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Miscellaneous Thoughts

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development

Being right is making me miserable

See if you can relate to this story…

I’ve been wrestling with a frustrating situation.  I cannot fix it because I cannot change the people who are causing it.  I know this because I have tried to change those people – and, well, they don’t want to.

To be clear, I haven’t just tried a little, I’ve tried a LOT to get things to change. My efforts started with suggesting and recommending, then asserting and confronting. When those didn’t work I tried sleeping less, drinking more, taking on stress, and complaining to those close to me – even those haven’t worked. And to make it feel even more futile, the people whose views I’ve been trying to change don’t seem affected in the least.

Coincidentally, I began listening to the book, The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday, and I became dramatically introspective. Holiday’s comment, emotion is an indulgence of our lesser self, felt like a reprimand directed at ME.

I still know that I’m right about the circumstances that need to be changed. AND, I’ve decided that focusing on what I can’t change is making me miserable. I am striving to focus on what I can control – what I can do to be my better self.

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Sales

Blockchain’s Lesson… about Sales!

Like you, I’m learning what I can about Blockchain technology.  Not so I can invest in Bitcoin, but because of the prophecy that Blockchain will rule the future of digital commerce and securing data.  I’ve watched three documentaries and two YouTube videos intending to get a handle on Blockchain.  I still don’t think I fully “get it,” and that got me thinking about why.

Consider one expert’s explanation of Blockchain:

We have the wherewithal here to change technology that will actually help the entire human race.

This authority is passionately committed and clearly knows what he’s talking about… but I’m finding a chasm between the knowledge of experts like him, and the communication to people like me so that I can understand it and emotionally connect.  I need a “picture” (besides digital currency) of how Blockchain will impact business opportunities and my life.  I want to understand and I WANT to buy-in, and I still don’t get it.

That got me thinking…

Whose responsibility is it to close the chasm of understanding between an expert, and another?

Perhaps those in the videos don’t need to care if I understand Blockchain.  But if I’m selling a product, service, even an idea, I must be sure my customer “gets” how what I’m offering works in their context.  My Blockchain research experience is an excellent reminder for me that if I want another to think along MY lines, to agree with me, then I must enable them by bringing them across the chasm of understanding to my side.

See Building a StoryBrand  in Dave’s Reading List for how I’m taking-on this challenge!

P.S. I’ll get Blockchain figured out.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

“I’m too busy for you.”

Chris just replied to my email invitation: he is too busy to meet with me – for several months.

I’ve been rejected before – plenty in sales, and in college when a girl actually did tell me she had to wash her hair.

I recently met Chris and he seems to be a great guy with whom I think I’ll have a lot in common – interests, business philosophy, and values – someone I’d like in my network, and whom, I think, would agree.

Chris called and left a message: “Dave, I appreciate the invitation.  I’m just really involved in this startup and I need to stay focused for a while.  I’m calling because I want you to know that I care – let’s connect this summer.”

My thoughts on this are two.  First – what a classy way to say “No,” and 2nd, don’t we all have the right to say “No thank you” in a polite way?   I’ll reach out to Chris this summer, simply saying, “Hey Chris, I hope your startup is going well.  Just let me know when timing is good to connect.”  In the time I would have spent with Chris when he was too busy to meet, I wrote this post!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

“The Martian” inspired me to cut a hole in my wall

“Work the problem.”  That’s the attitude of the character played by Matt Damon in “The Martian.”  It’s a movie I liked better the 2nd time, because I considered that theme.  BTW, I read that in the opinion of a NASA director, the science was quite accurate (info).

Back on Earth, this is a story about trying to get a new couch into my basement.

We couldn’t get the couch through the tight turn in the stairwell.  Work the problem.  We removed the door, the handrail and the ceiling light.  Nope.  Work the problem.  Removed the feet.  Still no (the couch was on clearance – returning not an option).  Work the problem.  If we just had a little more room maybe we could tip the couch into the extra space enough to make the turn.  Is it nuts to cut a space in the drywall to try that?

OMG, it worked!  The couch is in the basement and I repaired the wall.

I feel joy from solving the problem and from the experience – a great life metaphor for me, for my family, for us all with entrepreneurial challenges…

 Work the problem!

 

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Sales

Sales Lesson from a Russian Uber Driver

Meeting Uber driver “Sam” reminded me that infectious enthusiasm is better than all the sales skills in the world.  From the word, “hello,” it was clear that Sam was from Russia.  I asked him his story – it’s an endearing one.

Sam “won the green card lottery,” leaving Russia where he’d been trained as an attorney and a dental technician.  There wasn’t time to learn more about this peculiar combination. Sam moved to NYC.  With no credit history, he managed to purchase his Rav 4 at 18% interest so he could drive for Uber and work on his English.  After 9 months, Sam decided that he missed the mountains of his homeland.  Opening a map, he saw that Denver was near the mountains, so he packed his car and drove here.

Sam told us this and more with joyful delight, enthusiasm, gratefulness and laughter.  He was so happy – and he made me happy.

I got to thinking about Sam and about sales.  In this NOISY world, one in which it’s so hard to break through to customers, Sam made me WANT to be his customer.  He made me feel good about him, myself, my country, my life.  I wanted to give him a $20 tip on a $21 fare.

In sales, we train skills, strategy, product knowledge – we teach our teams how to get the attention of our prospect, and how to get them to buy from us.  Sam, the Russian Uber driver I met once and will always remember, is a great reminder that people want to engage but are busy and defensive because they know that mostly, we want something from them.  Instead of trying to get something, let’s give honest, joyful enthusiasm.

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