Interviews are a game you play with your opponent — the interviewer and the company. Knowing yourself gives you the edge.
Selling is not just a transaction between two parties. It is the act of persuading or convincing others — a fundamental human skill you use every day, often without realizing it.
Most people think of sales as something external, a job only salespeople do. The uncomfortable reality is that you are selling yourself, your skills, your ideas — whether you are interviewing, collaborating, or leading.
Self-realization is the key to unlocking your full potential as a persuader. It means understanding your true self — your thought process, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses — so you can direct your natural persuasive power effectively.
If you do not know yourself, you will drift through interactions without awareness of what you can achieve. That is the trap.
The trap of unawareness: drifting without intention
Imagine a machine operator who has never read the manual. How will they handle the machine? Accidentally, with trial and error, risking damage.
The same applies to you as a person. Without self-knowledge, you go with the flow, unaware of your true capabilities.
You want to grow. You want to improve your weaknesses. But before you can do that, you must first understand what they are.
The story of Hanuman in Indian epics illustrates this well. Hanuman forgets his powers until someone reminds him. You should not wait for an external voice to tell you what you are capable of. You must self-realize and upgrade yourself.
A coaching session with a junior PM struggling to make an impact
Coach: “What do you think is your biggest challenge in convincing stakeholders?”
Junior PM: “I don’t know if it’s my communication or my confidence.”
Coach: “Before you can improve, you have to understand your natural style and where you get stuck. That’s self-realization.”
The junior PM begins to journal daily interactions, noticing patterns of hesitation and moments of clarity.
Without self-awareness, you cannot improve your persuasive skills.
Sales is persuasion — a daily human skill
You do not need to be in a formal sales role to be selling every day.
When you ask a friend to pick you up, when you convince a colleague to prioritize your request, when you explain your idea to your manager — you are selling.
Persuading others to act is essential for collaboration and success.
But being involved in sales does not mean you are good at it. You need to self-realize that you have this capability and then enhance your skills to become professional.
The core selling skills you must develop
Let’s name the key skills that underlie effective selling. These are the building blocks you already use but must cultivate deliberately.
Empathy: stepping into another’s shoes
Humans are born with the ability to empathize — to understand the emotions and perspectives of others.
This skill is crucial for sales because you have to connect with people, understand their needs, and build trust.
Empathy is not something you learn from books; it is something you practice by paying attention and listening.
Effective Communication: sharing your message clearly
Communication is how you share your ideas and understand others.
You have been communicating since birth, but effective communication takes time to develop.
In sales, you must tailor your message to your audience, keep it clear, and adjust based on feedback.
Flexibility: adapting without frustration
In sales, plans change. Meetings get postponed. Conversations take unexpected turns.
Your ability to stay calm, find alternatives, and adapt quickly is a competitive advantage.
Flexibility means not panicking when things don’t go as expected but thinking creatively about solutions.
Competitive Nature: the drive to win
Nobody likes to lose. This competitive spirit is natural and essential in sales.
It fuels your motivation to persist, improve, and achieve your goals.
Without it, you might give up too soon or settle for less than your potential.
Persuading Power: the ability to convince
Every day, you persuade others without realizing it.
Maybe you convinced your parents to buy you a chocolate as a child.
Maybe you persuaded your interviewer that you were the right fit for a job.
Recognizing this power is the first step to honing it professionally.
Self-realization in action: recognizing your selling moments
To become a better persuader, start by reflecting on your daily interactions.
Ask yourself:
- When did I convince someone today?
- How did I do it? What worked, what didn’t?
- What emotions did I notice in myself and others?
- Where did I hesitate or lose confidence?
Document these moments. Over time, patterns emerge.
This is not about judging yourself but about understanding your style and growth areas.
- For one week, write down every interaction where you persuaded or convinced someone.
- Note the context, what you said, how the other person reacted, and your feelings.
- At the end of the week, review your log and identify:
- Your strengths (e.g., empathy, clarity)
- Your challenges (e.g., nervousness, lack of preparation)
- Reflect on how you can build on your strengths and address your challenges.
The interview as a sales moment
Interviews are the ultimate sales scenario — you are selling yourself, your skills, and your potential.
Talvinder Singh taught that knowing yourself deeply gives you the edge.
Before you can convince others, you must be clear about who you are, what you stand for, and why you are the right fit.
This self-knowledge builds confidence and helps you answer tough questions with authenticity.
The sales mindset: persuasion with purpose
What I tell PMs is this: the actual job is not just to talk more or be louder. It is to persuade with clarity and purpose.
That means:
- Understanding your audience’s needs and motivations
- Tailoring your message to resonate with them
- Listening actively to objections and concerns
- Responding with empathy and evidence
- Maintaining flexibility in approach and timing
- Persisting with a competitive spirit without frustration
This mindset transforms everyday conversations into opportunities to influence and create value.
Test yourself: The persuasion challenge
You are preparing for a final round interview with a top Indian fintech startup in Bangalore. You know your technical skills are strong, but you struggle with articulating your impact and convincing interviewers of your fit. You have two weeks to prepare.
The call: What steps do you take to improve your persuasive communication and self-awareness before the interview?
Your reasoning:
You are preparing for a final round interview with a top Indian fintech startup in Bangalore. You know your technical skills are strong, but you struggle with articulating your impact and convincing interviewers of your fit. You have two weeks to prepare.
Your task: What steps do you take to improve your persuasive communication and self-awareness before the interview?
your reasoning:
Where to go next
- Build your storytelling skills to persuade effectively: Storytelling for Product Managers
- Master interview preparation with self-awareness: Interview Excellence Habits
- Develop empathy and communication for leadership: Emotional Intelligence for PMs
- Learn negotiation fundamentals for product roles: Negotiation in Tech