Let’s not overcomplicate this. In sales, there are only two ways to get better results. The first is to make more sales calls. The second is to perform better on each call.  So how many prospecting calls do you make each week? And as an FYI, “It depends,” is NOT an acceptable answer. Because those that say, “It depends,” or “I am not really sure,” have lost control over their sales territory and as a result, are at the mercy of whatever voicemail and email are telling them to do. The top performer, on the other hand, sets a call objective number and let’s that number drive the workweek. If he or she wants to increase their sales by 15% or more, they realize it means they may have to make 15 more calls. They then let that number haunt them. They don’t start the weekend until they made the last call.

Another way 15% more effort can create 15% greater performance is by investing in improving your sales, communication and leadership skills. Buy a sales book, attend a seminar, seek out top performers in your company and grill them! By increasing your knowledge and skill by 15% or more, you will become 15% more valuable to your customers, your company and your future.

Winners are only judged in loser’s circles.
-Brian Sullivan

Recently, as I prepared to speak at a company seminar, I looked around the room as salespeople walked in to find their seat at one of the 25 round tables. I wondered how these salespeople would choose which seat was best for them. Just a few minutes before my speech, I asked the sales manager to identify who in the room were the A, B and C players based on attitude and performance. Sure enough, they seemed to be huddled in groups throughout the room…finding comfort in like-minded performers.

As expected, throughout the day the table full of As and Bs participated in the learning more actively than the Cs. The Cs (when not enthusiastically sharing their tired story about how hung over they were from the night before) were sitting in the back, and at times rolling their eyes while the As offered their own advice and sales experience.

So what about you? Are you and A, B or C? And regardless of what you are right now, what do you want to be? If you want to be a C, it’s easy. You just have to believe you know all you need to know, what has worked in the past will continue to work, and that your sales peers who are constantly honing their knowledge and skill are nothing more than corporate butt-kissers.

And if you want to an A, then stop hanging around Cs. They are poisoning you. Grab a salad and shimmy up to a top performer or leader at your next sales meeting. Then grill them with questions about what you can do to mimic their success. And while your buddies from of the back of the room judge your motive, give them a wink, knowing that you will be delivering their performance review someday.

How do you feel? Are you ready? Of course you are. Because in 2010 you are going to change the world! And I promise it’s not going to be difficult. In fact, it’s going to be easier than you ever imagined. And the good news is that you have total control over how much positive impact you make. If you want this to be your most famous year ever, you absolutely can have it. But it means you have may have to “clean house.” That house is your mind. You need to get rid of any grudges, anger, jealousy, apathy or fear that existed in your business or personal life just two days ago. Why? Because it’s holding you back. If I thought being negative, angry or grumpy would help you sell more, lead more, organize more, or change the world more I would say, “Go for it!” But it doesn’t work.  It only makes people more negative angry and grumpy towards you and you can’t influence them if they think you are a jackass.

So today, make a deal with yourself. While others are making excuses, gossiping about a co-worker, cutting corners or frowning in frustration, be the one finding solutions, recognizing the good in others, finishing the job and smiling in celebration. Then be prepared for the positive results that this year will bring. Because these small changes in you are about to make BIG changes in everybody around you.

I think the one lesson I have learned is that
there is no substitute for paying attention
-Diane Sawyer

Imagine how much professional interviewers learn every time they sit down and do nothing but ask questions and pay attention to the responses given. If you believe that the answers to most of your questions reside in the heads of others, you are well on your way to the top. Because once you realize that, you will ask more questions, listen more attentively and pay attention to the knowledge being delivered.

So here is your task over the next seven days:

•    In every conversation, seek to LEARN something new
•    Ask more questions in EVERY conversation
•    Make these questions open-ended like great interviewers (How, What, When, Why, Who)
•    Don’t think about your response until the other person has finished their last word
•    Don’t feel the need to develop a counterpoint to what is being said

By doing this over the next seven days, you WILL be smarter. Keep doing it and you will have developed the skill that separates great interviewers, great leaders, great salespeople, great parents, and great friends from the average. And by doing so, everybody around you will pay attention to how much smarter you have become, how much more you care, and how effective you have become at positively influencing everybody you touch.

“Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.”

B.C. Forbes (1880–1954)
Scottish journalist and founder of Forbes Magazine

There are only three ways to become a diamond in your career. If you are a professional salesperson, the formula is easy:

1. Become smarter and more skilled than the average rep

2. Make more prospecting calls than the competition

3. Be smarter, more skilled AND outwork the competition

And you know what is so great about this formula? You have total control over it. So if you are unhappy with your sales results at this point in the year, take a close look at that list above and decide which one you are going to work on. If you chose option #1, then here is your mission. Buy a business book, sign up for a sales seminar, or schedule time each week to get on the phone with a respected mentor. If you are the option #2 type, increase the number of prospecting calls you make by at least 20% this quarter. And these 20% don’t all need to be cold calls. In fact, just by turning a portion of your current account “order-taking,” follow-up, and service calls into SALES calls, you will find it easy to get to that 20% number.

And lastly, if you are looking to become a 5 Star Quota Busting Diamond, choose option #3 and do both! Because if you dedicate yourself to both mastering your great profession through consistent education as well as increase your activity level, the only thing that will be lumpy at the end of the year will be the wad of extra cash in your wallet!

To learn more lessons about getting to the TOP, listen to Brian interview some of the nation’s premier business and motivational minds on his weekly radio show by going to www.preciseselling.com/Radioaccess.htm. President of Kansas City-based PRECISE Selling, Brian delivers seminars and internet training programs on sales, customer service, leadership and presentation skills to companies of all sizes. To find out more, visit him at www.preciseselling.com or email Brian at bsullivan@preciseselling.com.

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