To say I was dejected when my first attempt at becoming a self-sustaining business owner came to an end would be a gross understatement. Admittedly I only gave myself a little over a month to do it which realistically was not nearly enough time. If promises were pay cheques I'd still be sitting on my couch formulating marketing plans, but alas, the timing wasn't meant to be, I have bills to pay, and the word of some people isn't worth much. Well I guess it's time to give up my dreams of being my own boss and go back to working for the man...
If you believe that for even a second then you don't know me at all. Make no doubt about it - I plan on making my return to an office a very successful one, but it will last only as long as it needs to. If I know one thing it's that success doesn't come to those that don't recognize and pursue it. Take, for example, the results of a couple of meetings over the last couple of weeks. To try and help my transition into my new position I've reconnected with some old friendly contacts. After some probing questions I was able to ascertain that 1) they weren't interested in the product I'm currently promoting and 2) their needs fell into line with the type of service I provide with 88MS. If I would have given up on these clients I wouldn't be in the position I am, which I'm proud to say is with one verbal agreement and one project already in the works.
Although I do believe that timing has a lot to do with certain types of success, it is by no fluke that I have found myself in the right place to take advantage of these opportunities. It was through my persistence that I was able to maintain these relationships, recognize opportunity, and finally seize it. With a couple of successes under my belt, I now find myself with renewed confidence.
Some people categorize sales reps as pesky, annoying blood-suckers who are only out to get your money. I prefer to think of good sales people not as pests, but as persistent helpers looking out for the welfare of their clients. At the end of the day, I know that I am passionate about doing what is best for my clients. Without my persistence I wouldn't be successful and I genuinely believe that my clients wouldn't be as successful either.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Directional change
I can't believe it's been nearly a month since my last post. It's not like things haven't been happening, it's just that a lot of things have been changing that updating daily would have made it look like there isn't a plan. I definitely have to say that since the middle of November my focus has changed slightly. The ability to change direction on a dime is a great benefit but not a skill that many possess. I dove into the consulting business with both feet, but I have decided to find solid steady employment, focus on the Sched-U-All project, and have 88MS as an add-on. Hopefully it'll get to a point that I can switch to 88MS and Sched-U-All on a full-time basis, but for now I have to do what I have to do.
Now some people have asked me if this is just the first step in me abandoning the whole "Empire" dream. I can understand why they ask because when faced with adversity, the natural inclination for most people is to run to what's comfortable (in this case, being employed). If this last year and a half has taught me anything, the plan for working for any employer is not a long-term venture. Loyalty does not exist any more (some would argue that in sales it never existed in the first place). In my situation, working for someone else is a mean to get to where I want to be without ignoring my current responsibilities. Although I plan on putting my complete effort into this new opportunity, my long-term goal is not to work for anyone else ever again. There is no doubting this.
So what's the point to this post you may be asking. Well quite simply, when your given situation changes, you need to recognize and adapt asap. Never lose sight of your end goal, but don't be afraid to change your path. My old manager Chad Carbno used to always say "There are many ways to climb a mountain." and in my experience, truer words have never been spoken. Sometimes the greatest discoveries are found on detours. So my advice is enjoy the ride, roll with the punches, and remember where you're going.
Now some people have asked me if this is just the first step in me abandoning the whole "Empire" dream. I can understand why they ask because when faced with adversity, the natural inclination for most people is to run to what's comfortable (in this case, being employed). If this last year and a half has taught me anything, the plan for working for any employer is not a long-term venture. Loyalty does not exist any more (some would argue that in sales it never existed in the first place). In my situation, working for someone else is a mean to get to where I want to be without ignoring my current responsibilities. Although I plan on putting my complete effort into this new opportunity, my long-term goal is not to work for anyone else ever again. There is no doubting this.
So what's the point to this post you may be asking. Well quite simply, when your given situation changes, you need to recognize and adapt asap. Never lose sight of your end goal, but don't be afraid to change your path. My old manager Chad Carbno used to always say "There are many ways to climb a mountain." and in my experience, truer words have never been spoken. Sometimes the greatest discoveries are found on detours. So my advice is enjoy the ride, roll with the punches, and remember where you're going.
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