Deb Brown Maher fell in love with sales when she was a kid. But when she entered the workforce and got her first sales job, she failed miserably. Why? She was expected to use a high-pressure script. She couldn’t sustain the behavior they asked of her, so she quit.
That spurred her to find a way to sell that was ethical, honors the prospect, and makes money. Because Deb is a Christ-follower, she looked to Jesus. As she read scripture, the Lord highlighted certain passages showing her how they applied to sales conversations. That’s how her book, “Sell Like Jesus” was born.
Deb recently completed a Marketplace Mission Trip and had an unforgettable experience. In this episode of Follower of One, Deb shares how her prayer to appreciate the gold in others is impacting lives.
Outline of the Episode
- Learn more about Deb Brown Maher and her business [0:45]
- Deb’s bi-monthly group problem-solving calls [3:30]
- Deb’s experience on a Marketplace Mission Trip [7:38]
- How Deb shares her appreciation for the gold in others [15:00]
- Deb encourages others to make the time to do a mission trip [21:00]
Deb’s experience on a Marketplace Mission Trip
As someone who’s done overseas mission work in the Yucatan, Deb was familiar with the process. But she didn’t have to raise funds or fly across the country for the Marketplace Mission Trip. She was still able to work with people to advance their relationships with Christ. But this time it meant having everyday conversations with vendors, customers, and prospects.
The biggest impact the mission trip had on Deb was raising her level of understanding of how intentional she needed to be. It’s so easy to let things get in the way of connecting with those who God brings in your path. She learned to see more opportunities to serve those she came across.
Deb describes it simply and poignantly: The mission trip is showing the love of Christ every day, as you would want others to do for you.
How Deb shares her appreciation for the gold in others
Deb notes that people crave appreciation, yet rarely receive it. That’s why her morning prayer is always, “Lord, for all the people I meet today, show me the gold that you placed in them so I can call it out.” She starts the day with the intention to look for the good in people and be willing to speak it out loud.
She found that the willingness to speak a simple sentence that acknowledges what she saw in someone always made an impact. When she saw that someone was gifted with something, she pointed it out and said “I love that about you.”
Deb also firmly believes that sometimes you just need to listen and ask God to provide you with the right response. She was on a call with a peer who was struggling with a challenging family situation. God led Deb to ask, “What have you already done?”
The woman realized that she had been acting out of a place of love. She’d done more than expected. By listening and letting her talk, Deb was able to help her see the answer she needed. Sometimes people just need someone to listen to and love them.
Set a Christ-like example and let that speak for itself
A mission trip doesn’t always have to be about saving people. Sometimes it’s simply bringing them one step closer.
Deb emphasizes that “It’s not up to me to change anyone’s heart. What I need to do is be a good example of a Christ-follower. I need to let my actions speak for Jesus which means I have to be representing him well.” That’s when people become curious and ask questions.
Deb notes that she learned so much by being intentional and applying mission-minded strategies at work. You don’t have to hold up a bible and implore people to believe. Instead, demonstrate the love of Christ through what you do and say. As doors open, you can go deeper in conversation.
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