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Lessons on Excellence

Guest post by: Brian Sullivan

Article Overview: The Road to "the Top" comes through constant practice and is paved by the pursuit of excellence. Remember, mediocrity is miles from excellence. Mediocrity is easy, unnoticed, uninspiring, and boring. Excellence is difficult, visible, inspiring and fun.

Lessons on Excellence

Below are some recent inspiring quotes that I have found and enjoyed regarding the pursuit of excellence.

When I was teaching basketball, I urged my players to try their hardest to improve on that very day, to make that practice a masterpiece. Too often we get distracted by what is outside our control. You can't do anything about yesterday. The door to the past has been shut and the key thrown away. You can do nothing about tomorrow. It is yet to come. However, tomorrow is in large part determined by what you do today. So make today a masterpiece. You have control over that.

John Wooden (1910- )

American basketball coach

Note: John Wooden's UCLA teams won 10 NCAA championship titles, a record no one else has even approached. A perfectionist, he used to start each season showing newcomers the proper way to tie their shoes so that they could never become untied at a crucial point during a game.

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Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

American educator

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Just remember, the people on top of the mountain didn't just fall there.

Before the gates of excellence, the gods have placed sweat.

Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

Greek poet

Today, plan on doing more than you planned.

• Call 5 decision-makers that you have not spoken to in weeks or months.
• Don't be afraid to prospect for more business with an account you consider an "old friend." Your family will appreciate the extra effort.
• Think of your top 10 customers that fatten your commission check and write them a note telling them how much you appreciate them.
• Think of 3 relationships (business or personal) that you know don't feel right...then make them right.
• If you manage others, pick up the phone, drop a note, or send a gift to a rep that you always appreciate but often take for granted.
• Evaluate your performance against the 7 PRECISE Actions after EVERY call.
• Do this today.

And ask yourself before you turn off the lights tonight, "Did my actions and performance today make me better than how I was this time yesterday." This pursuit of improvement and excellence will separate you from the 97% of salespeople and sales managers that are just going through the motions.

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Article Tags: action plan, communication skills, decision making, excellence, inspiration, insurance sales training, medical sales training, motivation, planning, plans, precise selling, sales tactics, sales training



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