There are cow farmers, wheat farmers, corn farmers, pig farmers. You get the idea. The common denominator for farmers is that they methodically plan, prepare, implement, and then harvest their crops or livestock. It's really the same in business and, especially, sales.
I had a really good week where I felt like things are really coming together. Last October, I designed a plan to revamp the sales department. I then interviewed, hired, and trained a completely new staff. Then, the last few weeks of last year I turned them loose out in the field to start to yield our "harvest". This week, that "harvest" (sales) started coming in. What a great feeling.
The best part of my week was getting out in the field and working with my "rookie". He is determined, sharp, intelligent, and has tasted a little success early in his career. But things have started slowly and he has been frustrated lately. So I did some cold calls with him, had him come into the office, and made phone calls together. At the end of the day, he walked away with several appointments for next week and a new confidence that he can make things work and that he can be successful in our industry.
I often times wish I had chosen another career in a different industry. My industry is hard and demands constant activity, a big dose of determination, and a fairly good sized ego. However, when I have weeks like this week where I can play a part in helping a young person learn some skills that will help them throughout his life, those other issues take a back seat and my role becomes very satisfying. It's weeks like this week that I like being a "sales" farmer.
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