As part of my financial planning business, I offer free introductory meetings. Recently, a potential client indicated in her pre-meeting questionnaire that she would like to have two times her current salary in retirement. To avoid boring you with math, let me just say that this is fairly impossible in most situations. For a basic example, if you earn $100,000 per year and want to have $200,000 in retirement you would need to have approximately $5 million invested, which is fairly difficult to accumulate using a $100,000 salary.

As we step into 2024, the landscape of sales is evolving rapidly, shaped by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and the ever-changing business environment. Let's delve into the key sales trends that are set to define the year ahead, drawing insights from various research papers and my own observations.

Sales has always been a dynamic and evolving field. As we move further into 2024, we are seeing a continuation of this trend, with fresh methodologies, technologies, and strategies emerging at an unprecedented pace. Here, I delve into some of the most impactful sales trends of 2024 that are reshaping the way we connect, engage, and drive growth.

Back in November 2017, Collin Sexton and his college basketball team at Alabama were forced to play 3-on-5 for more than 10 minutes against the University of Minnesota. Due to injuries, ejections, and disqualifications, Alabama could only put three players on the court. The crazy part, behind 40 points from Sexton, Alabama almost won the game, ultimately losing 89-84.

We’re in one of the most frustrating economies in recent memory. It’s not a full-on recession yet because, despite layoffs in tech, unemployment is generally low. But inflation is high, interest rates are high, and people aren't buying like they used to. And it's causing some serious sales slumps.

The fact is, better customer experiences are better for business. Great CX means your customers are happier, feel taken care of, and are more loyal—all of which leads to more profits. It takes the right tools and data to fuel those experiences, and a lot of it is already at your fingertips.