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Way back in 1983, Wayne Gretzky said You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take.
A poignant quote that’s been postered in cubicles and screen-saved by salespeople ever since.
It cross-checks any issue we face in life by easily cutting through the b.s. we convince ourselves is real.
And as much as I’ve said it to myself when slippin’, it doesn’t take into account one key detail.
Are you even in the game?
Fundamentally, we know what we’re doing from day to day and don’t require mentorship.
We’ve been making cold-calls, running meetings, social selling, smartketing and closing deals for awhile now.
But regardless of how adept we think we are, who among us can say they’ve nothing left to learn?
What are we missing we don’t know we’re missing because we won’t admit to anything missing?
A mentor fills that awareness gap.
They help us shine brighter than we can on our own.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Psychiatrists say it all the time – you cannot diagnose yourself.
We should believe the experts when they say we can do better.
As salespeople, we benefit greatly from unbiased perspective.
And a gateway to such perspective is through mentorship.
If you don’t already have a go-to person for clarity, don’t trip.
Perspective comes from friends, associates, family and even strangers.
It doesn’t have to be a superior; just someone you can trust.
But beware of the myth.
The one that says you can’t learn from anyone else that doesn’t do exactly what you do.
It’s blatantly false.
Perspective isn’t limited per industry.
It comes from the backs of others thriving and surviving the human condition.
And regardless of where you find light, having tools to make you a better you will show in your work whether you’re selling, processing, manufacturing or healing.
Big Picture Energy
As salespeople, let’s embrace the bigger picture especially in these times of uncertainty.
Let’s command our pipelines, drill-down on deal progress and know the exact Day to expect a prospect’s executed contract.
And when they don’t deliver, respectfully hold their feet to the fire because we had an understanding.
Turn confidence UP.
Improve our communication skills so we can deal with challenging clients and rudderless coworkers.
Pay attention to the structural changes happening in our industries because of Covid.
This stretch of time, tumultuous as it is, shapes our future.
By being prepared for imminent change, we can make the adjustments to meet the moment.
Can I Get a Mentor Macchiato, Hold the Torment?
It’s not easy to see this bigger picture when we’re stuck in the day to day.
We can’t help it…
Minutiae dominates us especially if we’re not blocking time.
Minutes turn to weeks and days to quarters.
Luckily, blinders can be removed and blind-spots identified by simply doing one thing.
Talking to someone besides your inner tormentor.
An actual Mentor.
The Mentorial Candidate
I’ve had three mentors in life.
The first was a professional potter who took me in as an apprentice in the small studio attached to his home.
Every day was a lesson in clay and the philosophy of life.
Rick introduced me to the kick-wheel and although it was a harsh learning curve.
It completely changed my approach to clay once I zenned-in.
Orlando showed me how to be aggressive on the phone and go after what I wanted.
His were lessons were carved from the book of hustlers and served in boiler rooms where you only ate when you killed.
My third mentor, Christopher, helped me refine my pitch for the Fortune 500.
He’s taught me to sell to the highest executives of global corporations.
And emerge with double U’s.
Three very unique styles that I haven’t mastered, but practice daily.
Tempo | Confidence | Strategy
These mentors helped me see what I couldn’t.
They pushed me to places I didn’t want to be but was grateful once there.
They’ve ensured I always have my head in the game.
To take the shot.
Win, lose or learn.
Who keeps you in the game?