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Sales Dilemma: Risks Aren't Scary Once You Take Them

Guest post by: Jim Meisenheimer

Article Overview: Avoid the sales dilemma and don't shy away from taking risks. See this example of what happens when you meet the big risks head-on.

Sales Dilemma: Risks Aren't Scary Once You Take Them

A sales dilemma salespeople face sooner or later is taking risks. This isn't theory - I know this firsthand.

You see, I spent 19 years working for other companies when I returned from Vietnam.

13 of these 19 years were with American Hospital Supply Corp. which was acquired by Baxter in 1985. I had all the jobs I ever dreamed about including sales representative, regional sales manager, director of marketing, vice president of sales, vice president of marketing, and finally vice president of sales and marketing.

Back then I was never a big risk taker - I usually played it safe.

In 1985 I started thinking about going into business for myself. The emphasis was on the keyword thinking.

I talked myself out of it every six months for three years.

It was a scary thing I was thinking about.

Giving up and risking a six-figure income.

Giving up and risking stock options.

Giving up and risking a company car.

Giving up and risking a corner office.

Giving up and risking a phenomenal benefits package.

I was so scared I became paralyzed in my thinking.

This was risky business and I wasn't sure if I was up to the challenge.

Finally, I stopped thinking.

I made a decision that would change my life for ever.

I established a written goal with a specific date. Here's what my written goals said on a sheet of paper from a yellow legal pad.

"On February 5, 1988 I will resign my position to start my sales training company."

I then signed it because it was a contract with myself.

The whole idea of doing this was still scary up until February 5th - the day I resigned.

What was once scary now became exciting and exhilarating to me.

The fear and concerns were replaced with new ideas and specific action steps.

If you're sitting on a big risk today, it up the advantages and disadvantages. If the advantages outweigh the disadvantages - go for it. Take the chance.

You'll life will be better for it.

It's one less regret you'll have during your lifetime.

Don't fill your life with regrets when you can become the person you dream about becoming.

These words are especially appropriate here: "If it is to be, it is up to me."

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Article Tags: 19 years, action steps, baxter, company car, dilemma, director of marketing, fear, jobs, manager director, regional sales manager, risk taker, risky business, sales and marketing, salespeople, six months, stock options, vice president of marketing, vietnam, written goals, yellow legal pad



Related Forum Posts
Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing
Re: Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - [quote="ltrahan":31w9r2iz]Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing[/quote:31w9r2iz] I second the request...
Re: Did you buy into the iPhone 3G craze? - Kevin, Arent you the EBay guy?? oh well, we all make mistakes....like me buying new tires at Active Green & Ross after I blew out a tire on the 401. I let the guy scare me into the sale and then when I took my care into my mechanic he told me I got hosed....and to never let anyone scare you into buying stuff again.... anyway, I'm glad you got the new battery in any case. I think we will soon be able to go completely without contracts so we arent held hostage... J
Willing to Fail Your Way to Success - Entrepreneurs in my opinion, must be willing to fail. (This is that risk-taking factor quoted in the other post). If you aren't willing to fail then you don't take risks and if you don't take risks you do I like to call (I am qouting an awesome book called Play to Win!) 'Playing Not to Lose' instead of 'Playing to Win'. When you Play to Win you must risks. Risks are how you build a business and innovate.
Kevin, are u an ebay expert? - [quote="TheRainmaker":3j4dw900]Kevin, Arent you the EBay guy?? oh well, we all make mistakes....like me buying new tires at Active Green & Ross after I blew out a tire on the 401. I let the guy scare me into the sale and then when I took my care into my mechanic he told me I got hosed....and to never let anyone scare you into buying stuff again.... anyway, I'm glad you got the new battery in any case. I think we will soon be able to go completely without contracts so we arent held hostage... J[/quote:3j4dw900] Are you an Ebay expert? If yes do you have any report on your expertise?


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