I find myself living life by the wisdom of others. I quote many people when delivering seminars or providing consulting advice, and the quotes spill over into my own life—on how to live life.
Seneca, the Roman philosopher, dispensed ageless wisdom around 5 BC when he said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I suppose that will hold true for another couple thousand years.
Following that philosophy, Alan Bond expands the thought process with, “I’ve always worked very, very hard, and the harder I worked the luckier I got.” For this week—what the heck, for the rest of your life—go out and make your luck.
I’m back, and with more critical keys to success for new home salespeople. I’ve reinvented the blog to provide superior solutions for today’s challenging market. Keep on reading and checking back each week for more. I am committed to giving you the tools you need to not only survive in this market, but THRIVE. So welcome back, super-achievers. Together we’re going to show the world that America’s still in the game and as brash and bold as ever. Together, we’re going to turn this challenge into a breakthrough opportunity!
I want to tell you a story…a true story … a critical eye-opening story.
At age 54, I decided to have a complete physical. This was not the routine 15-minute physical, but one that was so thorough it wasn’t covered by my medical insurance. In fact, I had to cough up $5,000 after-tax dollars to pay for the procedure. Man, was it intense! They performed stress tests, blood work, x-rays, full-body scans and everything else recommended for a man my age who had, for years, avoided doctors like the plague.
When all the testing was complete, they gave me the diagnosis: lung cancer. To confirm this and to map the functional processes in my body so they could determine the extent and type of treatment, they immediately sent me for one further test – a PET scan. This was on Dec. 19th. As you might imagine, Christmas was different … and difficult … this year. It was also a bit reflective.
Once, in a tape series, Brian Tracy asked, “If you were guaranteed success and could not fail, what would you do?” In the 1980s, Dr. Robert Schuler, founding pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, put it this way: “What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”
When I began asking myself that question decades ago, the answers were obvious. My professional goals were to become a motivational speaker, a best-selling author, finically secure, a respected industry leader and one of the best new-home sales consultants in the world. When I was given the lung cancer diagnosis and spent time during Christmas reflecting on my life, I realized that every one of my goals had been achieved.
Then I thought, “If I’m given a limited time – a year, maybe five – to live, what would I want to do?” The answer came in an instant: Spend time with my family.
Well, yesterday I had the PET scan and on the way to the medical facility, I was involved in an accident that wrecked my car. Can you believe that it did not even faze me? I walked away and the other driver walked away. As corny as it sounds, all that ran through my mind was that everyone was alive and well. For that particular moment in time, we both had the gift of life. I said a prayer of thanks and continued through the difficult process of the PET scan.
Today, which is Dec. 27, the doctor called and said the scan refuted all the other tests. I do not have cancer. They will continue to monitor that suspect portion of my lung, but, for now, I still have the gift of life without any hovering dark clouds. With that good news came the realization that I also have the precious gift of more time to spend with my family. That now tops my list of great things to accomplish.
Although I was uneasy while waiting for the results of the PET scan, I was also at peace. I spent last year cementing an estate plan so I had the calm reassurance that my wife and son would be taken care of financially if something were to happen to me. And, because of my spiritual beliefs, I knew beyond any doubt where I would spend eternity.
There are estate plans that secure your family’s financial future and those that secure your spiritual future. My advice is to make sure you have both in place because you just never know what’s around the bend. Life – as you know it – can change in a heartbeat.
A New Year is now beginning and you know I’m going to advise you to tenaciously and relentlessly pursue your goals. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t do that. However, this year, I’m including a caveat. Take time to reflect on what those goals really are and on what success really means to you. And those scars that you received from being beaten and battered by life in 2007? Convert them into stars that will light the way to a better and brighter future.
A final thought: Regardless of how large your bank account gets, remember that your true treasure is your cache of family and friends. Love them. Value them. And tell them.
In memory of those who lost their lives, and commemoration of those who are fighting for our freedom, I am republishing this letter that I wrote on September 11th, 2001; the day the World Trade Center fell to the ground and the Pentagon was attacked. My beliefs are straight forward and strong….GOD Bless America, and GOD Bless Our Troops.
The original letter follows:
Like you, I am confounded by the senseless and horrific “attack of war” on our country. Both Lorena and I send our prayers to the families of the victims and to those who are experiencing direct consequences of the action.
During this time of turmoil and transition, I make an impassioned plea to professionals engaged in new home and neighborhood sales to offer your unyielding support to the nation in three ways.
First, in your prayers. Properly understood and applied, your prayers are the single most potent form of action you can take.
Second, offer your financial support to the disaster relief funds. Regardless of your financial situation, you cannot afford to miss the opportunity to contribute. Two places to start are with the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3433) and the Salvation Army at 1-877-RED-KETTLE (1-877-733-5388). A Web site providing links to organizations that have established a Sept. 11 Fund and to a variety of resources is www.helping.org.
Finally, go straight to work and sell.
Red Motley is famous for having said, “Nothing happens until a sale takes place.”
Think about that. The salesperson sells cars, tractors, radios, televisions, refrigerators, computers, homes, health and leisure products, ambition and fulfillment. By knocking on doors, answering phones, responding to questions, and demonstrating products and services, he or she enriches billions of lives. Without salespeople, there would be no American ships at sea, no busy factories and no jobs. Everywhere they go, they leave people better off.
If we were to stop selling, someone would stop buying. If someone stops buying, then someone else stops making. When someone stops making, someone stops earning. And when people stop earning, they stop buying.
So you see, as a salesperson, you are very important to the productivity and success of this country. In addition to that, nothing happens for your company until you sell a home or a home site in your community. When you do, everyone – from the stockholders, to the president, to the support staff, to your own customer – benefits from your sale. At the same time, you flip on a switch activating factories across the world that determines the entire direction of the economy.
In 1997, an article in Forbes magazine included these calculated statistics: The average American salesperson keeps 33 men and women at work – 33 people producing that one product – and is responsible for the livelihood of approximately 130 people.
Every economic indicator makes reference to the level of sales in a particular company or industry. Our stock market and price indexes center around the goods and services being sold at any given time, and you – as a community salesperson – help fuel the entire social and economic process.
As trite as this may sound – you have a massive responsibility to go straight to work. Only this time, not just for your personal goals, but as a contributor to this magnificent nation.
Our free enterprise system is part of what makes this country strong. Like many of our other freedoms, it has been threatened – but not thwarted. We will not be deterred from focusing on our goals and accomplishing our purposes individually and as a nation.
As psychologists are telling us, returning to a routine in the aftermath of a tragedy provides solace to others and aids the healing process. So, give what you can – do what you can – and get back to work.
Be productive. Set an example. Exhibit hope. The discovery of a new America is before us and our course is far from run.
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where you stand as in the direction you are moving. To reach the part of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
God Bless America and Your Efforts, Myers Barnes
Myers Barnes Associates
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