A reader Kate McKeon asked a great question in a comment about my latest post about Dealing With Reality…
“It’s tough to accurately asses what opportunities are out there if you come from the frame that you create your own opportunities.
At what point do you interject limitations?
Should you?”
This is a great question for those of us that have spent a lot of time on personal development and in sales training where we are told repeatedly that the sale is up to us– the saleperson– and we shouldn’t be making excuses about the economy, and our industry, etc. If only we will get out and work harder, all will be well…
Here are my thoughts on this paradox…
Of course we are the ones that create our own opportunities, and one of these acts of creation is to decide that we are employing “Level Ten”sales skills in a “Level One” or “Level Two” sales opportunity.
It is a given that we are going to make the most of every opportunity we are given. But we also need to look for the opportunities that give us the best chance to succeed in the ways that are important to us– financial success, adequete time with family, time off for occasional long weekend or long vacation, being able to work with people we like and respect, etc.
Each person needs to decide for themselves what they want to achieve and then make a conscious decision to find the sales job or position that most closely matches our ideal– and then attack it 100%…
Think of the world’s best stagecoach salesperson when the car was introduced…
Would we call him a quitter if he gave up on stagecoaches and started selling Model T’s?
Wouldn’t he be able to transition his sales skills from one product to the other? I’m betting a lot made the switch. Others started selling other things (or became sales trainers)…
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
That is an excellent example. In simple terms your saying to follow the customers true wants and needs. Don’t be like the railroad industry that didn’t know they are in the transportation business.
Jose Escalante
http://www.joseescalante.com
Good point. I’d hope I’d be smart enough to recognise the next model-T.
Keri Eagan
Alternative*Insight
Nice example. It’s important to keep your eyes open for opportunities and continue challenging yourself.
MissMentor
Great example. There is a balance between reaching for the stars and being realistic and assessing the situation.
Jen Battaglino
The Harwood Group – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
Damn those pesky horses! It gets so dusty and dirty on a stagecoach…
Excellent point about continuing to grow and change as we make our opportunities.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
This reminds me of the last scene of the movie “Tin Men.” The stars just lost their licenses to sell steel siding and they are sitting in their car at a stop light wondering what they are going to do now. In front of them passes a flat bed truck with a big sign on it on the way to be installed. I think the sign was either a McDonald’s or a VW sign. (This was about 30 years ago.)
Well it loses a lot in a poor telling. See the movie. It’s worth it.
Martin O’Connor
http://smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
“What’s the best use of my time right now”?
A great Q to ask oursleves constantly whenever our mind wonder.
Being a perfectionist can be so counter-productive. For some, it takes practice to accept imperfection as the appropriate approach to life in general.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Very good example.
Just like the martial arts……we ask….”what if “and be prepared to take action.
Lynn Lane->The Warrior Of Success
I agree, we are responsible for creating our own opportunities and we shouldn’t constrain ourselves by just doing what we’ve always done but better.
http://www.martin-wright.com
Strategies For Success
I’m with Keri, I wonder if I would be smart enough, free enough to recognize the shift from stage coach to car. …
Katie
Good question Kate. It brought out a lot of thoughts.
Martin O’Connor
http://smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
It’s important to create oppurtunities but it can require a lot. Excellent post.
Bert (alter ego- Mister P)
MisterP.org/blog
The simple fact is that even though we can generate opportunities through hard work and perseverence there needs to be an accurate assessment of reality. Tough to sell snowmobiles in the Sahara no matter how positive or motivated you are.
Steve Chambers
I liked your example of the person selling stagecoaches when the model T came out. He is definitely not a quitter. Nice way to make a point.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitter in your area