That picture is actually a picture of me when I was not even 30 years old back in 1995!

I was an arrogant ass, who thought he knew it all and as a result;

I lost my first business

I had both my cars repossessed

I was $60,000 in debt

I became emotionally bankrupt and

I put my family through a lot of unnecessary BS!

I s’pose many of us sales folk are plagued with at least a little bit of that old dog as a result of our egos but there are some things you can do to keep that dog on a leash.

1) Stop saying stupid sh*t like “I know that” “That’s Sales 101” if you’re not doing it.

Action: The next time you find yourself saying “I know that” ask yourself “Do I know that and I’m actually doing it or do I need to shut up and actually do it?”

Sales Leadership: The next time one of your reps tells you “I know that” or “That’s Sales 101” ask them to take you through how they are actually utilizing it regularly. Don’t let them off the hook.

Note to all: Just because you did something way back when you were a sales pup doesn’t mean you check it off the list and label it done!

2) Adapt a mindset of “Humble Student” This one is easier said than done because in order to embrace this mindset, you must tell your ego to go wait in the car. There are learning opportunities all around us and from everyone we meet.

3) Ask for feedback but you really have to mean it. I worked with a nutcase several years ago and he’d ask for feedback. I knew he wasn’t listening to a word I said and I also knew that he thought if he just asked the world for feedback it would make him look like he cared.

Said another way Don’t Be An Askhole!

4) Keep a journal and keep it at arm’s reach. There are many people who keep a journal in a manner that they are writing about their day, their life etc. I’m not one of them. I capture thoughts, ideas, lessons learned etc in my journal. If I hear someone word something a certain way, I rip it off and put in my journal. If I come across a word that I haven’t heard before or maybe I’ve heard before but not really sure of its meaning, I look it up and I put it in my journal. When I listen to podcasts, webinars, audio books I take notes in my journal. When I read books or magazines, I take notes in my journal.

5) Invest in yourself! One of my coaching clients just authored a book and he asked me if I thought he should just give the book away. I told him not to! I didn’t give him that advice so he could make a few bucks, I gave him that advice so the reader will benefit. How? Because we just don’t value free things as much as things where we have truly put some “skin in the game” and invested in ourselves.

I think many of you send a horrible message to your brain and it’s simply “I don’t think I’m worth investing in myself” and yet . . .

You’re perfectly willing to invest in companies through your 401k or worse yet;

You’re willing to piss it away on that $4 a day Starbucks habit and God only knows what else.

It won’t bankrupt you to buy a book on Amazon or download an audio book on Audible.

You’re not going to have to sell off a kidney by attending a webinar or

An online class?

How about enlisting the help of a coach? Note: To download my free eBook How To Hire A Sales Coach click HERE

Probably, the worst part of the old dog is that they think they are bullet proof.

They become comfortable because money is coming in; never realizing that all of that can (and often will) change in a heartbeat.

I know all about that one, first hand, and have the scars to prove it!

I often tell my coaching clients that when the student is ready, the teacher appears but not in the way that you’d come to expect.

Many of us believe the teacher comes to us in physical form like “And Paul appeared and I became his humble student” boy would my ego love that but there’s actually something much better that’s waiting for you when you’re ready;

The “teacher” that appears to the “student” can be something you heard a million times but;

For some reason, today is the day that you are ready to receive the lesson!

Today, it hits home and resonates.

Today, you are cordially invited receive a lesson YOU are in need of receiving!

It’s there but you might have to tell you ego to get out of the way so you can actually see it.

Please forward today’s blog post to your boss, your team, your network or anyone who could benefit from a gentle nudge!

I help sales reps, sales leaders and business owners SELL More! To learn how, click HERE. For my speaking rates and availability, please email me paul@yoursalesplaybook.com