The fourth step to riches in ‘Think and Grow Rich’ really got me thinking… and this is great. The book is challenging my opinion and my thought process. Bare with me as I go off on a tangent. I promise, it’ll make you think! There are two types of knowledge; general and specialized. Knowledge doesn’t actually get you anything…
“Knowledge will not attract money unless it is organized and intelligently directed through practical plans of action to the definite end of accumulation of money. Lack of understanding of this fact has been the source of confusion to millions of people who falsely believe that ‘knowledge is power.’ It is nothing of the sort! Knowledge is potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end.”[note] Page 79/80[/note]
This really got me thinking because there is a huge difference between knowing something and action upon it & knowing something and not doing anything about it. For some reason, I like using the word potential… maybe because there is so much uncertainty and hope associated with the word. I used to use it whenever I talked about up and coming football players on the team or country. ‘They’ve got potential’ I’d say. I know deep down inside what it takes for them to execute on their potential but unless they’re willing to do that, their potential will go to waste.
Knowledge is the same thing. Gary Vaynerchuk touches on this a little, but he also hits on the bigger picture of putting action plans into place. Don’t waste the knowledge or ‘inside information’ you have. Someone out there is dying to read, see or listen to what you have to say… so start sharing! You never know… One Piece Of Content Could Change Your Life. Try and look at your network or group of friends and look for the potential. Don’t look for the future potential, but look at the lost potential they once had. Now, look at the future potential.. Can you help them achieve it?
If you’ve been following my journey for the past 10 months, you’ve seen posts about sales books, motivation, networking, connecting, management, and business. I’m always looking for ways to do my job better and in less time. If I can work less than 40 hours a week, help twice as many companies and make more money, I’m going to do it! I hope you would too. This Ah-Ha Moment is a refresher but also a ‘yes, I haven’t positioned myself like that in a while’ type of moment. 😛
“Generally speaking, an idea is an impulse of thought that impels action by an appeal to the imagination. All master sales reps know that ideas can be sold where merchandise cannot. Ordinary sales reps do not know this – that is why they are ‘ordinary.'”[note]Page 109[/note]
Given the current market place and landscape I’m competing in, this is going to be a huge strength moving forward. I’ve harped on the ‘imagine this’ with prospects and clients before, but not as much as I could! Look at the title of this book… Do you think anybody would buy this book if it didn’t say “Think and Grow Rich”. There’s roughly 280 pages in the book; they could have called it, 280 pages and you’ll be rich.
Napoleon Hill is selling you based on the imagination you can come up with while you think… and then BOOM, you’re rich. It’s not quite that easy, but once you start trying things out of the book, you quickly realize that it isn’t all that hard either.
“A QUITTER NEVER WINS – AND A WINNER NEVER QUITS”[note]Page 118[/note]
Man, this is just another GREAT reminder. Look at all of the successful people in your life and try and look for a reoccurring common denominator. I always like to say ‘can’t stop won’t stop’. Get in the mindset that you’re never going to give up. I’ve see the results of people quitting… guess what… they quit on everything else. They get so accustom to quitting that they even stop trying.
It’s really sad how fast that can spiral out of control. Like a few weeks ago when I lost two deals in a row. I didn’t freaking quit! I’m finding new business left and right and I’m even more motivated than before. I’m going to prove those companies wrong! I’m going to provide value and call them every month until I earn their business. Their provider WILL do something wrong and I’ll be there to be the knight in shining armor! DON’T QUIT!!
There’s a section in the book labeled: The 30 Major Causes Of Failure.
“9. LACK OF PERSISTENCE. Most of us are good ‘starters’ but poor ‘finishers’ of everything we begin. Moreover, people are prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There is no substitute for persistence. The persistence person discovers that ‘Old Man Failure’ finally becomes tired and goes away. Failure cannot cope with persistence.”[note]Page 139[/note]
Don’t let this be one of the reason you fail; if you fail. Nobody ever got anywhere without being persistent. Sales people are constantly being ‘pleasantly persistent’. Always following up, coming up with a reason to check in, offering a solution, updating them on something new and cool, seeing their company be successful… Constantly staying in their ‘life feed’ so that when they need you, you’re there.
Finish what you’ve started and don’t let anything get in your way! Nobody likes a quitter.
There’s more from me to come about: Think & Grow Rich