I sat in a meeting this week while a sales executive described the characteristics of some on his 'best' sales managers. To describe his colleagues, he repeatedly used words like arrogant, out of control, self-centered, stubborn, resistant to change and I thought…wow, Lord what am I doing here?
Well of course I was in that meeting for a purpose, just as you are in your situations for a purpose, and assuming these good folks become long-term clients, I'm sure we'll learn a lot from one another and if there is one thing I hope I can model on a daily basis it is the Gratitude Attitude.
A few months ago I was working with a colleague who is the Director of a sales training school. We'd been working together for some years and had developed a good deal of respect and affection for one another. We were able to maintain a very productive balance of laughter and high quality results.
In this instance we were making a joint presentation to one of his clients. We had made good progress during our meetings. Good rapport had been established early and the customer was very enthusiastic about the potential benefits were offering. Inevitably the price question arose at which point my 'pal' and partner began laughing and with a twinkle in his eye said something like this: "Oh don't worry about the money. Bob doesn't charge very much. For him it's about the learning not about the money." Both had a good laugh and I promised myself never to tell that to a business partner, or anyone else for that matter, again.
How this came about was that my colleague and I had been talking about the personal motivation that caused us to work as hard and long as we often do, even though the money may not be large. We agreed that it wasn't about the money, it was about the privilege of working with and helping wonderful people. It was about the fact that each day we were being paid to learn and grow. What could possibly be better than that.
Of course ever since that conversation he had used every possible opening to rib and joke about it, but always in good fun. And so I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to "Keep the faith, baby!". Nurture the attitude of gratitude my friends and no matter what you encounter (and you undoubtedly will experience both progress and regress, for everyone does) you will find therein the seeds of learning and growth and what could be better than that?