How important is perspective to your success in sales? Consider this. A shoe salesman finds himself on a remote island among a tribe of people who do not wear shoes. He sends a message, “Come get me. There is no market for shoes on this island.” Another shoe salesman lands on the same island. He sends a different message, “Please send a load of shoes as everyone on this island needs a pair.”
What is your perspective? How prepared are you to seize the moment? Here are four questions that check your readiness.
- Do you love your job? Do you look forward to getting up in the morning to start the new day? Enjoying your work enables success.
- Is your energy contagious? In his book, The Ideal Team Player, Patrick Lencioni, asks the question, “Are you hungry?” Hungry people are always looking for more things to do, more responsibilities to take on. They are self-motivated and can sense a new opportunity. Their enthusiasm is contagious.
- Are you surrounded by people who motivate you? Zig Ziglar’s most quoted axiom is, “You can get anything out of life if you just help enough other people get what they want out of life.” What motivates you each day? Is it centered on others or yourself?
- Do you find your work exciting? I have a motivational speech titled, “I can’t believe they pay me to do this job!” I have thoroughly enjoyed almost 50 years of rewarding work in sales and as a motivational speaker. You should be excited each time you take the next step in your career.
Life is short. Success is not a destination, it is a journey. It is the direction in which you are traveling that really matters. On your island, do you have the proper perspective to see the opportunities in front of you?
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