Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Droppin Everything you know....

I woke up at 5am, got into work at 6:15am....it's Tuesday, so we have to go in early to prepare to grab leads for the weak. Basically, a feeding frenzy but you really have no choice. I hop onto the muni at 5:45am exactly. Half asleep on the train, I know I can't fall completely asleep otherwise my mind will take an additional 20 minutes to wake up (Time I just don't have). So, to avoid sleep I stand up and walk through language scenarios of what objections clients may give to NOT buy from me. Getting out of the subway and feeling the cold air hit me, I zip up and pop my collar while walking fast to the usual Pete's Coffee on 3rd and Mission. Grabbing a Medium cup of coffee and loading it up with sugar, I walk to my building across the street prepared for the days work. Sitting down at my desk and noticing what I left uncovered, I turn on my screen with all my internet tabs open and prepared from the previous late night at the office. It is time....today, not only do I have to grab leads at 7am, but I also must make a presentation to a client at 6:30am. Throw on my headset while taking another fast sip of coffee...my fingers don't hesitate for a second to dial. Hesitating is for weaker sales people, scared of what they can become. The other end picks up and so I begin another day on the grind....

Making 80-100 calls per day and obtaining 3.5 hour talk times that are recorded...well, that's a serious task. I'm not sure there are many that can work to meet those goals daily. I think I've realized something today staring at the score boards for all the other reps out there and wondering why my score was so low. Well, it's not how much time you put in, but how smart you work. Hard work is definitely a plus, but understanding how to get more done faster is the ultimate key. Looking back on this month, I've realized that I wasn't really focused on working towards my number, even though I'm telling myself the number I Want to hit. I realized that this month, I've been focused on getting my style down..including my language, my tone, my thought process and taking the lead on any conversation I had during the day. I realized that in order to do this, you really have to drop every single thing you thought you knew about your sales style and start from scratch. It really didn't mater that I had 4 years of sales already. It really didn't matter that this 23-24 year old who's worked in this position longer than I had was giving me criticism and feedback. I took everything I knew from my past experience, and threw it out, because it was just a waste of space. Then I took everything I could gain (and still gaining at that) and saved that instead. It seems like my quota, my target, my revenue numbers just don't matter deep inside, but moreso perfecting my art of conversation faster than I've ever done. The faster I can perfect it, the faster I can bring home consistent results...

Now, of course, I stress the fuck out knowing that I have a number to obtain...but shit, ain't that just life in general? Might as well just make the best of it so you can get to that number faster.


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CR-Z

Ok, I might be off on a whim here, but I've been eying this bad boy for the longest time. "Hurry up Honda, make the damn thang already!" It's been about 4-5 years since they've introduced the new generation CRX. Am I getting one? Bet on it! This new Honda is no longer in its concept phase and is expected to sell late 2010!! That gives me a year to save up 25K. Damn. Good investment? Well, let's see...hybrid car, sick ass LED front lights, stock 19 inch wheels. I'd say, perfect city car for the classy individual. Sicker than an NSX? hell naw...but I think this puppy will retain its value like most Honda's do.


Augmented Reality

I'd like to share with you some interesting new technology that is going to soon take america by storm - http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/ar-contact-lens/

Augmented reality is already used in Yelp's new i-phone application for 3GS's (and the first company to utilize that technology I must add). Turns out that behind the scenes, there's a world of studying being done to bring augmented reality right to our eyes. Want to check your vital signs, just look right. Want to get the scoop for hot dining spots immediately in front of your eyes? Look no further. This shit is crazy. They are developing these contacts for our troops to use on the battle fields as well. I mean, this just doesn't get any better, or does it? Seems like mankind is on a path to have technology destroy it, but I have to admit, augmented reality in the eyes is pretty freakin ill. I'm sure they'll frame it as pure technology that will soon save the lives of million, but until then...i'm interested to see how people will react to this.

I'm also wondering how many features I'll soon be able to see! If I'm walking through the mall, and I'm looking at an article of clothing or a pair of fresh new kicks, will I have the price blinking in red while I make my buying decision from my eyeball? I can't wait for the future, but looking at what lies beyond the future, well...I don't even wanna know.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

A Fresh Start


People ask me, "Are you happy?"
Vague question, but I know what they mean...Life's different and in a big way. I used to think life was just easy. Now, I realize that it was only easy because I chose to not challenge myself. I've come to realize that without a challenge and fight, there's really no drive to excel above and beyond what you or anyone else may expect from you. Being content is fine. People choose to be content and happy. I used to be that person who would just sit there and watch the time pass, thinking that I had so many minutes to spare. I used to be the person that was happy and content with what I had (and in many ways I still am), but now I strive for more. Much more. I aim to achieve excellence. I aim to compete amongst the world's most skilled workers. Ultimately wanting to define and shape "success" for myself and understand what my real goal in life is to be along the way.

Life has transformed like water being formed in the skies and dropping down on us. It's been a nightmare but heaven, all in one shot of whiskey. Watching each minute and thinking, "If i'm not doing something right this second, I am wasting time." Weird isn't it? People would tell me I lag, people would tell me I'm slow. People would say I'm just not really hustlin...well, I can assure the people that these days, I hustle for anything I can take. Life is that kind of race now. It's not a world of 50 meter dashes or 200 yd sprints. It's really a marathon that stretches past any physical finish line you can see.

I guess that's what keeps me going. When it's not hard to wake up and know what you need to accomplish that day, you are hustlin. When the world moves faster and yet, you see everything slower, that's when you are hustlin. When you shrug your shoulders at a deal gone bad and get right back on the phone to grab the next deal...that's when you are hustlin. When you have dreams of hustlin..that is hustlin. What a thrill I must add. I think I've learned the most in the past 2 months than I have in the past 2 years.

How can a career change your whole mindset?? Well, I try to not let it affect every aspect of my life. I try to not bring work home. I try to not talk about what I've achieved during the day...but it's hard. I know friends don't really want to hear about a new technique I've learned to implement, but whatever, I'll tell them anyways! I know friends would like to see me hang out more, but even the nights are important for me to be productive.

There's a story about a salesman who was the very first salesperson to sell a deal out of his new hire class. He was loving every minute of it. Felt like he was the king, only to realize that he wouldn't sell another deal for 6 more months. He tried to sell, but he just couldn't close. What did he do? He thought about quitting, "fuck this shit, i'm out." He thought about just moving to a different position within the company too. Well, one day he was sitting at home staring at his xbox, looking at the TV, looking at all the empty cans of beer that were lying around the house, magazines that didn't do shit for the mind...noticing the posters of all the females he drooled over that were hung on the walls of his apt, and he thought to himself, "There are just too many distractions here."
So, he threw everything away. He even tossed his couch! He made what he liked to call his, "dojo." It was just him, a chair, a laptop and books. He read everyday, studied everything he could about what it was that he was selling, practiced his tone, practiced his closing voice. He programed factual evidence in his mind to have as ammunition for any question or rebuttal a prospective client might have. He was a machine that dedicated himself to one thing, being able to close the shit out of someone. Eventually after his 6 month mark, he went on to be a top performer and lead the company by opening up new offices throughout the nation. He was competing with the best...

True story that had me at Hello. I think about his success and there was really nothing to it. Work hard, take your shit seriously, and be the best at what you do. In the end...hustlin will pay.