Rules, Lessons, Facts of Life, and Suggestions for a great sales career and life:
- Nothing can beat a great work ethic coupled with the right attitude.
- Good enough isn’t good enough.
- Do it correctly but do it quickly.
- Even if you do it perfectly, there’s always room for improvement.
- Get it done no matter what. Persist and persevere regardless of mental and physical pain.
- It doesn’t matter who’s yelling at you, you have to keep going.
- No excuses. Excuses may be valid, but they are not a reason for failing to carry out the mission.
- The little things count.
- PIT: pain initiatives transformation
- Have a battle buddy: never go anywhere potentially hostile or unknown alone
- Learn to lead by first being a good follower.
- Sometimes as a leader you will be at the front of the pack, other times in the back, rarely in the middle.
- Take care of others. It’s all about serving.
- When looking for someone to blame, look in the mirror.
- When you point the finger at someone else, three fingers are pointed back at you.
- Err on the side of too much communication versus not enough.
- Don’t make assumptions.
- Always give the benefit of the doubt.
- Team trumps the individual.
- Under stress and in difficult situations, breathe.
- Be the calm in the storm.
- You must deliver whether you feel like it or not.
- Have company policies, procedures, processes, and rules.
- Run your life by routines, rituals, and rules.
- Just get through this evolution (your current struggle)… At some point it will end.
- You’ll be punished if you don’t prepare. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
- You are 100% responsible for your success or failure.
- There’s a difference between being hurt and being injured.
- Leave places and people better than you found them.
- Be a person of your word and keep your promises.
- Protect those who can’t protect themselves.
- Run at your fears.
- Get up on time, go to bed on time. Ideally is the same time, most of the time.
- You have to put wood in the fire before you get any heat.
- Most things worthwhile are harder than expected and take longer than expected.
- You have to take 100% responsibility for your relationships.
- It’s easy to fight and push when you’re rested and feel good, but character is built by fighting and pushing when you’re tired, injured, and/or hungry.
- You have to do your job and be an example of hard work and dedication. Be the example for others.
- You have to invest in your personal and professional development. You are either growing or dying, getting better, or getting worse, there is no neutral.
- You have to be willing to make mistakes, look stupid, and fail in front of others.
- You must be detail oriented and refuse to cut corners.
- You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.
- You have to have faith that as long as you do your absolute best, things will work out.
- You must get up every time you fall; you must never quit.
- You have to be kind to people, give them the benefit of the doubt, and realize that everyone is going through something. That said, fool you once, shame on them, twice, shame on you.
- Believe in the good nature of people and lock your doors. Trust and verify.
- Show up early to deadlines and always deliver more than expected.
- Take accountability anywhere you can. If you are the leader, and things go wrong, it’s your fault. When things go right, give credit to the team.
- You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.
- You don’t fail, you simply learn.
- Your ultimate goals should be to learn, grow, and get better daily.
John Chapin is a motivational sales speaker, coach, and trainer. To have him speak at your next event, go to www.completeselling.com John has over 38 years of sales experience as a number one sales rep and is the author of the 2010 sales book of the year: Sales Encyclopedia (Axiom Book Awards). You can reprint provided you keep contact information in place. E-mail: johnchapin@completeselling.com.