Saturday, January 03, 2009

"Do more than is expected of you."

"Do more than is expected of you."
"Do more than is expected of you."
"Do more than is expected of you."

This is one of my favorite quotes from Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich," so I thought I would type it out three times to be dramatic. I've read the book multiple times and each time I read it, it's just as inspiring as the first time.

Some truths are just timeless, this is one of them. "Do more than is expected of you." Simple, to the point and oh so true.

Sales is not an easy job and it's not for everyone. Many people get lured into sales because it can be lucrative and prestigious. Most people growing up don't say, "When I grow up I want to be a sales rep!" It just doesn't happen. Like anything else, sales is an occupation that follows the standard Bell Curve. A majority of the sales reps are average. Then there are a handful of exceptional sales reps to the right of the curve and of course a handful of sales reps that probably shouldn't be in sales to the left of the curve.

What's the difference between these three categories of sales reps? The best sales reps have that burning desire to succeed with hard work. They will do whatever it takes. They do more than what is expected of them. Some many disagree and say that factors like experience, business acumen, salesmanship are the real main differences. I contend that these things can be learned over time.

A strong, solid work ethic and the burning desire to succeed is not taught or learned. It only comes from within and when it's unleashed it cannot be denied.

Michael Phelps did not win 8 Gold Medal because he started swimming at an early age (experience) or knew the mechanics of the perfect stoke (knowledge) or had the best coach. He won 8 Gold Medals because he was willing to do anything to get those 8 Gold Medals, even if it meant spending up to eight hours per day in the pool. If other swimmers trained 8 hours a day, I suspect Michael Phelps would have trained 12-14 hours per day. "Do more than is expected of you."

Every sales rep wants to be the best. Wanting to be the best and wanting to succeed is far different than doing whatever it takes and doing more than what's expected to be the best. Saying, "I want to be the best," is easy. Backing it up with hard work is what separates the best sales reps from everyone else.

Ask yourself if you truly have that undeniable burning desire to be successful. Are you one that goes above and beyond? Do you do more than what is expected because you want get recognition for your efforts or do you do this because you know that there are no shortcuts and that the greatest rewards are always the ones you worked the hardest for? Be honest with yourself.

The good news is that if you are a top rep, an average sales rep or a not so great sales rep, you and you alone have the option to change you mindset, step up your game and get better with strong, consistent hard work.

"Do more than is expected of you."
"Do more than is expected of you."
"Do more than is expected of you."

Thanks,
David Chao
The Web Conferencing Expert