Songs to Rock Your Sales World
Use a great soundtrack to power your career and get over its speedbumps.
You’re starting your day with a giant list of cold prospects to work. How are you going to rev up to power through this?
Or maybe you’ve just received a “no” on the deal that was going to make your quarter, bringing you to your knees. There’s still a half day left. How do you get back up on that horse that just threw you?
Or you’re talking to friends. They’re not in sales. Their questions
“How do you handle all that rejection, the pressure?”
“How do you even keep going?”
“Dear God, how do you do that for your whole career?”
The truth is that in sales we all must do whatever we have to so we can keep ourselves going. There are days you just don’t want to do it. The grind. But you are responsible for finding a way, no matter what, to deal with what happened to you and to get your head back in the game. Some reach for controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, or something that burns or smokes. I would go for music. An essential addition to my strong self-motivation game in general was music and in particular, my playlist of “Great Sales Songs.”
Music has always spoken to me, provided inspiration. This might be because I spent much of my early life studying and learning to play music. Philosopher Suzanne Langer aptly once said something on the order of
“Music is the life of feeling.”
I understand this to mean that music imparts and expresses feelings, brings them to life inside us. For years, I’ve used music almost pharmaceutically to bring feelings to life. Feelings that help me to power on through rough or challenging sales days.
On my darkest day, after the most crushing defeat, I could pull a song from my list that would decisively tilt the ongoing battle in my brain away from fear and push it toward hope. And despite any setbacks during the day, the right song at the right time would give me just the kick to launch my next drive toward victory.
So I have songs to rev me up, songs to help me mourn a defeat and lick my wounds, songs to get me to drive hard, and songs that are just great to listen to when I’m working away - to put me in “the zone.”
And today, I’m sharing my list with you. Maybe these can help you, too. Maybe you’ll like them, maybe you won’t. But I hope you’ll consider putting your own list together. Music speaks to us in ways that words and silence cannot.
While in this article I’m going a little light on words and letting the songs speak for themselves, I do include a few comments about why each of these made the list for me. So here they are, listed alphabetically. (Want to see the whole playlist? Have a look here for the list on YouTube and Look here if you prefer the play list on Apple Music.)
Ain’t Nobody — Chaka Khan
“Captured effortlessly, that’s how it was…” makes me feel of the magical way I want my customer relationships to flow. I want them to love it all and feel that ain’t nobody does this better. “I want this dream to be real….”
All I Need — Natasha Bedingfield
Straight ahead pop tune to drive positive energy — and the thoughts are spot on. “Got to run to keep up with me…” “Nothing’s ever going to get to me.” “All I need is what I’ve got.”
Another One Bites the Dust — Queen
C’mon, you know why this one is here. You’re going to take it down. Yeah.
Armageddon It — Def Leppard
“Are you gettin’ it?” “You can’t stop it.” “Really gettin' it?” “Give it all you’ve got.” Pick up that phone, man.
Back in Black — AC/DC
Got kicked in the teeth this morning on your last call? And now you still have the whole day ahead of you? C’mon. Put on your sunglasses, pick up the phone, and get your bad little self back into the game. Right now.
Bat Out of Hell — Meat Loaf
You are a force of nature. Not even a total wreck will slow you down. Listen to this to get your tempo and irresistible energy going.
The Big Money — Rush
Yeah, the title gets this. Big Money goes round the world. Hard driving rocker filled with motivation. Go get it!
Bolero — Ravel / London Symphony Orchestra
A reminder that your sales work should always be seductive, building from almost nothing, patient, focused, persistent, and ultimately irresistible.
Breakout — Swing Out Sister
“The time has come to make your break.” “You’re going to find a way.” Now is your time. Breakout! The positive energy in this is infectious. (And yes, you have permission to dance in your cubicle.)
Bright Future in Sales — Fountains of Wayne
I’m going to get my stuff together. I’ve got a new computer and bright future in sales. Each of us was that shiny new salesperson once. This song always makes me smile when I hear it and remember that younger me.
Can’t Fall Down — Natasha Bedingfield
One of those songs that just plucks at the kind of resilience we need.
I'm at the point of almost breaking now. I've knocked on every door in this cold town. Hope is irresistible. If I can’t get up now one day I will somehow.
Crash & Burn — Karine Hannah
There are two Crash & Burns on my list. This first one is ominous. The dark one: the wreck we see coming and know we’ll have to confront. We’re gonna crash and burn. The doors are gonna slam. But somehow we’ll be alright.
Crash & Burn — P!nk
This version is a sunny party. Lay down my worries. I’ll never crash and burn.
Cut — Plumb
Some days are full of frustration, injuries: burns, bruises, broken bones and you need to listen to something to let yourself feel all that while you lick your wounds. “I do not want to be afraid.” “I am not alone.”
Desert Rose — Sting
Mysterious. Alluring. This is the equivalent of driving music for sales. I can jam to this while strategizing, prepping for calls and researching accounts; it makes me go.
The Edge of Glory — Lady Gaga
Yes, you’re on the edge of glory. Right on the limits where we know we belong. Can’t you feel it? You will. Hit play.
Fame — Irene Cara
“Baby look at me and tell me what you see. You ain’t seen the best of me yet. Give me time I’ll make you forget the rest. Remember my name.”
For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
Some people got to have it. You gonna do things, do things good things with it. Cash money. Uh. Yeah. Mean green.
Give It Up to Me — Shakira ft. Lil Wayne
Down to the end of that sale? You gotta go get it. You can have it all. Anything you want it the world. Don’t be afraid to act. Make the ask: “Give it up to me.”
Higher Power — Boston
Let’s reach for the juice — your higher power. Working to make order out of chaos? Give me the power. Tell the story, let me face another day. The world is spinning but I’m not afraid.
I Like it Rough — Lady Gaga
Tough day? A hard day is like chewing on pearls. You got me wondering why I like it rough. Because you’re in sales, silly.
I Want it All — Queen
You want it all? Yes! And you want it NOW!
Invincible — Pat Benatar
Does this sound like your path to hit your goal? This bloody road remains a mystery. Won’t anyone help us? It’s a do or die situation. We will be invincible.
Layla — Derek and the Dominos
More straight-ahead sales “road music.” You got me on my knees - I’m begging, darling, please… Da da dadadadadum…
Let’s Face the Music and Dance — Diana Krall
Grab some courage to get out there and live in uncertain times. “There may be trouble ahead, but while there’s music and moonlight…. while we still have a chance…let’s face the music and dance.”
Livin’ on a Prayer — Bon Jovi
Aren’t we all? Got your quota for the new quarter? It’s tough, so tough. We’ll give it a shot. We’re halfway there…. we’ll make it, I swear.
Man in the Middle — Bee Gees
“It all comes back to me, baby. I’m just a man in the middle of a complicated plan. No one to show me the signs, nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide.” Sounds like just before my quarterly business review.
Money Becomes King — Tom Petty & the Heatbreakers
Yes, of course you need the money. But there still has to be magic or you’ve made money the king.
Money Changes Everything — Cyndi Lauper
“It’s all in the past now, money changes everything.”
Money for Nothing — Dire Straits / Sting
True story: I’d blown out my number and was in the wonderful La La Land of sales commission accelerators. But I hadn’t been paid and it was quite overdue. I called Jim, the sales compensation payroll accountant and he said: “Yeah, I haven’t paid you yet. You guys get paid too much. I should be in sales. It’s money for nothing.” This one’s for you, Jim.
Money, Money, Money — ABBA
“I work all night. I work all day….. It’s a rich man’s world.”
More — Usher (RedOne Jimmy Joker Remix)
It’s end of quarter, and you want MORE. Jack this into your headphones and see if you aren’t ready to climb any mountain necessary. For me, this one is pure adrenaline. I’m not even selling anymore and yet I’m on my feet ready to start calling down accounts after listening to this. Light it up, take it up higher!
Vanity 6 — Nasty Girl
This song, written by Prince, is edgy, but delivers a critical, stark reminder: no matter how good your sales skills and process, if you go a full cycle with prospects without qualifying them, you won’t make your quota. Qualify, people, qualify.
No Surrender (London Calling: Live in Hyde Park, 2009) — Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band and Brian Fallon
You looking at a big commit and it isn’t buttoned up yet. It’s time to call in The Boss to help bring it home. “We made a promise and swore to always defend, no retreat, no surrender. Blood brothers on a stormy night with a vow to defend.”
Opportunities — Pet Shop Boys
Time to load the pipeline? I’ve got the brains; you’ve got the brawn. Let’s make lots of money. There’s lots of opportunities, if you know how to make them.
Pictures at an Exhibition: X. The Great Gate of Kiev —- Modest Mussorgsky — Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
This is what victory sounds like. Your victory. You march back through the city gates, triumphant from your quest; bloodied, joyful, somehow reflective, grateful, and completely victorious. If you are on a journey and want to imbue yourself with the feeling of triumph, listen to this. Victory is yours.
The Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War — Gustav Holst — Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Levine
Are you needing to “bring it” today? Have a tough line up? See if Mars, the Bringer of War has something for you. I find the steely martial brass of this gives me the backbone to stand up and get difficult things done.
Pocketful of Sunshine — Natasha Bedingfield
Need an unassailable dose of can-do energy? “I’ve got a pocket, a pocket full of sunshine. Do what you want, but you’re never gonna break me, sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.”
Pressure — Billy Joel
Feeling the squeeze? “You have to learn to pace yourself. You will come to a place where the only thing you feel are loaded guns in your face and you’ll have to deal with pressure.” Um huh.
Redemption — Conjure One
How about something hypnotic, even atmospheric, to listen to while working? Something to help with flow? I go to Conjure One for that. Give Redemption a try.
Shadows of the Night — Pat Benatar
“It’s a cold world, when you keep it all to yourself. We’re running with the shadows of the night.” You know a life on sales is one spent running on the edge of a knife.
A Strange Education — The Cinematics
One of my favorite songs that almost no one has heard. “I’ve walked this long road, till I find my home, to somewhere familiar… trouble is nothing looks the same. Cast away, lost again…” A strange education, indeed….
Stronger — Britney Spears
Pop candy, oh, yeah. But that whole “do what you want, now I’m stronger” is a feeling I’ve tapped many times to push past some overwhelming adversity. Deciding that you’re stronger is often what makes you stronger.
Titanium — Sia
Those calls are nothing. That rejection doesn’t matter. “I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose. Fire Away. I am Titanium.”
U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer
Let’s all try to wrap up our deals so tight that our competitors can’t touch them. Sound the bell; schools back in.
Under Pressure — Queen
Under pressure? Yes, you are. That pressure is one of the things we both love and hate about sales. “Watching some good friends scream, ‘let me out!’ Can’t we give ourselves one more chance?” You bet. Just update your Salesforce first, please.
Unstoppable — Sia
You’ve hit the rough patch. You’re quietly at that place where you might give up. You decide. “I’m so powerful, I don’t need batteries to play. I’m so confident, I’m unstoppable today.” And that decision makes you so.
Unwritten — Natasha Beddingfield
Your story is unwritten. What will be is up to you. “I break tradition. Sometimes my tries are outside the lines.” “Only you can let it in. No one else can speak the words on your lips. Release your inhibitions. Today is where you book begins. The rest is still unwritten.”
Want to hear the whole playlist? Click here to see it on YouTube.