When we think of sales jobs, most of us picture a pushy salesperson, like a door-to-door rep or a slick used-car dealer. However, in To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink reveals how outdated this perspective is. In reality, everyone is in sales—whether we realize it or not. As part of our work and daily lives, we constantly influence, sway, or persuade others to take action.
The true beauty of selling isn’t about pressure or manipulation; it’s about understanding people’s soft spots—their motivations, needs, and desires—so you can present solutions that genuinely help them. Whether you hold a formal sales job or need to persuade others at work, this book provides fresh perspectives and practical techniques to improve your ability to move and influence people.
Effective selling acts as social glue, helping individuals and organizations connect, collaborate, and create value. The most successful negotiators don’t just push their agenda—they listen, adapt, and find common ground. In this free To Sell is Human summary, you’ll learn how sales has evolved, the difference between selling and moving, and what it takes to inspire action in a way that leaves a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Redefining Sales
Traditional selling is dead. Daniel Pink explains why and busts 3 important myths about sales.
1. Selling has shifted to MOVING
In today’s digital internet age, consumers are able to do their own research and comparisons, and get purchase advice from their social networks. In most cases, consumers have as much (if not more) information as the salesperson – cajoling or withholding information can no longer work, and the traditional way of selling is dead. Most people also spend about 40% of their workhours doing non-sales selling, i.e. convincing others to exchange their resources (e.g. expertise, time, effort, attention) for something they want. Such activities are a significant part of work, and are vital for one’s professional success. When we combine both sales and non-sales selling, everyone sells. However, instead of product pushing, we must now move people into action. In Pink’s words, we’re all in the “moving business”.
2. The 3Es Behind the Moving Business
How did so many of us end up as salespeople, or rather, movers? There are 3Es behind this trend – Entrepreneurship, Elasticity and “Ed-Med”.
• We’re seeing an unprecedented surge in the number of small and micro businesses. Such small business owners must wear multiple hats, including sales, hence more entrepreneurs means more salespeople.
• In today’s ever-changing landscape, “elasticity” has become an essential skill for success, including cross-boundary roles, and skills that can be repurposed or applied in new ways.
• Education and Healthcare (“Ed-Med“) are 2 of the fastest-growing industries, they are basically about moving people to take action, to achieve an outcome that’s good for them.
3. From Caveat Emptor to Caveat Venditor
In the past, an outdated form of sales relied on aggressive tactics, where sellers had more information than buyers. The onus was on buyers to check the quality and suitability of the products before making a purchase (Caveat Emptor). However, buyers today have almost equal access to information as sellers, and they also have the option to retaliate (e.g., share bad reviews on the internet or social media) if they’re unfairly treated. The new rule is now Caveat Venditor (i.e., seller-beware, with the seller being accountable for providing the necessary info to the buyer).
Modern sales professionals must go beyond the outdated “hard sell” approach and embrace a consultative style.
While natural salespeople may have an instinct for persuasion, the best results come from learning and applying the ABCs of selling—always be connecting, communicating, and consulting. There are essential rules that every salesperson should follow, including building trust, understanding customer needs, and delivering value rather than just pushing a product. Effective selling is no longer about being the most persistent or aggressive. It’s about being transparent and empathetic, and helping buyers to make sense of available facts and options, so they can make the best choices.
Becoming a Great Mover
Many successful salespeople live by this age-old adage, “Always be Closing”. They’re singularly focused on getting their prospects to say “yes” to what they’re selling.
The ABCs of Moving People
Pink proposes a new set of ABCs that are better suited for the new paradigm. Here’s a quick overview:
- Attunement is about aligning yourself with others and the situation, stepping outside your own perspective and putting yourself in others’ shoes.
- Buoyancy is about balancing determination with optimism, so you can successfully cope with the sheer volume of rejections that can be expected in the sales process.
- Clarity is all about cutting through the clutter of information, to identify problems and present solutions clearly.
Feel free to check out more details, examples and specific tips from our full 13-page summary!
What To Do
Besides knowing the qualities required to move people effectively, you need to know what to do. Daniel Pink breaks this down into 3 parts:
- When you go into that pitch meeting, remember that a pitch is not meant to convince others outright; it merely arouses interest and draws them into a conversation. A modern pitch goes beyond the traditional “elevator pitch,” which is now outdated. Instead of relying on a rehearsed monologue that’s a 50-word pitch, successful communicators use six powerful, new techniques: the “one-word” pitch, question pitch, rhyming pitch, “subject-line” pitch, Twitter pitch, and Pixar pitch (more details in the full To Sell is Human summary).
- Things don’t always go according to plan and we need to improvise. Here, Daniel Pink provides 3 useful practices for improvisation.
- Finally, focus on 2 principles to can serve others better, and you’ll learn how to genuinely move people and make selling/serving more meaningful.
Getting the Most from To Sell is Human
If you wish to learn more about the ABCs of moving people and the ways to do so effectively (including exercises to crytallize your thoughts), do check out our full book summary bundle. This comes with an infographic, a 13-page text summary and a 24-minute audio summary.
This is an easy-to-read book, with many practical and relatable examples. In each chapter, Pink includes:
• Suggested reading and/ or useful links websites and free resources; and
• A set of exercises which you can apply to put the ideas to use.
You can purchase the book here or check out more resources at danpink.com.
Want to hone your sales and influence skills? You might also enjoy our Presuasion summary and The Challenger Sale summary.
About the Author of To Sell is Human
To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Persuading, Convincing and Influencing Others is written by Daniel H. Pink. Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from Yale Law School, but decided not to practice law. Pink worked in politics and economic policy, including being an aide to Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and being chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore.
In 1997, he quit his job to start out on his own. Besides Drive, he has authored other books, including: Drive, A Whole New Mind, and Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself.
To Sell is Human Quotes
“To sell well is to convince someone else to part with resources – not to deprive that person, but to leave them better off in the end.”
“Most of us are movers; some of us are super-movers.”
“Whether you’re in traditional sales or non-sales selling… the high road – honesty, directness, and transparency – has become the better, more pragmatic, long-term route.”
“Each of us – because we’re human – has a selling instinct, which means that anyone can master the basics of moving others.”
“The key is to be strategic and human – to be strategic by being human.”
“While negative emotions help us see trees, positive ones reveal forests.”
“The ability to move others hinges less on problem solving than on problem finding.”
“One of the most effective ways of moving others is to uncover challenges they may not know they have.”
“The best pitches are short, sweet and easy to retweet.”
“Remember: Pitches that rhyme are more sublime.”
Click here to download To Sell is Human book summary and infographic
