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Oprah's Was Steamin' Mad

Guest post by: Brian Sullivan

Article Overview: How One Man's Credibility Broke Into a Million Little Pieces.

Oprah's Was Steamin' Mad

Oh Boy, Jim. You really blew it this time." These were the words I spoke when my friend James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces, called me on the phone immediately after his Oprah interview earlier this year. For those of you that may have been living in a plastic bubble at the time, let me explain what happened to my friend Jim. J-Frey, as I like to call him, recently wrote a book about how he pulled his life out of the depths of hell, back from drug addiction, and built a new life for himself. Having known Jim for several years, I really enjoyed the book when I read it. I never realized he went through all of that. Perhaps I never realized it because much of it he really didn't go through. It appears Jim embellished a bit in his book. When Oprah found out she had been duped (she recommended his book to millions), she lost it. Oprah was HOT! But what's the big deal? Frankly, none of us are perfect, are we? I mean...we all tell a little white lie every now and then, right? You may even know people (it may even be you) that make "white-lying" a lifestyle? That's just reality. Some people even take it to a new level. They are so good at it that they start believing their own lies. WHY should we worry about it? Well, I have one word for you...Credibility!

In sales, as well as in life, once people can no longer trust what we say, our power to influence and positively affect them is GONE. So while it might seem like there are some short-term benefits to an occasional little white lie, it is the sum of these lies that can destroy our ability to be successful in sales...and in life. Once a customer, a friend, a spouse, or a child no longer believes what we say, we are DONE! So do yourself a favor, don't ever risk it. It is better to be known as stupid, forgetful, idiotic, klutzy, uncreative, and unorganized than it is to be knows as a liar and a jackass. I like to put it like to sum it up like this:

People would rather do business with an idiot than a scumbag.

What does the quote above mean? It means screwing up in business and in life is inevitable and expected. People can forgive idiotic screw ups, but they have a tough time forgiving a deception. So in business, make sure you never make a commitment to a customer you don't intend to keep. It's a pretty good practice to use at home as well. By doing this, you get to keep your CREDIBILITY. By keeping your credibility, you also get to keep the "power" of your greatest communication tool...your words. Keep your words, and you keep your ability to positively influence customers, friends, spouses, and children.

Oh, and before I go, I have to "come clean" with you. I never really met James Frey. In fact..I...um...never heard of the guy until last January. I lied to you. I guess I just wanted to throw that part in because I thought it would make this article more interesting. Oh well, it's no big deal. No harm...no foul, right? I mean, the only thing I really risked by telling my little white lie is...well...EVERYTHING! I guess I better think twice before my next lie, it just might cost me my career.

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Article Tags: communication skills, credibility, honesty, influence, insurance sales training, medical sales training, power, precise selling James Frey, sales tactics, sales training, trust, white lie



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