The Switch the Burden Exercise (10 minutes)
This works because the idea of "cheesy" aka pushy selling always comes from carrying responsibility that isn’t yours. Sales feels "cheesy" when you’re carrying responsibility that isn’t yours. If you believe it’s your job to convince, persuade, or get the yes, your tone shifts and pressure sneaks in. This exercise is here to reset that. Your role is to create clarity; their role is to decide. Do this slowly and honestly. The goal isn’t confidence or better wording — it’s alignment. Once your posture is clean, the conversation takes care of itself. Step 1 — Write this sentence (don’t skip it): “I am responsible for whether they buy.” Read it. Notice how heavy it feels. That belief is the root of: - Pushy tone - Over-explaining - Discounting - Feeling gross afterward Step 2 — Now replace it with the true responsibility Write this instead: “I am responsible for helping them see clearly. They are responsible for deciding.” Say it out loud. This is the servant frame — not passive, not weak, just clean. Step 3 — Run the Clarity Test (this is the re-patterning) Think of your last sales conversation and answer only YES or NO: 1. Did I ask questions they could answer honestly? (Y/N) 2. Did I reflect what I heard instead of correcting it? (Y/N) 3. Did I offer a next step only after clarity existed? (Y/N) 4. Did I let “no” be safe? (Y/N) Now add your points. If you hit 3 or more yeses, you were serving — even if they didn’t buy. Selling ≠ serving Clarity = serving Step 4 — One-sentence anchor (use this before calls) Say this quietly before any convo: “My job is not to convince. My job is to create clarity.” That’s it. That sentence alone will change your tone. Why this works (and why introverts feel cheesy) Introverts feel "salesy" when: - They feel responsible for outcomes - They talk longer than they listen - They cross the line before permission This exercise moves you back into adult-to-adult posture. We don’t chase — we clarify.