I sat there, guitar in hand, with a rather smug look on my face. I was eager to tell the “Master” that I had in fact figured it all out. Imagine that, Uncle Paul 20 years young and the keeper of the shortcut to end all shortcuts! I told my teacher that the secret to attaining warp speed on one’s axe was by using a thicker guitar pick. Well that and knowing what the hell you were doing on the guitar, but I didn’t own that part of the lesson yet.
My teacher gave me a non committal “Really” (did you ever hear Dr Evil say “Really”? Well it was nothing like that) and left the room. When he returned he brought with him a razor blade and a TV dinner tray (the old fashioned kind circa 1985 which were aluminum) He took his guitar pick and used it as a template to cut out an aluminum pick. He took some tape and placed it on the top so he wouldn’t slice his finger open, picked up his guitar and played a violin concerto he transcribed for guitar. I’m convinced that he played it with gusts up to 250 mph but I was too busy trying to keep from chanting “Im not worthy” He confidently put his guitar down and said “Today’s lesson is done. Come back to me when you understand that there are no shortcuts when it comes to talent”
Lesson learned, and one that birthed numerous other lessons for this aspiring sales rock star:
- Stop looking for the big answer, the shortcuts, the easy route! The people that I come across who are so busy looking for the big answer seldom find it. The key is mastery of lots of little things. Isn’t that what sales is all about? Working smarter should never be an excuse for not getting our uniforms dirty!
- 
Don’t get so caught up in technology that you forget to develop ridiculous sales chops. This can easily happen with all these cool Sales 2.0 tools. You still need to be the best sales professional you are capable of . . . even if you have the coolest toys on the block!
- This One Is For The Managers & Mentors: My teacher could have lectured me. He could have given me a verbal ass kicking, but he didn’t. He showed me. I’ll let you reflect on that one.
- This One Is For The Sales Reps: There comes a time when we all have to evict our ego. You know that wonderful thing that protects us from rejection, thickens our skin but at the same time . . . disowns the lesson. When was the last time you accepted a “lesson”. Think about that one. There’s money in it for you . . . I promise!
- Presentation Wise: What a cool freakin way to illustrate a point! Find a cool way to illustrate your point in your next presentation. How can you demonstrate your point in such a way that someone will still be talking about it 25 years later like I did?
And a final take away: I discovered at that moment (and numerous times throughout my marriage) how much I hate being wrong! 
Today you are cordially invited to evict your ego, make yourself vulnerable and own that crazy thing called “the lesson”
Rock on!
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Getting & Giving “The Online Bird”!
by Paul Castain on July 20, 2010
I started following someone’s blog recently and about a week or so ago they decided to write about this other blogger and publicly voice their opinion about something the blogger wrote. They were a tad sarcastic and I found it to be pushing the limits of good taste but to each their own. Right?
A few days ago they didn’t like something someone else did. This time it involved someone who spammed his Facebook page. He decided to write a post about it, calling out the spammer (by name). Yep, they wasted a blog post, just to make someone else feel like an ass. In his defense, spammers piss me off too but a spammers stupidity isn’t worth my online reputation. More about that in a moment.
Every so often, on Linkedin, an online “bird fest” will brew. Someone didn’t like someone else’s opinion so they publicly insult the other party. I’ve even seen these things get brought over to one of the “bird wielders” blogs so they can get the backing of their homies. In one case, the bloggers followers took the other dude’s side. I guess birds of a feather don’t always flock together!
Ah, flashbacks of Middle School!
So it is in that spirit that I thought some “Bird Etiquette” might be in order
1) When you’re online, as in life, keep the main thing, the main thing. Now if being a jackass is in fact your main thing, then by all means carry on. Seriously, don’t ever let anyone force you to compromise the incredible brand called YOU!
2) If you decide to release “The Online Bird”, understand that you aren’t exactly communicating in the cone of silence! Most of this stuff can be found online. Yep, it’s as if the virtual world has found a way to commemorate your dickiness. Try explaining that one to a prospect that Googled you.
3) Don’t ever use your blog or any online venue to offer a “Return Fire Bird”. I think its rather insulting to your audience that you would think they were that stupid in finding value in that. Additionally, it dilutes the heck out of your brand and deters from the “main thing”
4)
When you are the recipient of an “Online Bird” please understand that you are allowed to step back and take a deep breath. Might be a good time to “put the bird down” and step away from the computer. Life has a way of helping us see things differently after we take a chill.
5) Keep the bird in its cage. Ignoring someone is highly underrated! Suggestion, make a voodoo doll in their likeness and stick a pin in their rear, but do it offline.
6) “Clip the Bird’s Wings” with a simple “thank you for your perspective” How does a bird fly in the presence of that? They can’t even say “bite me”. It doesn’t work.
7) Understand when your ego has put your side of the conversation on cruise control. Pride has ruined many a personal brand. Don’t ever forget that.
8) The “Accidental Bird”: Truth be told, sometimes we give the bird and we don’t even realize it. I see this when people publicly comment that someone misspelled a word or worse yet when the grammatical Gestapo get their panties in a bunch. Perhaps that would be best communicated in an offline email dude.
So have fun with this stuff and by all means express your opinions. Just be careful of the real message you’re sending to an audience that can and will judge you!
Note: No birds were harmed in the creation of today’s blog post.
Some cool next steps for you to consider . . .
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