Southwestern Sales Talk

Whether you sell books with The Southwestern Company, or you sell cars, or medical equipment or Coke products, or real estate, you’ve experienced failure.  All of us in sales have survived setbacks, slumps, and difficult slow periods.  Question: were we thankful for these challenges, or did they just make us upset?

When I was selling with Southwestern Company as a college student, I learned to take emotional pain in stride.  One of my favorite affirmations was: “Something about today will help me become a better father, a better teacher, a better husband…”.  In other words, I was attempting to put frustrating circumstances into perspective–I was trying to reframe the situation.   I told myself, “Someday this will be funny–it’ll make a great story.”  (Some of you may remember The Dirt Pile story, as an example.) 

Most of us survived those sales ordeals, and the fact that we went through them made us better.  Think about it–most of the stuff you’ve been through by way of pain has had a refining element to it.  If you workout, you can relate to what I’m saying–you push yourself, you strain your muscles, you experience pain.  (During my workouts with the Masters Swim Team, I often wonder why I’m swimming at 52…).  When you’re finished, when the pain ends, you feel good, you look better, your resting heart rate is low, endorphins flood your body.  (In my case, you smell like Eau de Chlorine.)  When you compete and win, all the pain you went through is now minimized and in perspective.

And now to the world of music!  I was listening to Alanis Morissette the other day while driving.  If you’re a fan of hers, you can hear the pain and anger–especially in her earlier work.  Alanis has faced some life challenges, but has worked through them and is even thankful for the experience.  Check out the chorus of her song, “Thank U” :

thank you india
thank you terror
thank you disillusionment
thank you frailty
thank you consequence
thank you thank you silence

If you’re experiencing a tough period in your sales/recruiting career, be thankful!  What you’re experiencing is on purpose.  Pain is a teacher.  Difficult circumstances are the great Kiln of Life, and your “impurities” are being burned out–like dross.  Be thankful, instead of put out, by your circumstances.

Do you have a story or comment about the positive side of negative circumstances?  Share!

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