A very special opportunity came my way some months ago. In late 2014, I was given the job of copy editing the manuscript for The Inside Game: Sales Basics. Written by seasoned sales professional Mark Shriner, this book is about basic skills vital to becoming a successful salesperson.
I was very grateful to have been given that job. It was my first freelance job in years (yay, some cash is always good!). It was my first time to copy edit a book, and I realized that it was fun to do.
Though I am not working as a sales professional, I’m glad I was able to read this book. I was reminded of some basic and very important life lessons.
1. Success in anything starts with setting your goals clearly and believing that you will achieve them.
2. Read your success, write your success, and see your success every day. Do what you can to keep yourself motivated. This habit will help to carry you through difficult times.
3. Trust is essential in any successful relationship. While being warm and kind, mean what you say and say what you mean. Don’t make empty promises just to get what you want.
4. Listen well. To truly understand what someone is communicating, pay attention to what he is saying and what he is doing. Don’t just focus on what you want to say. Be open to the other person.
Thanks to this new job, I ended up reading a book I probably wouldn’t have and picking up some timely life lessons. It pays to get out of our comfort zones, to do tasks we’ve never done before, to read books out of our genre. When we do, we could end up finding enjoyment and wisdom where we least expect it.