Blog Archives
The 5 Star Five – Popular Misconceptions About Sales Reps
Over the years, I have realized that there are many misconceptions of what outside sales people do. I wanted to share 5 of the more memorable ones in the latest edition of “The 5 Star Five”.
I need help adding to this list, so if you would like to contribute, please email me at: TimMushey@gmail.com
- Sales reps are entertaining customers all the time – lunches and golf especially
- You just need to be a people person to succeed
- Everyone in sales makes an above average income
- You have the freedom to do whatever you want, when you want
- The best sales people have the most experience
Bruce Zimmerman but up an incredible post on Saturday, that I had to share today. Those little things that you do for others can make a difference; you just may not know it at the time. Have a great day!
Caught in the rat race, we often forget that little gestures can leave lasting impressions. We lose track of the little things we do and can do, to add meaning to those that we interact with. Whether you realize it or not, sometimes, it’s the little things that can have a lasting impact and shape the future.
I was served up a big dose of reality on this very topic yesterday afternoon.
This past week was one of those weeks. Buried under an avalanche of work, the week actually started on the previous Saturday and include a weekend of preparing for an extremely important and busy week ahead. I had several major presentations accompanied by trips to multiple cities. Added to the mix, was a busy family week of activities and the start of my training schedule for my next race. To say it was a long week was…
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I really enjoyed this post from Tony Schwartz via David Kanigan this morning. Have a great Sunday everyone!
I don’t believe that I’ve read a better self-help post in the past year. Tony Schwartz turned 60 and these are his reflections. He is the author of Be Excellent at Anything. This post is from the HBR Network and it’s titled: Turning 60: The Twelve Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned So Far. I find his insights remarkable…
- “Humility is underrated…deepening self-awareness is essential to freeing ourselves from reactive habitual behaviors…
- “Notice the good – we carry an evolutionary disposition to dwell on on what’s wrong – take time each day to notice what right and to feel grateful
- “Never seek your value at the expense of others…devaluing the person will only prompt more of the same in return”
- “Slow down. Speed is the enemy of nearly everything in life that really matters. It’s addictive and it undermines quality, compassion, depth, creativity, appreciation and real relationship.”
- An…
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Have A Laugh Fridays – Strange Office Meeting
Occasionally office meetings can get a little weird!
Check out this hilarious Saturday Night Live Digital Short from a few years ago. The ending is a little “dramatic”.
I stumbled across David Kanigan’s blog “Lead Learn Live” this morning and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read more posts over the next few days. One caught my attention in particular – “Do What You Love”. It is a real eye opener for those trying to find their way with respect to their career. I strongly recommend that you take a few minutes this weekend to immerse yourself in the message. Thanks David!
We’ve all either given or received the career advice: “Follow your dreams.” “Do what you love.” “Love what you do.”
Recently, there have been an increasing number of counterarguments making the case that if we were all going to “do what we love,” we’d starve doing it.
I came across a 2006 post by Paul Graham: “How To Do What You Love” that offers what may be the best thought-leadership on the subject that I have read.
Graham is an essayist, programmer, and investor. In 1995, he co-developed the first web-based application, Viaweb, which was acquired by Yahoo in 1998. He has an AB from Cornell and a PhD in Computer Science from Harvard, and studied painting at RISD and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence. Graham’s blog is one of the most followed in the blogosphere.
It is an essay (longish for those of us with…
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My First YouTube Video – An Introduction
It was certainly a leap of faith finally getting in front of the video camera after managing my stuttering issue for many years, but I am sure glad I did. The sky is the limit now! Here is my introductory video for Sell Lead, Succeed!
Have A Laugh Fridays – Sales & Golf
I love to watch this commercial! It brings a smile to my face every time. Enjoy it and have a great weekend.
Career Highlights – It’s Been a Fun Ride So Far!
It would be silly of me to request that you follow my blog and connect with me if I had not achieved a few cool things during my career! There have certainly been some ups and downs along the way, but the ups were fantastic, and I will never forget them.
I have highlighted my biggest accomplishments below:
#1 Youngest Branch Manager (24 years old) in the region’s history of a car rental company
#2 Achieved the sales incentive trip for 6 consecutive years while working with one organization. I typically exceeded budget by 10-30% annually. The achievement that I am most proud of with this organization was coming home from Christmas holidays one year to see a fax that I had qualified for the trip, by beating my budget by less than 1%. That felt AWESOME!
- Business in the territory doubled from $3.2 million to $6.4 million over the course of nearly 7 years
- As mentioned in my first post, this was the role where I was offered my dream job at the time, to be the Sales Manager responsible for $40 million in sales and managing 10 associates. It was not meant to be though, as a management shuffle and new ownership steered my career in a different direction. I moved on
#3 Achieved 2nd highest sales volume and 4th highest percentage to budget (out of 20 reps) in the first year in the field for another role
- The highlight of nearly 2 years with this organization was being the top rep out of 100+ associates for a North American wide promotion. As a side note, I outsold the entire Canadian sales force!
#4 For my first new business acquisition focused role, I exceeded budget in 3 of my first 5 months on the road. I proceeded to achieve the quarterly bonus for the third quarter that year.
- I was the number one rep on the team for the first five months of the fiscal year (months 4-8 during my employment)
Success in any role is critical, and I have certainly had my share during my career. I did not want this post to become a brag book, more of a summary to let you know that my systems, philosophies and processes have resulted in accomplishments that I am very proud of. The rollercoaster of emotions, and the always cliché “blood, sweat & tears” have made it all worthwhile!
Sell, Lead, Succeed! 