New Job? Don’t Give Up Too Soon

This is an old article from SalesGravy.com; the website is labeled as the "fastest growing international community for sales professionals". Jeb Blount is the guy running the show over there - I had the pleasure of meeting him in person a few years ago at the National Collegiate Sales Competition.

Not that any of my readers are quitters, but this is a good article to get you fired up no matter what you are starting....

New Sales Job? Don’t Give Up Too Soon
by Jeb Blount

Most people when faced with challenges quit too soon; most often right as they are on the cusp of success. This is especially true with salespeople in new sales jobs. Starting a new sales job and taking on new challenges is frustratingly hard. There are many dark days when you feel like all you do is fail and there is no hope. As you get closer to success things actually seem bleaker. You are tired, beat-up and worn down. It is at this point that faith and persistence have to take you the last mile.

Faith is crucial - faith that by doing the right things every day the cumulative impact of these actions will pay-off.

In sales this means consistently prospecting, qualifying, presenting and following up. Faith is an internal belief system that you create that helps you remain focused on working towards your goal when no tangible evidence exists that the hard work you are doing will get you there.

Persistence is the fuel of winners. Persistence is determination to win in spite of self-doubt, roadblocks, failure, embarrassment, and setbacks. Persistence picks you up off the ground, dusts you off, and sends you back into the game. Persistence is the last, final push that sends you across the finish line.

If you have just started a new sales job I promise that the first few months will be miserable. It won’t be easy to learn new behaviors. Each day you will be given a dozen reasons to quit. Don’t do it. Don’t quit! Instead get up every day, reflect on your past success, and consistently do the sales activities that build your funnel. I guarantee that if you do the right things, have faith that your efforts will pay off and persevere when you are ready to quit, you will be rewarded.