a guy i barely knew handed me my best sales lesson and he wasn't even in sales

A few years back i was at a barbecue. standing next to this older guy, neighbour of a friend, never met him before. asked what i did. told him i was in sales.

he nodded and said "my brother was in sales for thirty years. best in his company every single year."

i asked what his secret was.

he paused, thought about it genuinely, then said "he never tried to sell anyone anything. he just made people feel like they'd be stupid not to buy."

and then someone called him over for food and that was the end of the conversation.

i've thought about that sentence almost every week since. because there's something in it i still haven't fully unpacked. the difference between trying to sell and making someone feel like the decision is obvious.

what's the best sales advice you ever got from someone who had absolutely nothing to do with sales?