It’s Monday morning. The alarm clock goes off, and the eternal battle begins, the struggle between staying in bed and facing the reality of a new workweek. The streets fill with half-awake faces, people rushing to work with a heavy, invisible weight pressing down on them. There’s no energy for greetings, no enthusiasm for conversations, just a silent, collective sigh echoing through the subway, buses, and offices.
Monday feels like an uphill climb, a never-ending loop of exhaustion and obligation. The routine is predictable: grab a coffee, check the clock, endure another day.
Now, imagine being a salesperson in this atmosphere. Your job isn’t just to show up, you have to engage with people, spark their interest, and convince them to buy. If no one buys, you’re not only dealing with rejection, but also the pressure from your manager, who expects results.
Sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?
Yet, the surreal salesperson doesn’t feel that pressure the same way others do. While everyone else sees sales as a stressful obligation, they see it as an opportunity. Every interaction, successful or not, is a chance to engage, learn, and create something meaningful.
The Difference Between a Traditional Salesperson and a Surreal Salesperson
Many salespeople view their job as nothing more than a paycheck. They go through the motions, treating each customer as just another number. These are the people who burn out quickly, because their motivation is external: hitting targets, avoiding their boss’s criticism, and staying employed.
But a surreal salesperson operates on an entirely different wavelength.
They don’t sell because they have to.
They sell because they love it.
Sales, to them, is not just a transaction, it’s an art form. They see every conversation as a dynamic, living experience. Whether they close the deal or not, they enjoy the process, because they know that with each interaction, they refine their craft.
Why Surreal Selling is Like Creating a Work of Art
Picture an artist standing before a blank canvas. They don’t know exactly what the final piece will look like, but they embrace the process. Every brushstroke adds depth, every color choice shapes the mood, and every imperfection becomes part of the masterpiece.
A surreal salesperson approaches their work the same way:
• Every customer is unique, with their own story, emotions, and motivations.
• Every sales conversation is a blend of psychology, persuasion, and human connection.
• Every challenge is an opportunity to refine their approach and grow.
For them, success isn’t just about closing the sale, it’s about the journey. They find joy in the moment, embrace the unexpected, and appreciate the beauty in every interaction.
How to Become a Surreal Salesperson
If you’re feeling stuck in a sales rut, maybe it’s time to shift your perspective. Here’s how you can start selling like an artist, not just a salesperson:
1. Focus on the Conversation, Not Just the Sale
Traditional salespeople start conversations with one goal: to close the deal.
Surreal salespeople, on the other hand, start conversations with a sense of curiosity. They want to understand the customer, their needs, their hesitations. They see every interaction as a chance to uncover something new, rather than just push a product.
2. Turn Challenges into Creative Opportunities
• Is the customer hesitant? Great! This is a chance to experiment with a new way of building trust.
• Are they objecting to the price? Perfect! Now you get to test your ability to showcase value rather than just discussing cost.
• Is the overall atmosphere negative? No problem! Use humor, storytelling, or an unexpected question to shift the energy.
A surreal salesperson doesn’t fear obstacles, they welcome them as tools for innovation.
3. Don’t Let Mondays Dictate Your Mood
If you wake up dreading Mondays, that energy will follow you into your conversations. A surreal salesperson doesn’t let the day of the week or external circumstances define their enthusiasm. They create their own energy, bringing passion into every conversation, no matter the situation.
4. Learn from Every Experience, Even the “Failures”
Surreal selling isn’t about constant wins, it’s about constant evolution. Every rejection is a lesson:
• Maybe you needed to adjust your approach.
• Maybe you misread the customer’s body language.
• Maybe you weren’t in the right mindset yourself.
Instead of seeing a lost sale as a failure, the surreal salesperson sees it as another brushstroke on the canvas of their expertise.
The Secret: Love What You Do
People are naturally drawn to passion. When you genuinely love what you’re doing, it shows in your energy, your tone, and your interactions. Customers can sense whether a salesperson is just going through the motions or truly enjoys the conversation.
Surreal salespeople aren’t just trying to sell, they’re trying to connect. They bring enthusiasm, humor, and authenticity to every conversation, making the experience enjoyable for both them and the customer.
That’s what sets them apart.
Final Thoughts: Surreal Selling as a Way of Life
You don’t have to be a salesperson to apply the principles of surreal selling.
This mindset works in every area of life:
• Negotiating a raise
• Convincing a friend to try something new
• Making a memorable first impression
Every moment is a chance to engage, create, and refine your craft.
So, next time you face a challenge, ask yourself:
“Will I see this as just another task, or will I turn it into something extraordinary?”
That’s the essence of surreal selling, it’s not just a technique, it’s a philosophy.
🔹 Featured Research
Want to transform your sales approach? Read our exclusive study on Surreal Selling: A New Paradigm in Sales Psychology and discover how psychology can drive sales success.
Uniqueness, lies in being different despite our similarities, and similar despite our differences
Zouhair Mahmoud,
Creator of the Surreal Selling Theory
Redefining how professionals approach sales through creativity and psychology
