，但其他人也有他們自己的目標跟事情，

This is especially true when sharing ideas to people above you in the company

這在與上級分享你的點子時特別受用。

How does your idea somehow line with their priorities.

你要如何讓你的點子與他們的優先事項並列

How does it help them.

這點子如何幫助他們

Don’t assume they will see the connection. Be ready to articulate it to them.

不要推斷他們會看現這當中的關連性，你要有心理準備論證給他們看

Last, be sure to spend time practicing your pitch.

最後，確保你有花時間在練習推銷技巧。

If the idea is a big departure from the past or you’re pitching to the executive level, you’d better be ready.

如果這個點子跟過去的點子大相逕庭，或者你是要向管理階層推銷，你最好做好準備。

You have to know the bottom line costs and projected benefits that are likely.

你必須知道可能的成本的底線跟他所能夠投射的成本。

You also have to be ready for predictable questions

同時你必須為可預測的問題做好準備。

which is why a great practice talk with peers is so useful before pitching to executives.

所以在對上司推銷之前與你的同事練習是如此的實用

Selling sometimes gets a bad rap but it shouldn’t.

推銷有時候會變成受罪，但他不應該是這樣的。

Selling yourself and selling your ideas is a normal required part of professional life.

推銷你自己與你的點子是你專業職涯生活不可或缺的一部分。