Sales Lessons From Jordan Belfort’s Straight Line Persuasion System

Among the numerous sales courses you can choose from, Jordan Belfort’s Straight Line Persuasion System stands out quite prominently—but not in the way you might think.

Belfort is not your typical sales guru. Unlike many of his peers, he does not have a sterling reputation. For one thing, he has served time in jail. Despite that, lots of people still trust him when it comes to learning how to close sales effectively. For proof, there is The Wolf of Wall Street, the hit movie about him and the time he was a successful but shady stockbroker.

Yes, he is The Wolf of Wall Street “real guy.”

Which brings us back to his said sales course. Many consider him to be a sales expert, but should that be enough for you to trust in his Straight Line Persuasion System?

Fortunately, you do not have to guess. Here is everything we found out about Jordan Belfort and his sales course and our verdict on whether it actually works.

Who Is Jordan Belfort?

There are those who think The Wolf of Wall Street is Jordan Belfort’s true story. After all, the movie was based on his autobiography of the same name. But, if you have seen it, you would know how the film probably exaggerated many of the things he did. To really get to know him, let us do away with all the embellishments and get the lowdown on who he really is.

Belfort was born in 1962 in Brooklyn to a Jewish family and raised in Bayside, Queens. His knack for sales manifested itself early on, but he did not pursue a career in it right away. He went to the American University in Washington, DC, where he graduated with a degree in biology. He later enrolled himself at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, which he managed by selling Italian ice at a local beach with a close childhood friend.

If Belfort really did dream of becoming a dentist, fate had other plans for him. He left the dentistry school after having a disagreement with the dean.

Belfort worked as a door-to-door meat and seafood salesman in Long Island, New York, before a family friend helped him get a job as a trainee stockbroker at L.F. Rothschild, a US-based merchant and investment banking firm. Unfortunately, he got laid off after the firm suffered financial difficulties brought about by the Black Monday stock market crash of 1987.

Undeterred, Belfort founded brokerage house Stratton Oakmont with a fellow stockbroker. It was here where he built his reputation that would later make him known as The Wolf of Wall Street real guy.

What Is The Straight Line Persuasion System?

As described on Jordan Belfort’s website, Straight Line Persuasion is a way to “ethically persuade anyone to take any action” and “increase your income, sales, closing rate, and confidence.” But what does that mean, exactly?

Every salesperson knows that convincing people to do something is hard work. Some even resort to questionable tactics just to get a win. But whether it’s making a purchase, availing of a service, or providing personal details, salespeople know that getting potential customers to act takes skill, focus, and determination.

Despite all that, you will not always succeed. Some folks just are not as easy to persuade as others, so you cannot count on converting every potential customer you would meet.

That does not mean you cannot improve your chances. Straight Line Persuasion claims to give you the edge you need. It can teach you the fundamental sales strategies every closer needs to know, enabling you to close more sales. You can earn more and be more confident, making you a truly successful salesperson.

What’s Inside The Straight Line Persuasion’s Curriculum?

How can the Straight Line Persuasion teach you how to become the best salesperson you could be? It contains Belfort’s sales knowledge turned into a curriculum that is relatively easy to complete. It is made up of 4 parts, called “weeks,” that only last 1-2 hours each, so you could breeze through it in a day.

Week 1: Introduction

Here, Belfort explains what Straight Line Persuasion is and how he has used it in his work. He also mentions how he got started in sales, the time he was the wolf of wall street, and how he trained his staff at Stratton Oakmont. He then reveals the 4 important things all salespeople need to have and convey in the first 4 seconds of a sales call or meeting:

• Apart from pitch, volume, speed, and diction, tone refers to the words you ought to use during the conversation or interaction. They need to be relatable to the person you are talking to. If you accidentally speak above or below him or her, you will not be able to make a connection, making it unlikely you will close the sale.
• Everybody enjoys talking to a person who is clearly interested in the conversation. Exude the same energy every time you call or meet with a customer, and the likelihood you will seal the deal will be high.
• It is easier to trust someone who knows their stuff. Showcase your knowledge of what you are promoting by providing lots of useful information about it.
• While expertise refers to one’s depth of knowledge of a product or service, authority refers to the certain air a person has that can influence others’ thoughts or behavior. One way you can communicate yours during a sales call or meeting is by how confidently you speak.

Week 2: Rapport

Now that you have learned the things that make a great introduction, Belfort will teach you how to establish rapport with customers.

To manage it during a sales call, you could demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of the product or service by describing it in great detail.

For sales meetings, you need to dress professionally and be mindful of your body language.

Belfort also explains the other tactics you need to use:

• Listening with your body. This refers to using all your senses, not just sight or hearing, to clue you in on how to connect with customers. For example, if a customer’s hand felt clammy when you shook it, dial back your energy so he or she can relax.
• Matching and mirroring. A well-known rapport-building tactic, matching and mirroring means subtly copying the customers’ gestures and the way they speak. Apart from establishing rapport, it also shows empathy, practically ensuring a connection will be made.
• Pacing and leading, or having control over the conversation or interaction, lets you steer it in the direction you want it to progress.
• Gathering intelligence. You will not be able to connect with customers if you know nothing about them. Good thing you can get to know them even during a minutes-long sales call. All you need to do is ask the right questions.

Week 3: Inner Game

“Inner Game” is all about your health and state of mind. If you do not take care of these, there is no way you will reach your full potential as a salesperson.

To be healthy, Belfort advises you to have a:

• Exercise routine
• Healthy sleep schedule
• Supportive social circle
• Dedicated time to relax
• Hobby you are genuinely passionate about

To enjoy mental well-being, Belfort says you need to:

• Move on from mistakes.
• Have empowering beliefs, or thoughts that inspire you to be the best you could be.
• Set and visualize goals.
• Get clear about your future.
• Manage your emotions.
• Gain the 4 C’s: certainty, clarity, confidence, and courage.
• Learn “anchoring,” or how to associate a favorable event with what stimulates you.

Week 4: Outer Game

While inner game focuses on you, “Outer Game” focuses on the things outside of yourself that have an effect on your becoming a successful salesperson. You can affect them by  visualizing your life the way you want it to be, your riches, and a bright future for yourself. The clearer your “vision,” the more encouraged you will be to realize it.

To have such a vision, Belfort proposes:

• Answering questions you may have about your future, like who is your future spouse, what is your house going to look like, or what kind of atmosphere will your business have?
• Reprogramming your mind, like replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
• Visualizing yourself for the better.
• Sharing your vision with others in order to inspire them.
• Elevating your standards to the same level as your vision.

Is This System Effective?

Yes, because it will give you the motivation you need to not only become a great salesperson, but also to achieve the rest of your goals.

To know more about Jordan Belfort, here is the true story of the Wolf of Wall Street at okdork.com.

The Bottom Line

Sales is much harder than most people realize, but becoming great at it is worthwhile, especially considering the positive impact it will have on you and your life. That is why you need to tap into all the resources at your disposal. Starting with the sales course by The Wolf of Wall Street real guy himself, the sky’s the limit for what you could achieve.

To learn even more about how to effectively promote products and services, check out our blogs about marketing.