I’ve been thinking about former friends and co-workers today. I’ve also been thinking about how everyday kind of things can end up making an impact that isn’t always expected. Some of the lessons I learned were like that. There’s a long, long story about my mentors that I want to write someday, but for today – here are a few things that I learned that have served me well and help me all the time.
Do It Yourself – Or at least be willing to. One of the owners of a company I worked for taught me this. He was a self-made man who worked harder than anyone I knew. He taught me how to do many things by showing me how he did it himself.
Take Responsibility Alone – Share the Credit - This was something I saw another owner do many times. A big deal was lost? He stood up and said, “My bad – I didn’t position us correctly, but we’ll learn from it and win the next one.” A big deal landed? “Everyone was helpful and deserved part of the credit”. Selling is competitive and somewhat individual, but if you are a sales leader – this must be part of your leadership method.
Work Hard and Have Fun – They don’t have to be exclusive. People who are passionate about thier work don’t always understand that a break here and there will help you and your staff blow off some steam and come back recharged. Don’t be afraid to step back and have a good time.
Learning Never Ends – Again, in my early sales career, the owners of the company knew that regular training was critical to the success and development of the sales staff. They encouraged it and led by example by regularly attending training and development seminars themselves.
There are other lessons I learned along the way as well but these simple concepts have helped me to succeed. Sometimes the most basic rules can be the foundation for guiding you through your decisions.
What basic lessons do you refer to?
How did you learn them?
Do you teach them at your company?
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