Wouldn’t it have been nice if you could have had a success formula to guide you throughout your sales career? One that would have helped you make all the right moves and avoid the inevitable pitfalls and missteps? Maybe, but then again, those pitfalls and missteps were probably essential to your professional development as a sales leader. Your mistakes and losses – along with your triumphs and wins – inevitably helped prepare you for the long career of sales leadership success you are likely very proud of today.
But after decades of sales leadership achievement, are you finding yourself again facing uncertainty as you wonder what’s next? What will your next chapter hold? What direction should you turn? And most importantly, how will you succeed again as you move along a new professional path?
The good news is that there IS a formula for your next chapter of success as a sales leader. But the best news is that you’re already halfway there…
Part One of the Sales Leadership Success Formula: Preparation
A record of success (and successful leadership) matters in sales, as in most professional endeavors. To succeed, you must keep your eyes on the prize as you race toward your goal, use intelligence and personality to influence others, and demonstrate true leadership and perseverance even in the most difficult times. So, it’s no surprise that we can turn to three legendary Americans who have achieved greatness in their pursuit of success to emulate these qualities.
Let’s start with a racing icon:
Since the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, there have only been 20 drivers who have won the race more than once. Three members of the Unser family are among that elite group, including Al Unser, Jr., his father, Al Unser, Sr., and Al Sr.’s older brother, Bobby. Bobby Unser won this prestigious event three times and also won a record 10 times at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. He captured the USAC season championship twice, won a total of 35 champ car races, and enjoyed a long career as a broadcaster after retiring from active competition in motorsports.
Bobby Unser was also a successful businessman; and in 2003, published the book, Winners are Driven: A Champion’s Guide to Success in Business and Life. Along the way, he is credited with saying, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” He recognized, at nearly every stage of his competitive and business careers, that preparation matters.
So did Oprah…
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful television personalities, media moguls, and public personalities in history. She has received many awards and honors and is recognized worldwide for her wisdom and philosophy regarding human potential and success.
Oprah also has noted the importance of preparation. “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity,” she said. It’s hard to dispute the many accomplishments that have stemmed from that philosophy.
And then, there’s perhaps our greatest leader…
Abraham Lincoln perhaps faced greater trials than any other President in American history. He is purported to have said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” Once again, we have a great leader recognizing the importance of being prepared for what lies ahead.
So, whether it is preparing for your chances, finding luck as a byproduct of being prepared, or using preparation as a linchpin for overall success, the message is clear: preparation is key for whatever opportunity comes your way. And certainly, as a sales professional with a long career of sales achievement and sales leadership, you have already invested much of yourself in preparation for your future. Indeed, you are already well prepared for your next great opportunity!
Part Two of the Sales Leadership Success Formula: Opportunity
What’s next? What’s in store for your next chapter as a sales leadership professional? How can you turn your hard work and preparation into a second act of success? Many sales leaders build successful post-corporate careers by embracing the opportunity to become a sales leadership consultant.
Our Sales Xceleration licensed Advisors, for example, serving as Outsourced VPs of Sales, typically enjoy deep fulfillment and purposeful success serving small to mid-sized business clients. Working as fractional sales leadership consultants empowers them to utilize their executive sales skills and wisdom to help organizations in need survive and thrive, even in challenging economic times.
The best news of all is that this opportunity – to serve as a sales leadership consultant – is easier than ever using Sales Xceleration’s proven sales growth tools and systems. In other words, there’s no need to rehash and rebuild what you’ve spent a career learning. All you need to do as a Sales Xceleration sales leadership consultant is add your unique perspective as you apply our client solutions.
The Bottom Line:
The success formula for your next chapter as a sales leadership professional is simply this:
Preparation + Opportunity = Success
You’ve spent your whole sales career preparing for this moment, and now the opportunity is at hand to apply this timeless truth to your next great success.
To learn more about Sales Xceleration and how you can become a sales leadership consultant, click here or contact us today at 1.844.874.7253.
