Jeffrey Gitomer

Jeffrey Gitomer – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Jeffrey Gitomer (born February 11, 1946) is an American author, sales expert, and motivational speaker. Discover his life, approach to selling, legacy, and his most powerful quotes.

Introduction

Jeffrey Gitomer is recognized as one of the leading voices in sales training, customer loyalty, and personal development. His books, seminars, and insights have influenced millions of professionals around the world. Known for direct language, “little books” full of punchy wisdom, and a no-fluff style, Gitomer has built a lasting brand in the business world. Understanding his life and philosophy helps us see not only how to sell better—but how to think about service, reputation, and success in a sustainable way.

Early Life and Background

Jeffrey Gitomer was born on February 11, 1946, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

While not all details of his childhood are broadly publicized, we know that he later attended Temple University, though he left after his first year to study languages at the Goethe Institute in Berlin.

Gitomer’s path did not follow a conventional academic trajectory; rather, he took an early leap into building something practical and meaningful, grounding his development in real-world experience.

Career and Achievements

From Sales to Voice of Authority

Gitomer started in the world of sales and over time developed a reputation for combining sales technique with attitude and ethics.

He founded Business Marketing Services in 1988, providing consulting, training, and speaking services to businesses seeking to improve sales, customer service, and growth strategies.

He is also the founder/leader of Buy Gitomer, a platform centered around his content, training, and brand.

Gitomer has personally delivered over 150 training programs and annual sales meetings for major organizations including Enterprise, Deloitte, Sony, FedEx, and more.

He also publishes a weekly e-newsletter / multimedia content called Sales Caffeine, reaching hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

Writing & Published Works

Jeffrey Gitomer is a prolific author. Many of his books have become staples in sales and business development circles.

Some of his most well-known titles include:

• The Sales Bible (often considered a foundational text in selling)

• The Little Red Book of Selling — one of his signature works, widely sold and translated

• Customer Satisfaction Is Worthless, Customer Loyalty Is Priceless

• The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude

• The Little Black Book of Connections

His books are often concise, full of bullet-point insights, stories, and frameworks for immediate application.

Many of his books have achieved bestseller status and have been translated into multiple languages.

He has also received multiple awards: for example, he won an Audie Award (for the audiobook version) for The Little Red Book of Selling.

Additionally, he has been inducted into the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame.

Style & Public Persona

Gitomer’s public presence is marked by a high-energy, direct, and humorous style.

He frequently emphasizes attitude, value, relationships, and consistency over gimmicks or quick fixes.

He is also known for being bold about his own material: for example, he maintains that in his books he uses only his own quotes, which he sees as part of the integrity and distinctiveness of his voice.

He is a frequent keynote speaker and is highly sought after in corporate and professional development circles.

Legacy and Influence

Jeffrey Gitomer’s influence is felt across sales training, professional development, and business culture more broadly. Some aspects of his legacy:

• Enduring models and books: His “little books” continue to be referenced in sales courses, trainings, and individual study.

• Meme of attitude in sales: Many of his frameworks (like “attitude drives actions drives results”) are now commonly cited in business training.

• Sales culture shift: He has contributed to a shift from pushy selling to value-oriented, service-based selling approaches.

• Large reach: Through his newsletters, seminars, books, and digital content, he reaches global audiences.

• Mentorship and thought leadership: Many modern sales trainers cite Gitomer’s work as foundational or inspirational.

Even as newer voices emerge, Gitomer remains one of the “classic” voices people turn to for grounding in principles rather than trends.

Personality, Strengths & Values

From how he presents himself and how others describe him, the following traits are prominent:

• Energetic & enthusiastic: He brings energy into sales content, making principles more engaging and memorable.

• Straightforward & candid: He avoids fluff and emphasizes direct, simple truths.

• High integrity: He emphasizes reputation, trust, and delivering value.

• Relational: He underscores relationships, loyalty, and serving others.

• Persistent & consistent: His success comes from sustained effort, not overnight magic.

• Learner & communicator: He continues to produce content, adapt to new media, and refine his lessons.

Famous Quotes of Jeffrey Gitomer

Here are some of his memorable and influential lines (with sources):

“Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.”

“Resilience is not what happens to you. It’s how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you.”

“You don't earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day.”

“If you want to be the best salesperson, first you must be the best person.”

“People don’t like to be sold, but they love to buy.”

“Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect’s response.”

“Attitude drives actions. Actions drive results. Results drive lifestyles.”

“Take more chances than you dare. You’ll make more sales than you expect.”

“Your grammar is a reflection of your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression.”

These quotes showcase Gitomer’s focus on mindset, ethics, relationships, and continuous action.

Lessons from Jeffrey Gitomer

1. Attitude is foundational. According to Gitomer, your mindset determines your actions, and those actions determine your results.

2. Serve first, sell second. He repeatedly emphasizes value, service, and relationship over aggressive pitching.

3. Consistency beats intensity. Small, continual actions build loyalty, reputation, and success over time.

4. Trust and integrity matter. In his approach, delivering on promises and being dependable underpin long-term success.

5. Listening is as important as talking. Real selling often involves deeply understanding the other’s needs and concerns.

6. Personal development is continuous. Even as an established author, he pursues new content, new formats, and better insights.

7. Be bold in sharing your voice. He encourages others to express their own insights (not just echo others) and be distinctive.

Conclusion

Jeffrey Gitomer bridges the gap between raw sales technique and deeper principles of character, value, and service. His work demonstrates that business success is not just about closing a deal, but about building loyalty, trust, and reputation over time. Whether you are a salesperson, entrepreneur, or professional leader, his lessons about attitude, consistency, relationship, and integrity offer timeless guidance.

Explore his books, seminars, and daily content (such as Sales Caffeine) to immerse yourself in his principles—and consider how you might apply them to your own path of growth and influence.