Attention Sales Community... You Become Who And What You Surround Yourself With

"Surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don't see it in yourself.

Zig Ziglar

The road to sales success is paved with roadblocks and obstacles. The journey is tough and filled with uncertainty.

Achieving your goals with consistency in sales is difficult. You're going to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

Would all you of agree, it is useful to be surrounded by professionals who can lend you a helping hand, contribute in some healthy way and add value to your sales life?

You've heard the saying,

"You're are the sum of the 5 people closest to you."

It has been said that the 5 people closest to you shape your success, your interests and maybe even more than many of us realize.

Let's think about this in a professional sales setting and apply the same concept.

Now ask yourself the following:

• Are they ambitious and passionate?
• Are they on a similar journey as you?
• Are they helping you tap into your full potential?
• Are they forward moving in their thoughts and actions?

Are you associating with sales professionals or are you associating with empty sales reps?

WHO DO YOU HANG OUT WITH?

Who you spend time with is who you become. For many, it is easier to surround themselves with other sales reps that never ask questions or challenge ideas, but that’s not where the real growth lies. 

Unfortunately, sales comfortability rages throughout the sales community like fire ravages through a forest.

Is your inner circle full of professionals who are growth oriented or full of sales reps who moan, groan and deflect?

Jim Rohn says, 

“Don’t join an easy crowd; join one that will make you grow and that will challenge you.”

The standards you set for your sales life determine the quality of your sales life. 

Set low standards and expect to get what you get. Set the highest of standards and watch what starts to unfold with your sales life.

The people you associate with will greatly influence where you set that baseline standard for yourself.

Think about your professional associations as a portfolio of investments. A majority should go into relationships that will continue to yield returns well into the distant future, a portion into relationships that will provide short-term returns and divest from any relationships that have zero returns.

Is who you spend time with who you want to become?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Again, I will ask you... Who is in your professional inner circle?

I'd encourage you to develop a personal board of directors.

Just as corporations have a board of directors, so should you. A board of directors hold the CEO accountable as a steward of the business assets, investments, governance and strategic decisions, you can develop this concept to support your career.

This personal board should challenge, inspire and motivate.

Sales professionals invest in people whose advice they can trust

Your personal board of directors can be an intentional group of mentors who can help with different facets of your professional life. 

This board can help by:

• Serving as a sounding board for your ideas, offer advice, and challenge you to become better
• Sharing their experiences and expertise
• Ensuring you look the big picture and the small details
• Keeping you accountable

An influential personal board of directors has the ability to catapult your career trajectory.

"An accountability partner is able to perceive what you can't see when blind spots and weaknesses block your vision."

Charles Stanley

WHY IS THIS BOARD IMPORTANT?

I wholeheartedly believe that sales professionals at every level should develop deep relationships with multiple mentors, essentially creating their own personal board of directors.

There are no shortcuts to experience or success.

I believe you are responsible for actively managing your own sales career. Who is holding you accountable and providing you guidance?

A few years ago, Olivet Nazarene University conducted a survey of over 3,000 people from diverse industries and professions to get the scoop on mentorship and the role it plays in professional growth.

56% of those surveyed had some form of professional mentorship. What was startling and concerning to me was the sales profession wasn't even in the top 10.

Attention sales community.... I believe we have some work to do!

It takes a team to raise an outcome. Knowledge comes from study, and wisdom comes from learning and improving. Who is in your corner? Who is helping you get to the next level?

Who are you confiding in for professional growth? Who is looking out for your best interest?

Allow me to leave you with the following to think about...

"Our excuses escort us to the threshold of regret"

Andy Stanley