ITS ALL ABOUT SALES

One of this weeks reading really stood out to me.  They were interviewing a group of highly successful entrepreneurs  and asking them the keys to success.  The number one most important thing you need to have to be successful in business is the ability to sell.  If your a doctor, your going to have to sell yourself to your patients, if your in direct sale you will have to sell to get paid.  Every profession hinges on the ability to sell.  They mentioned you must learn to read the customer, overcome objections, and problem solve during the sales process.

I have done door to door sales for 10 years and counting.  I agree 100% with the idea that selling is a skill everyone  should try to  obtain.  There is not a better feeling in the world then knocking on someones door; having them hate your guts when because your a salesmen, , then leaving there house 30 min later having been invited over for dinner the next night.  I think if you can be successful in direct sales, there isnt any other job out there you couldn't be qualified for in a round about way.  I will make sure that my children someday learn sales, because it will help them for whatever career path they choose.

Mentality of an Entrepreneur

I really enjoyed the readings and book report that we were required to do this week in class.  I pondered on the thought that getting a diploma doesnt automatically make you who you want to become.  For example if you want to become a doctor, its the learning process and the habits created before the diploma is handed out.  Those are things that make the real difference.  iI i want to bcome an entrepreneur I have to start thinking like that now.  The book mentioned i needed to hang around people that i want to become like.

I also focused alot this week on reconnecting a few relationships that I know will be handy for networking.  A few texts, emails, and lunch appointments might help me somedays with a career deciding decision.

Not Even Once

In week three of the class we discussed the importance of having ethics in business.  I love the idea that it is easier to be 100% honest, then it is to be 98% honest.  As soon as you create a crack in your integrity, it is much easier to create more cracks because you can justify having done it once already.

I work in sales, and there is always a gray area that you can step into.  I made the decision early that I would not even allow myself step into that gray area.  Ive noticed that some salesmen justify telling a partial truth to customers.  Or what I call perceived honesty.  A customer might ask you something, and your response is honest, but doesn't directly answer the question that the customer wanted to know about.

Money isnt everything in this life.  When I am out of this industry I work in, i want people to remember me as the guy who did things the right way.  Ill trade a percieved increase in production for keeping my integrity all day!

Falling Forward

This week it was refreshing to remind myself of what it takes to be successful on the road to entrepreneurship.  Excellent examples like Thomas Edison's 10,000 ways to not to create a light bulb, and WD-40s 39 formulas that didn't work, taught me that failure is a key part of the success formula.  Im grateful that Thomas Edison continued to pursue his dream of creating the light bulb, even though he must have gotten discouraged along the way.  Each time we fall forward, our failures teach us something, and help get us that much closer to accomplishing our goals.

The fear of failure is the single most reason people are scared of the word "Entrepreneur."  To the layman this word means unknown, and maybe a lot of hard work to follow.  I believe that the risk vs the reward is what drives me to be a successful business man.  Freedom to make decisions, create schedules, and build something lasting, are worth having some failures along the way to obtain those rewards.  The rat race of life is a terrible place to be stuck.  Entrepreneurship frees you of that race, and allows you to create the pace of the new race and adventure to come.  Failure at times is inevitable, but as long as I am failing and falling forward all will be ok.

Begining of the JOURNAL streak

Journal writing has always been on my mind, and I'm grateful for this asignment that will kickstart where I have slacked.  Recording lessons and questions will help me understand them more deeply and turn them into habits.  I also realized that keeping a journal allows you to become reflective on your life, allowing your perspectives of the world to change.  A journal can be used as a reference tool that can help guide you through life.

In my patriarchal blessing it admonishes me to keep a journal.  It specifically describes the blessings that will come from doing it.  There is power in penning thoughts to paper.  Goals and dreams become real, and much easier to achieve.  Journal writing for me is also a great way to share my thoughts or perspectives on situations I might not normally share with others.