What I Told My Daughter

When my daughter Lynn turned 18, I wanted to impress her with some fatherly pearls of wisdom, something she would remember and cherish the rest of her life. This is what I told her. "Honey, now that you are an adult, from here on in nobody cares about you." She was crestfallen. She said, "Wow, Dad, that's harsh." My point is this and it applies to all of us: Other than your parents, who really cares about your personal success or hardships in life? Nobody. Who cares if you are the CEO of ME Inc. or picking bottles off the street? Nobody. Yes, your manager has a corporate interest in your performance but if you do not perform, you're fired. Your spouse may love you today but if you do not commit to the relationship, it erodes and you're divorced. Your coach may support you but if you do not contribute to the team, you're traded, and so it goes. Nobody cares other than the few people who may express sadness and sympathy for your plight. It's a rather sobering message to tell a daughter and to share with readers but, unfortunately, life is not very tolerant of those who do not take ownership and responsibility for their decisions. Lynn did not particularly appreciate my little gem of advice, but she understood it. It was a big bite out of the reality sandwich. However, the good news is this: By practising these five attitudes that lead to success, sales entrepreneurs can expand their confidence in their abilities. These high achievers will emanate positive energy and display a high level of commitment to their personal life and to their profession.

The best time to develop a lasting, positive attitude is during the good times. Consciously build on the five attitudinal pillars and use them as a catalyst to heighten your success. Don't find yourself reacting to bad times, struggling to combat low self-esteem or low self-worth. Consider this Chinese proverb: "Dig the well before you get thirsty." Or give this some thought: "The best time to fix a leaky roof is on a sunny day." Something else to consider: If you think you have it tough, spend an afternoon visiting the burn unit or the cancer ward at your local hospital. It's a rather sobering, shocking experience. Trust me, it won't take long before you quickly appreciate how good things really are. Quit taking the good things for granted. Bad times tend to wake us up to the good things we weren't paying attention to.

Your power exists in the now. Harness it and make decisions today that will positively impact your tomorrows.

Congratulations on completing Step #1 of the Sequential Model of Professional Selling. The Attitude Step is your springboard into the other nine steps. However, attitude must prevail throughout the Sequential Model. Attitude is a prerequisite to all other steps. You have now graduated to Step #2, Planning and Preparation.

I close with this quote from George Bernard Shaw:

A master in the art of living knows no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both."