Jeannette Rankin was NASTY awesome

On this date in 1916, Jeannette Rankin won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman elected to Congress.

While representing Montana, she introduced the first bill that would have allowed women to gain citizenship independent of their husbands.

Why is Jeannette’s career important to you, brazen sales pro? (Is it not obvious?)

Rankin’s resolute stance on her core beliefs elevated her to a pedestal of admiration and study.

What are your core beliefs that drive you every day in The Sales Life?

Today, do something that would impress Jeannette.

While you ponder what it might be, consider Ms. Rankin created a furor as the only legislator to vote against the declaration of war on Japan after their Pearl Harbor raid. (An extreme pacifist, Rankin felt Prez Roosevelt let the attack happen to pull us into WWII.)

Agree or not with her tactics, Rankin stood up. She was bold.

Is there a policy at your company or a way of doing business that requires you to stand up? Do you need to stand up to a nasty buyer (…in a measured way)?

Do it.

Today, do something that’s right despite how much flak you might get.

This two-minute video hardly captures all that is special about Jeannette Rankin, but it’s a good start.

This woman is a powerhouse.

While watching, consider the stiff headwinds that constantly blew in her face. Yet Ms. Rankin never wavered from her beliefs and vision.