I Am Not Throwing Away My Shot
My wife and I saw Hamilton in Chicago some time ago, and it was excellent. Like most biographies, it was written to tell a story, be relatable, and inspire, and it succeeded. There's something about recurring musical themes and reprisals in Broadway shows that makes the art form stand out. So many loops and references purposely (and meaningfully) orchestrated in a two-hour production... The attention to detail is incredible, but I digress...
What is probably the best-known song from the performance is called My Shot. Alexander Hamilton is young, scrappy and hungry, and he's not throwing away his shot to do something with all of that talent, desire and tenacity.
"I got brains but no polish... I'm a diamond in the rough"
He's brash and unpolished, but he's also smart enough to know that. He's giving everything he's got to his purpose, and he'd rather die trying than not live up to his 'why.' How many of your colleagues approach every day with a purpose, and seek to be just a little more polished than the day before?
"Rise up"
A sales professional goes through the motions, while a professional salesperson takes their craft seriously enough to improve themselves every day. You have to be committed if you want to be great, and that's true in any endeavor.
That commitment means eliminating excuses like these:
"If our prices were lower..."
"If people would just return phone calls..."
"If we could get some new products..."
Before you let these words leave your mouth, take a good look in the mirror. Your prices are too high? Do a better job justifying the value- someone else is selling at those prices. Want your phone calls returned? If you were more interesting, they'd be more interested. New products? You may have some holes in your bag as technology advances, but the stuff you have still works, and I guarantee someone in your company is hitting their number with it.
"For the first time, I'm thinking past tomorrow"
A sales career is a grind. You know it's going to be from the outset. When you have that kind of perspective, you recognize that a continual process of growth and improvement is that only sustainable way to be successful. You have to be patient and intentional, and no step is too small if it's headed in the right direction.
"It's time to take a shot"
There's a way to get your job done, are you digging in and figuring it out? Are you waiting for things to just fall into place, or are you actively manifesting your success? Are you digging into the career you have? If not, is it because secretly you know you need a new one?
Are you throwing away your shot? The secret here is that the fewer you throw away, the more you're given.
There are a lot of people who make the sales profession look easy. What most don't see is how much hard work goes into that. Fortune favors those who have a purpose, and are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that purpose is seen through. In Alexander Hamilton's case, it was seeing the American colonies become an independent nation. For me, it's seeing the proverbial light bulb turning on over someone's head when they rethink the way they sell. What makes the grind worth it for you?
What do you think? Join the conversation in the Rethink The Way You Sell Community.
Jeff Bajorek
Real. Authentic. Experience.
There’s a big difference between knowing how to sell and being able to. Jeff Bajorek spent over a decade in the field as a top performer. He’s been in your shoes. He knows what it will take. He can help you succeed.
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