Every year on July 4th, we celebrate American independence – independence from being controlled by others; independence from not having a say in our futures; and independence from being unappreciated and disrespected and undervalued. When we, as a nation, declared our independence, we asserted our collective rights to self-determination. Now, nearly 250 years later, we can draw inspiration from the ideals of American independence as we pursue more individual levels of self-determination. This desire to control our futures is a key reason so many sales professionals and sales leaders today are choosing the “Independence Way.” Here’s what that means and why it could be your ticket to a more fulfilling professional and personal life:
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
The Declaration of Independence asserted that the inhabitants of the new nation it sought to establish were endowed with “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yet even though we may enjoy these rights as a collective society, we often feel trapped by our personal and professional circumstances. We feel as if we have little say in our daily routines, that we are merely going through the motions pre-determined for us by our corporate bosses. For many people, this is fine; they prefer not having to make decisions – especially “big” ones where futures and livelihoods are at stake. For the rest of us, however, this “follower” mentality is so limiting and stifling it quickly becomes unbearable. Simply put, sales leaders need to lead, not follow!
Beyond The Pursuit
Thus, for sales leaders and accomplished sales executives, a big part of their pursuit of happiness includes the desire to create something greater – for themselves and others. They wish to push past mere pursuit and instead actually achieve the freedom to work with passion, with purpose, and with the opportunity to make a difference for others. They have reached a point in their careers where they want to reap financial rewards, naturally, but also to give back, to have fun, and most importantly, to feel like they are contributing and helping others grow. Is this possible in the corporate world as a sales professional or even as an executive sales leader? Perhaps. But we often hear that the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of purpose is increasingly hard to come by in corporate America.
Living the American Dream
Entrepreneurism is often synonymous with the American Dream. Indeed, the lure of being your own boss while doing something you love is powerful. But often, those with the entrepreneurial spirit let their hearts get ahead of their heads. They become intoxicated by the allure of, well, freedom, and fail to consider the many challenges that come with starting their own business. No doubt about it – starting a business from scratch can be exhausting, to the point of turning an American Dream into an American nightmare! The good news, however, is that if your passionate pursuit of purpose encompasses your current skills, the path to entrepreneurial freedom is much simpler and more satisfying.
That’s why so many sales leaders have chosen to become sales leadership consultants aligned with Sales Xceleration as licensed Advisors. Using Sales Xceleration’s proven tools, systems, and resources greatly shortens the time to ramp up as a fractional consultant serving enthusiastic small to mid-sized business markets as an Outsourced VP of Sales. The best news of all is that our sales leadership consulting opportunities are available in all U.S. and many global markets.
To begin your passionate pursuit of a purposeful, difference-making career as a sales leadership consultant by engaging the “Independence Way” with Sales Xceleration, click here or contact us at 844.874.7253.
