Alyssa Berryman is a medical sales representative getting established in Phoenix, Arizona providing biomedical equipment for clinics and hospitals. Alyssa’s ability to read her buyers and adapt to their needs has made her successful in her career.
Alyssa graduated from the University of Oregon and entered outside sales right out of college. She has worked hard to make a name for herself in the field and uses her naturally competitive spirit to her advantage, never settling.
Her patient awareness of her clients’ needs and her ability to adapt herself to any situation makes Alyssa a strong salesperson. In an effort to improve herself, she has looked to others who have been successful and has pushed herself to always do better than the day before.
Tell me something about yourself a lot of people don’t know about you.
That’s a little tough, I am basically an open book. What you see is what you get. I think that helps me be a better salesperson and a better human. I think my personality is well-suited for sales because I am honest and don’t try to hide anything. I feel like potential clients would be able to tell if I was hiding something. Even if it had nothing to do with the sale, it could jeopardize their belief in my integrity and I just don’t believe in that.
What are your strengths?
I have an excellent work ethic. I look at challenges as motivators to learn something new or do something better. I have a great attitude and am always willing to broaden my experience in the field, but I also have a competitive nature which I think helps in my career. I don’t give up on things.
What is your proudest achievement?
The first company I worked for out of college was Modular Document Solutions. I was still kind of learning the skills and building my experience when I started with them. I was very happy when I learned I had earned their Sales Representative of the Year award. It was my first official recognition for the work I was doing and gave me a lot of pride.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted your career would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Absolutely. There were several times I had a moment where I would doubt myself. Outside sales is not an easy field to be successful in, no matter the service or product you’re working with. That’s why I consider my willingness to learn new strategies a strength of mine. I looked to my managers and my father as mentors. I used the corporate resources available to me to better my skills. I had to learn how to step outside my comfort zone, even when I thought something might not work. I have learned a lot about myself through this field. I’ve gained a lot more confidence through taking those steps.
What is one marketing strategy, other than referrals, that you use that works really well to generate new business?
I have excellent customer service. I believe in not only being available for my clients, but to ensure that they feel like they are my only clients. I am a firm believer in the idea that when you provide that kind of service to your clients, they will not only seek you out, they will encourage others to work with you. In such a competitive field, it’s important to set yourself apart from others.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think the qualities that makes me successful is my work ethic and my inability to give up. I am competitive by nature. I have been ever since I played sports in school. I love to win. I love to set a goal and go after it with passion. When I reach a goal I have set, I make another. I don’t like to settle for less than the best I can do.
What does the future hold for your career? What are you most excited about?
I have endless opportunity in a really great market. My current plan is to manage the Phoenix territory, working with the neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons for their biomedical needs. Once I have gotten well established, I plan to expand my team and hire new sales representatives. I want to build a great group of ethical, hard-working representatives here that have a focus on customer service.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love physical activities like hiking, playing tennis, and swimming. I also just love spending time with my family or traveling.
What business books have inspired you?
I really enjoyed Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s about the psychology of thinking, about how our experiences influence the choices we make. I learned a lot from that one.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your career?
I recently purchased an audiobook by Simon Sinek called Start With Why. I feel like this will help my career because it looks into what makes someone a good manager and how to improve yourself.