We live in an age of infinite information. I was on the bus watching people. Scroll. Listen. Scroll. Are salespeople immune from the media's claw? Every scroll, podcast, and LinkedIn post gets scoured for the “trick” that’ll change results and lives? Did you know the average person now consumes 34 gigabytes of information a day? And yet, I still hear sales reps say something like, “I don’t know what to trust. I consume a lot but don’t improve much.”
One rep from Canada had read 20+ books, built out organised notes from LinkedIn posts, networking and podcasts but yet: “I don’t feel like I’m getting better”. It's the self-improvement feeling without the improvement.
Earlier, I spoke with Rick. He’s lived pre-Internet, pre-infinite content and still made it rain? Observing him has shown me (more than) three things that punch this chronic epidemic of media consumption in the face:
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Stop consuming. You don’t win by stuffing more into your head than you can act on. Rick does not have this modern disease of eating and scrolling through noise and listens only to trusted recommendations.
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Lead and learn by example. People follow what you do, not what you say. Rick lives what he teaches. Everyday. He learnt a lot from his mentor Bob Jiguere. If not your manager, then who?
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Start with reality. Know where you are, what must change, then execute with focus. Not just skill, but beliefs and mindset too. Reality includes acknowledging "get rich quick" schemes and knowing what it takes to become excellent, with excellent results.
So ask yourself:
- How much life would you get back if you eliminated your poor consumption hygiene?
- Do you have someone worth modeling that has helped people become people worth modelling?
- Are your beliefs getting you to your goal or getting in the way of your goal? Do you know what you don't know?
"Whoever travels without a guide, needs two hundred years for a two-day journey" - Rumi
We'll be reachable.
BTW, Rick and I have been working on a list of 100 questions about obstacles that may be blocking you from getting where you want to be. If you reply to this email with "send me the list", I will.