Attention Sales World... A Lack Of Vision And Purpose Blurs The Road To Sales Greatness

“When mind is blurred, everything becomes blurred even on the brightest day; when mind is clear everything becomes clear even on the foggiest day!”

Mehmet Murat Ildan

A vision guides you, what is your vision?

Simply stated, vision is knowing you who are (your purpose), a clear picture of where you're going, and knowing the principles you need to guide you on your journey.

When you apply vision to the future, you create a mental picture that can be used to direct your actions. Vision serves as your tour guide and can be used to provide a sense of purpose. 

Are you bringing the past to the present or the future to the present?

A lack of vision prevents you from sales greatness.

You must have a vision that inspires you to achieve something greater than what you are and what you've accomplished.

What drives you?

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I love what Pastor Craig Groeschel has to say about vision,

"Without vision, people become comfortable with the status quo. Later, they grow to love the status quo. Eventually, they'll give their best to protect what is, never dreaming about what could or should be."

How will you conquer status quo?

START BY OWNING YOUR MIND

Locked in a vault since 1941, and brought to life courtesy of the Napoleon Hill Foundation in 2017, "How to Own Your Own Mind" is Napoleon Hill's definitive lesson on how to organize your thinking to attain success.

This book guides you how to use what you know, and how to know what’s worth knowing.

Chapter 1 of the book begins centered around a conversation between Napoleon Hill and Andrew Carnegie, back in 1908.

Hill asks Andrew Carnegie,

"You have said that Creative Vision is one of the principles of individual achievement. Will you analyze this principle and describe how one may make practical use of it?"

Andrew Carnegie replies,

"First of all, let us have a clear understanding of the meaning of the term 'Creative Vision,' as we are here using it, by explaining that this is not merely another name for imagination. It is the ability to recognize opportunities and take action to benefit from them. An important element of Creative Vision is the use of the imagination."

When it comes to imagination, Albert Einstein said it the best,

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

Can reimagining your sales career propel you to greater heights and results?

Are you recognizing the opportunities and taking action to benefit from them?

YOUR VISION WILL GUIDE YOU; YOUR PURPOSE WILL PROPEL YOU

If you want the people you serve to embrace you, and this would be your clients, then you must be clear about who you are, what you do, why it matters, and where you’re headed.

"Purpose guides you, mission drives you, vision is what you aspire to, impact is what matters!"

Brian Sooy, Aespire

• What impact would you like to have with your clients?
• What impact would you like to have within the marketplace?
• What impact would you like to have within your community?

To bring this into context, my vision and purpose can be expressed through my WHY and HOW:

My WHY is I believe that success happens when I contribute to a greater cause.

My HOW is I do this by making things clear and understandable.

“Having a sense of purpose is having a sense of self. A course to plot is a destination to hope for.”

Bryant H. McGill

I'm a firm believer that having a vision and purpose matters more now than ever before. A sales professional thrives on being a part of a purpose. They live for becoming part of something that really matters, something that really makes a difference to the lives of their clients, their marketplace and their community.

What’s your "endgame" in sales? Is it to make a sale, collect a check or to make a difference?

Given the business climate of the last few years, you must deliver tangible results with purpose and meaning, not sales crapola.

"Creating your sales purpose not only transforms sales effectiveness, but it also provides insulation from the price hammer."

Sales professionals who lead with purpose and allow their vision to guide them, stand out from the sales sea of mediocrity and all the empty suits. They make a difference. They care. They are committed.

• They are engaged at all levels in their client's business.
• They invest the time to learn about the client’s business.
• They are in it for the long-term.
• They are difference-makers and their clients know it.
• They are woven into the corporate DNA of client's business.

BET ON YOUR PURPOSE AND VISION

A sales professional continually searches and finds their sense of purpose as circumstances change. They allow their vision to become their sales tour guide.

Those with a sense of purpose and a strong vision in sales are passionate, they create change and they're committed. They're completely focused on serving their clients.

They ask themselves purposeful questions such as:

• What problems do my clients encounter? How can I help them solve them?
• How can I become more effective to better help my clients to succeed?
• What am I contributing to my clients to help them do better business?
• Am I making a difference in client's business lives?

Results don't inspire a sales professional, a sense of purpose does

When we seek to serve others then what we do is never finished. The purpose always pulls us, the vision propels us!

WILL YOU CREATE A PURPOSE AND VISION PLAN?

"Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results"

Without self-discipline, personal accountability, and disciplined habits, the road to monumental sales results will become blurred.

What is your plan?

Purpose driven and visionary sales professionals double-down on their business plan.

They're committed to overachieving. They make a commitment to themselves, their company and their family.

• This plan increases their awareness and reputation within their marketplace.
• This plan has them involved and participating in community events.
• This plan has them obtaining referrals from current clients.
• This plan has them continually learning about their client's business.
• This plan has them continually learning about themselves.

Leaders cast vision. They're visionaries. They're purposeful, have a plan and lead from the heart.

Nobody exemplified this more than Walt Disney.

In chapter 3, "Lead Like Walt" by Pat Williams,

"Leadership requires that we communicate our vision in a powerful, persuasive, memorable way"

Walt Disney turned his visions into reality through the power of communication.

My question to you...

Are you communicating your purpose, your vision and your plan?

YOUR SALES LIFE IS TOO SHORT

You deserve a career where you have a sense of purpose and a vision that guides you. Sales professionals don't leave it up to their company or their management team. It is up to you to define what you do with your sales career.

• Know what motivates you
• Find a mentor or a business coach
• Self-reflect and crave self-improvement

Purpose and vision create clarity.

Clarity creates freedom. It removes the roadblocks, even the mental ones.

To bring all of this to fruition, you must gain a simple understanding of what you want and how you will reach your destiny.

Clarity becomes high octane fuel to vision and purpose. If you aren’t clear about your "WHY and HOW” you will never lift your vision off the ground.

Clarity brings to you...

• A sense of direction
• A sense of meaning
• A sense of passion
• A sense of personal freedom

I'd ask all of you right now, do you believe what you do matters? If so, then it's up to you to make it happen.

Originally published on Larry Levine's LinkedIn.