Are youa sales rock star, or just a member of the band?
When you hear a bosstalk about their BEST salesperson, they often refer to him or her asa “rock star.”
It’s the highestpraise your boss can give someone on your team. Every salespersonaspires to be referred to in that manner, but very few make thegrade.
Many have the talent.Many get to the top of the charts for a month or two. Many make it tonumber one, and burn out. What’s your rating on the top 100 chart?
If you’re a rockstar, it means
You have superiortalent — you can play, and sing.
You can harmonize witheveryone else in the band.
You write song lyricsthat others identify with.
Your fans don’t justlike you — they LOVE you!
You have a confidence,a swagger.
You are a leader. Atleast of your own band.
You are respected byyour peers as a talented player.
People write about you.
People will pay to seeyou play.
People want (and willpay for) your autograph.
You have provenyourself over time with consistent quality.
It also means
You know the businessof rock and roll.
You have real wealth,not just money.
You could qualify forthe rock and roll hall of fame.
You could become alegend.
How do you viewyourself?
Are you the BruceSpringsteen of the E Street band?
Or are you just aroadie?
Most salespeople wouldlike to THINK of themselves as a rock star, but don’t display thetalent to match their definition. The fact is, someone else referringto you as a rock star is more powerful than you calling yourself one.
But there’s much moreto it than that.
Ever think about whatit took for a rock star to become one? To achieve in the face ofdoubting people or naysayers? To face rejection after rejection? Tospend endless hours practicing and rehearsing? To hone their skillsand craft — and THEN to achieve the acceptance of others? Make somesales, and some more sales, and finally a number one song, and asellout concert.
WOW! — no wonder sofew people make it.
And yes, there is adark side to some rock stars. They become self-abusive. Many puttheir own lights out early. Luckily in sales, there’s not that muchtime to get into trouble.
It’s true, not allrock stars are pure — BUT — neither are regular people. Rockstars, like anyone else, have to show discipline and take consistentgood actions. Kind of like you.
Think about the rockstars that are familiar to you. Elvis, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen(the real boss), Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Tina Turner, RoyOrbison, Carol King, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Aretha Franklin.These people (and lots more like them) achieved their status byputting in years of hard work. All of them LOVE what they do. Theywouldn’t trade their position or situation for anything in theworld. They rose from humble beginnings to stardom by takingadvantage of their talent.
How are you takingadvantage of your talent?
How much do you LOVEwhat you do?
How hard are youwilling to work?
How positive can youremain in the face of obstacles?
The love of what youdo, combined with your belief in what you do, will not determine yoursuccess. It will determine how hard you will work and how dedicatedyou will be to achieve it. Success just shows up from there.
If you want to become asales rock star, I think that’s GREAT. If you want others to referto you as a rock star, I think that’s GREATER. And if you arewilling to apply the disciplines that it takes to emerge as a rockstar, I think that’s the GREATEST, and I support you in every way.
NOTE OF COINCIDENCE:For the past thirty years of selling, I have always played rock androll music on my way to a sale. It sets my own internal positive andupbeat tone.
If you want to become arock star, the first thing you gotta do is learn how to rock.
If you’re interestedin a few more ideas on what it takes to become a rock star, go towww.gitomer.com, register if you’re a first-time visitor, and enterthe word ROCK in the GitBit box.
