9/19/2023-On This Day

Whether a trait or a skill, perseverance is essential for sellers. And mostly, it’s acquired. The faster a seller develops perseverance, the easier the road toward consistent high performance.

On this date in 1998, professional baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr., ended his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played. Ripken still holds the record having surpassed Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years.

Why is this important to you, killer sales pro?

Persistence, consistency…and playing hurt are all parallel themes that might inspire your high-performance strategy.

Even on those days when you have nothing in the tank, think of Cal and get out there! There’s always something you can do to serve your customers and contribute to your business.

Today…focus on perseverance as a core seller trait.

Do something that represents prolonged commitment and dedication. Even if it means you start a streak at something today, do it. Start it.

It could be you decide to prospect for thirty minutes today…! Good. Do it, and then again tomorrow.

You may choose to proactively surface objections in every prospect meeting…starting today. Good. Do it.

But note that doing it in every buyer meeting is the definition of perseverance.

It’s okay if you don’t want to get out of bed sometimes. The bad news often piles up and creates anxiety that can only be solved by retracting. Yes, go ahead and pull the sheets over your head. Take a "mental health" day.

(What?)

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SOCIETY OF RATIONAL AND PERSEVERING SELLERS:

…do not, we repeat, DO NOT acknowledge any of what was previously presented. It’s bull-twinkies. You’re a seller. A badass sniper who makes goals, creates strategies and then hunts down your prey.

Maybe once or twice a year you feel like staying in bed…but that’s not how you, or the TOP 10% roll.

As you know, perseverance is the cost of admission to the sales game.

Nothing has ever been handed to you as a seller, nor should it. When you hit it, you make good money. And that money is validating. But you’re not in it just for the money, you’re in it for the self-satisfaction that you’re performing to the best of your abilities.

So…since you’ve already determined you want to swim in the fast lane, just know you’ll swallow a little water. So what?

In this 2-minute video, Cal Ripken Jr. reflects on his record games-played streak and the inspiration he felt for the original owner of the record: Lou Gehrig.

The message of this clip is powerful, even for those who don’t follow baseball. Ripken wasn’t consumed with the record, he merely wanted to push himself to perform at his highest level each and every game.

Ripken epitomizes the mantra: be the best you can possibly be…all the time!