From Sales to Service: A Mindset Shift Worth Making

Life is a continual learning process – if you want it to be. As I continue working on myself, I focus on some simple questions: What could I have learned earlier, and how can I now teach it to others – especially kids?

When I worked as a communications consultant, my projects ranged from explaining medical plans (exciting!) to helping people understand stock portfolios (interesting? Sure). But what lit my flame was when we started communicating wellness programs.

I had the privilege of watching people quit smoking, start exercising, sleep better, and change their eating habits – and then they’d tell me how it changed their life. It was amazing!

But as I was watching adults change their lives, something started nagging at me…

Why are we fixing problems instead of preventing them?
Why can’t we grow people up this way in the first place?

That’s when I left Corporate America to start a children’s wellness company – Planet Fassa – focused on teaching kids awesome life skills that help them achieve a life-long balance in their mind, heart, and body. It all starts with The Fassa Tails and free activities, and we’re working to build an app and website to help bring it to life for kids around the world.

So where am I going with this? As I mentioned above, every time I uncover something new to work on in myself, I think: What could I have learned earlier, and how can I now teach it to others – especially kids?

Today’s realization?
In my business – and in life – it’s time to stop selling and start serving.

Man, that’s hard to type.

When did I shift from What can I do for you? to What can you do for me?

And I say this with humility...I believe when we really reflect, a lot of us approach work, social events – even friendships – with a subtle “What’s in it for me?” lens.

Am I going to make a sale today?

Will I have fun at this party?

I wonder if anyone here will like me.

I hope this conference isn’t boring.

All these thoughts are perfectly human...but they’re also self-focused. And when they become our default, we risk missing out on the good right in front of us. Plus we set an expectation for people and events that easily can lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction.

So I’ve started reframing them. Try this:

Instead of: Am I going to make a sale today?
Try: Can I help someone today with what I offer – whether they buy or not?

Instead of: Will I have fun at this party?
Try: I wonder what new things I can learn about the hosts? Are there parts of their house I can ask about, friends of theirs I've never met, or could they use my help?

Instead of: I wonder if anyone here will like me?
Try: It’ll be interesting to see what kinds of people are here today. Maybe I can find someone who's alone and introduce myself.

Instead of: I hope this conference isn’t boring.
Try: I get to dress up, get out of the house, and exchange ideas with people I've never met.

Can you feel the shift?
These reframed thoughts set me up to win. They make life less about extracting value, and more about adding it. The bonus? You actually get more out of it, too.

What a positive way to approach life!

How do we teach this to our kids?
What a great practice to teach our kids. Perhaps before they attend school in the morning or go to a soccer game or playdate, ask them some foundational questions:

What’s one nice thing you can say to someone today?

What’s one cool question you can ask?

What’s a neat thing you can teach someone?

This mindset turns even mundane experiences into opportunities for connection, growth, and joy. And as our kids – and we – approach things as a servant rather than a salesman, we will inevitably have a life full of so many more riches than any sale could ever provide.