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Where are you going in your sales career?

Written by: Bob Hooey

Article Overview: What drives you, drives your sales. Do you have a clear mission and purpose defined for your sales career? Do you have a clear path defined to become better at what you do in serving and selling your customers?

Where are you going in your sales career?

"Only a clear definition of the mission and purpose of the business makes possible clear and realistic objectives. It is the foundation for priorities, strategies, plans, and work assignments. It is the starting point for the design of managerial jobs and, above all, for the design of managerial structures." Peter Drucker

• What is driving you and your sales team?
• What is your defined purpose and strategic mission as an organization?
• What are you doing to engage and motivate your sales team to win?
• What are you doing to equip yourself and your sales team to win?

Funny how some non-structured time in the sun with a good book allows your mind to wander and wonder. Amazing how the warmth and sea air can stimulate your imagination and your ability to dream. March is the end of your 1st quarter and a good time to pause and reflect on how you and/or your team are actually doing. Remember those goals you set late last year or early this year?
I found myself rethinking 'what I do' and 'why I do it' on a recent trip to Cancun. I had a wonderful time addressing the dealer/owners of a Canadian National Tire Chain.

They were very receptive and open to challenge their own experiences and to revisit 'why' and 'what' they were doing. This, I told them, was the foundation for increasing sales, referrals and repeat business. This, I believe, is the beginning of building strong, long-term foundations for profitable success under any organization. I hope my time with them will lead to additional opportunities to serve them and work with their organization. They are a great team of people!

From personal experience, having a "strongly defined," visual image of your purpose and a strategic mission of what you do will keep you focused. It will also keep you fired up and excited about your business and career. It will help you ride the tough times and challenges that come with everyday life and modern day business.

My challenge for you is to take a minute... ok, 15 minutes, and take a serious look at what you are doing. Visit: www.SecretSellingTips.com for more ideas.

Ask yourself,
• Why you are doing it?
• What real value do you bring to your industry, market, and clients?
• What are you willing to change to make it better, more attractive, and value-added to your team and your customers?

© 2006 Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey www.ideaman.net

PS: My personal (separate from my professional one) mission statement includes scheduling some winter 'Sun Time' to recharge my batteries, have fun, and relax on occasion. Even nicer when I can combine it with the work that I love. (Just came in from plowing about 2 feet of snow off my driveway. Gee, what a difference a week makes.)One of the books read on that Cancun trip was "Flight Path" which is the inside story of how Canada's WestJet was launched and has continued to rise above their competition. I'd recommend it for any serious leaders, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to lead their teams to greater success.

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