2/16/2024-On This Day, John McEnroe was born

You’ll only cash big commission checks if you bring sophisticated skills and knowledge to your customers, and that means you have to push yourself to learn and master different skills.

John McEnroe celebrates his 65th birthday today, and of course, he’s known as one of the best to have played tennis.

So why is "Mac" important to you, sales jock?

While champions in any sport deserve attention, John’s accomplishments demand a closer look because he holds the distinction of winning as many singles titles as he did doubles: 77.

Mac’s unrivaled ability to win championships with – and without – a partner represents unparalleled mastery.

Although known for his irascible on-court behavior, today, celebrate John’s winning, not his whining.

What’s your version of Mac’s distinct talent dexterity?

Can you charm your customers with a strong gift of the gab, and also listen for log patches of time?

What about negotiating? Can you assertively push and press for what you want, yet concede and acquiesce when needed?

Today, analyze your suite of skills and push yourself to compete and execute broadly like Mac.

Don’t settle for good when you know you must be great at many things to join the TOP 10%.

John McEnroe was known for his shot-making, volleying skills, and epic matches with rivals including Jimmy Connors and Björn Borg.

His on-court antics place him atop the pantheon of sports brats…so much so he earned the nickname "Johnny MacBrat."

Regardless, Mac is the only male player since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973 to simultaneously hold the world No. 1 rankings in both singles and doubles. And that is the definition of a real professional…the ability to excel in all areas of the game.

To be #1, Mac spent hours and hours on the practice court to be excellent at every aspect of his sport.

To be excellent at sales, you must do the same. Push yourself away from mundane tasks and responsibilities and get the practice in. And if menial and non-essential selling activities bury you, demand that your manager teach you how to elevate so you can work on your skills.

What’s going to earn you big commission checks? Excelling at replying to emails? Or learning how to manage difficult customers and handle objections?

Watch this 4-minute clip capturing Mac’s prowess, and you’ll see all that made him great.

While enjoying his athletic dexterity, consider how much time he spent practicing his craft.

All great athletes – and sellers – will admit they found it in the dirt. In other words, they practiced, got coaching, practiced more, and then analyzed each of their performances.

Don’t keep running from task to task without analyzing your on-court performance. What you say and do in front of your customers must be scrutinized and appraised to get better.