I was hired to do some training for a sales
team from one of the largest companies in America. There were 16 people on this
team. That year their sales (for the 16 of them) were close to 250
million--that's right, a quarter of a billion--dollars! Needless to say, it was
an excellent and fascinating time. I decided to learn a little bit myself, so I
watched them closely to see what kind of people they were and to see what
common denominators they shared. Below is what I found. I think you will find
the elements applicable to your own life.
The first thing I noticed about this successful sales team was that they had a
sense of humor! They simply weren't a terribly serious bunch of people.
Instead, they saw that life was to be enjoyed and that means they were able to
laugh a little bit. Sure, there were varying levels in this but they all had a
sense of humor. They were able to laugh at circumstances, and they were able to
laugh at themselves. It was quite refreshing and a core element of their
success, I'm sure.
The second thing I found out about this group
was that they did not achieve their success through pedigree, but through hard
work. They didn't come from families that gave them a free pass into the upper
echelon of the corporate world and they didn't get a head start from upper
crust universities. What got them to where they are now? Hard work!
That's right, another example that if
you put your mind to it, work hard and get in the right situation, you can
achieve great things! These folks work long hours and are disciplined in the
work they do. And it is paying off.
The third thing I noticed about this team is that they are learners. They were
always engaged in the learning process. During my sessions they were engaged
and listening. You could see their minds processing the information. They were
asking questions and applying the material to their work and their lives. They
wanted to improve in any way that they could. It was also interesting to watch
them in their team meetings led by their sales manager. They were very
interactive and were learning from one another. None of them was above learning
from a peer.
What did I see in these successful people?
The same things that can make you a success as you apply the principles to your
own life: A sense of humor, hard work, and a desire to learn at every
turn.
|