The day after the last hours of the last day of the last month of the all important second quarter.
Why "All Important"?
After six months of strategy setting, blocking and tackling through hundreds of potential deals and recasting countless account activity plans, you now have a very good idea of what works and what doesn't. As importantly, you also now have six more months to refine the tactics that did work, pour more gasoline into the tank and accelerate even faster for the balance of the year. Plenty of time to make up any ytd deficits and also plenty of time to map out a plan to push for those over-quota bonus accelerators.
So, as you take a breather this week. As you cross over the six month mark today. As you decelerate from the fast lane, click on the right blinker and take the 4th of July exit ramp, do yourself a favor and answer the question:
"Who's on Your Personal Board of Directors?"
- Who are you going to talk to about your achievements this year?
- Who are you going to be open with regarding your weaknesses?
- Who do you respect, and who will you listen to for advice?
- Who is going to be objective and bluntly direct with you?
These individuals might include your boss, but typically, that's not going to be the case since you want to be direct and totally open about your ideas, your career and your goals .
These are individuals that might be in your company, but, again, not typically. They will come from other contacts outside the business since you want the separation and the ability to listen to new experiences.
- These individuals could be other salespeople and sales managers that you admire.
- They could be the CEO you formally ask to be a mentor.
- Could be a professor that you admired.
But, most importantly, it's your team of two or three individuals-call them mentors if you want-you have singled out to spend consistent time with throughout the year. These are managers who you will listen to for their advice. Mentors and coaches who you can be direct and honest with. Individuals who have already achieved many of the goals that you plan to do the same.
This group of individuals might be just that: individuals! They may never meet except at the once a year thank you dinner that you host in the summer. After all, you need to reward them somehow, and it might be as simple as providing a comfortable forum where they can meet on another. A reason for keeping the quality and experience level of this group very high and comfortable.
- Identify what you want to achieve through this process
- Earmark those individuals you believe you would want on the team
- Put your "personal marketing materials" together
- Get connected with them and make a 30 minute visit.
It's as simple as that. I guess I would also add Aim High. The more senior the individual, I have found, the more likely they will be to take time out of their busy schedules for a couple of reasons. First, they have support mechanisms of administrators, and, second, they well remember when they wanted to do the same thing earlier in their career, and now it's time to pay back.
Try it. It does work, and what do you have to lose? Nothing! And you have everything to gain. No one said that you were to supposed to be doing this by yourself.
On to July ! Pack up the final pieces of paperwork over the next couple of days, figure out your calendar for the month ahead, but then focus on getting out of the fast land and celebrating the 4th.
The best holiday of the year!
Keep Selling...and treat yourself to a reward this weekend! You earned it!
