The Gift of a New Habit*- Out with the Old and in with the New
What new habit would you give yourself today as a gift? What is an old habit? An old habit is something we predominantly do, and if asked why we would say “I don’t know I’ve done it as long as I can remember.” We seem to pay attention to the old habits so let’s begin to hear the word “habit” as hiding ability behind innate truth. In other words old habits have been simply reactions that have prevented our greatness to live out in the world. Human beings tend to repeat things even the things that have just been repeated. It is not because we are lazy it is just because we have forgotten to invite our conscious mind into the moment. When our minds are working as they want to work, without conscious choice, we habitually perform from each moment as we would have from the moment before. You can see how easy it is to get stuck and also how we now have an advantage knowing this. We can just as easily habitually perform tasks of success and fulfillment by repeating that what builds greatness in our self. We can catch ourselves in old habits and create in that moment new powerful habits.
In the world of success to correct in the small scale is the key to correct the big picture. Let’s think of some small little corrections that will become the new habits that will build unlimited possibility of what your business and life can create. Show up 15 minutes early. Go over your presentation and know every question to be asked and every objection cold. Choose your outcome. Bring only what each moment requires and leave the rest behind. Wipe your feet at the door every time you go into an appointment and every time you leave it. This will affirm your presence and that all concerns are being left on the street. When you leave, know the appointment is over and if there is something you want to do differently next time, do it.
Put things in their proper place. When at the office it is time for work. Home is time for reflection. Any sales generating activity is time for action and peak performance. Cultivate the habit to compartmentalize and you will find your find your performances take on more intensity and energy. Be generous to others. Everyone tries to do the best he or she can. Take the beam from your own eye. There is certainly something you can correct to improve in your self today which you have control over. Looking inward is a habit that will make you strong. Trying to correct or alter something in someone else makes you petty. Cultivate the habit of only having dislike for those things you can avoid in yourself and only desiring those things you can give yourself. Never stop being in the habit of improving who you are.
Tell the truth. This is a very high calling. Bring to the appointment the same person you are in the world. Bring your strengths and weakness and use them both. Deal with every situation as it is to strengthen your point of view. Begin to act in a truthful way that shows your love for the skills involved in selling. You will immediately gain pleasure, pride and confidence linking you to every great salesperson in history. Practice with each other and practice the habit of humility, which means peace. Be your own best friend, and ally of your peers. All of these habits create character. This character is the strength of each leader that has worked daily to make a difference in their life. Each day adopting a new habit and careful choosing which one to leave behind is the character and dedication of greatness. The truth is your habits do dictate your success. Bad ones hide it great one reveal it.
* Inspired by David Mamet
