Lessons from Bonnie St. John

Guest post by: Brian Sullivan
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Truth - Sales and Marketing Training - By Brian Sullivan

People fall down, winners get up, and gold medal winners just get up faster.

-Bonnie St. John

Bonnie St. John lost a leg at the age of 5. Several years later, she would go on to become the first African-American to win an Olympic medal in skiing as she was awarded a silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria. This week on my radio program, I asked Bonnie, "How did you train to become a champion?" She said, "I trained with Olympic athletes who didn't have the physical limitations I had. Because my goal was to be the best skier, NOT to be the best Paralypic skier."

Bonnie then went on to describe how she won her silver medal. "I was leading in the slalom after the first run. Then in the second run, I slipped on an ice patch and fell down the hill. I thought for sure this would cost me a medal, but I got up and continued racing. Several other competitors hit the same patch of ice and also fell...even the one who eventually won the gold. The only difference, however, between her and I, was SHE got up faster...and THAT won her the gold.

So the two lessons this week are:

To be a champion, surround yourself with people who ARE what you are trying to be. Seek out top performers in your company or industry and schedule a breakfast, lunch or beer. Then ask who, what, when, how did they get to the top. Then actually USE what they teach you.

If you have "slipped on a patch of ice" in your business or career, NOW is the time to get up...and get up FAST. Because there is only one gold, and it's either going to you or your competition. Getting up fast could mean getting out of bed 30 minutes earlier each morning and using that time to learn something new about your Product, Industry or Competition. Or it could mean making 10 more sales calls each week.

Kick off your marketing by finding your target market FIRST!

Just like a good recipe, marketing is all about the MIX!

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About the Author: Brian Sullivan

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Brian Sullivan, CSP, is a member of the National Speakers Association and an internationally known expert on sales and leadership. Brian is one of about 10 percent of speakers worldwide to have earned the Certified Speaking Professional Designation awarded by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers. He delivers high-energy, no-nonsense, interactive seminars on his PRECISE Selling Formula to a companies looking to become famous in their industry. He has been quoted in magazines such as Selling Power and Business Week and is the author of the book, 20 Days to the Top- How the PRECISE Selling Formula Will Make You Your Company's Top Sales Performer in 20 Days or Less. Brian also hosts a talk radio show on ESPN Hot Talk 1510 called "Entrepreneurial Moments," a show dedicated to helping business people of all types. Brian lives in Kansas City with his wife Leanne, and children Jake, Shea, and Maggie.
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