I recently came across this quote from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8): “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” As I examined these words of wisdom there was a beautiful revelation about my life, and my sales career, that has brought clarity to who I have been, who I am now and who I will become.
Today I would like to discuss understanding and discovering who you have been, who you are now and who you will become. It all starts by examining the beginning of these words of wisdom. It is important to know that there is a time for everything that happens in your life and sales career. Not just a time for a few things, but a time for everything!
There will be a time that you begin your career and a time that you end your career, a time you learn and a time your stagnate, a time you are successful and a time you fail, a time you are taught and a time you teach others. The list could go on and on in understanding the times of your life in your sales career. Finally there is a time to be aloof and a time to understand. Today is your day for understanding, by gaining knowledge and insight that can help plug you into a valuable source of power which can only be found within yourself.
Let’s examine the last few words in greater depth. The word aloof means to be distant or detached, which in fact many people are in today’s world. The pressures and demands of this world and life in modern day business can easily disconnect you from yourself. Then you add in all the distractions; television, the internet and even music; before you know it, it has been a while since you really connected with yourself away from all the noise. I want to be clear that television, the internet and music are wonderful things that I personally enjoy and use to enrich my life. I am just stating the fact some people use these things to escape their reality rather than enhance it.
The reality is that nothing is more important than taking the time to unplug from everything and reconnect with yourself, and for those of you who believe in God, your maker. Most people are astonished when I ask the question, “When was the last time that you took the time to really connect with yourself?” Many cannot remember the last time they escaped all the noise and took the time to connect with themselves. It is always like a little light bulb going on in their mind. All of a sudden they can see with clarity why some issues and problems seem to linger in their life. They simply have never taken the time to address their issues or see them for what they really are. This is a powerful truth which I encourage you to examine and explore in greater depth.
Now that you are awakened, let’s examine the season of your life and sales career. In order to do this you only need to think back to the beginning of your sales career. Do you remember how it all began? For many there was a time of excitement, passion and energy as they started out their career in retail. Others may have been anxious, nervous or scared of the unknown. In fact they probably experienced a little of all these thoughts and feelings at some point in the beginning. However, most people often remember the excitement and energy they possessed that fueled them to achieve new and greater success. In the beginning you would have marched to any order given by your superior with great pride and dignity. You were simply ready to set the sales world on fire! Can you remember the glorious days in the beginning?
Now reflect upon your current status and situation in your sales career. Do you still have that same passion and energy you possessed in the beginning? Or have you allowed this precious fuel to leak away leaving you with a sales career that is empty and meaningless? Are you still operating under the store leadership set by the owner or management? Or have you become prideful and think you know more than the rest?
These are just a few questions that you must ask yourself to understand who you were, who you are and who you will become. No matter what your answers were (good or bad) you now have a choice to choose who you become, because you can see your life in sales with clarity. A new season in your life and sales career has just begun!
Some sales professionals may have spent the last few years of their career in the winter stage where nothing new and exciting seems to happen. They are simply using the skills they possess and making it through day by day with very little life or much to look forward to. They may still be tops in sales and very productive, but are they really creating a satisfying sales career or have they given up long ago? No matter what your answer is, the race is still on and it is up to you make sure you are moving in a positive direction. Understanding the seasons of your life in sales always helps you enjoy the good times and gets you through the bad times.
In closing I encourage you to examine this truth in greater depth. What you will find is a world of new success just waiting to be discovered and understood. If you take the time to escape the noise and reconnect with yourself, amazing things will begin to happen in your life and sales career. This can be applied in almost every aspect of your life, far beyond the sales floor.
What would happen if you discovered how to maintain that passion and energy that is the fuel that drives you to greatness? What would your sales career be like if you understood how fear operates and how to overcome it? What would happen if you were able to manage yourself and become an elite sales professional? These are a few of the questions I have examined that have led me to success.
The fact is that my journey has only just begun. There will be times and seasons ahead where I will again use this insight to navigate through them. For more insight you can view all my articles on my website, www.moderndayselling.com.
Brian Barfield is a two-time published author, worldwide, who specializes in offering fresh new insight in retail sales training. Modern Day Selling offers a unique perspective in teaching sales associates how to reconnect with their customers and how to achieve greater success in their sales career. For more information please visit his website www.moderndayselling.com. Brian also offers in-store sales training and can be reached at brian@moderndayselling.com.
