Ladies and Gentlemen
I refuse to use the last title left on the HotHotHeat Elevator Album....
We're so fucking close I can smell it. All signs point to my company getting close to an exit play. Exciting and scary at the same time. It's time to put on the gloves, zip up your jacket, and make that final climb to the summit.
I think this weekend is going to be the calm before the storm. The month of September is shaping up to be relatively busy - busier than work has been lately (don't confused bored with work and being not busy... there's a ton to do - I've just done it all before.) I was doing 8-5's for a while there this summer - looks like I'm back to the standard 8-630 or 7 everyday. Between the work and this weather it's putting a cramp in the running. I really just need to kick my own ass the last couple of days to get out there. I've needed a couple days rest though just to let my body recover from some of the harder runs lately.
It's always weird to start thinking about your past - both past opportunities and people that you used to be good friends with but for one reason or another you ended up losing touch. There have been quite a few of the later lately that seem to be popping up in my life. The problem is the emotional attachments are hard to get rid of - and just when you think you are finally over all the bullshit that surrounds the person - they suddenly come back into your life. I really should just be more like the hard-ass that I am at work. Tell them to fuck it - you're idea/company is never going to merit my company enough profit to make it worth while to work with you. It's the same struggle I have with work - I want all the good times - but don't want the struggle with it (it's that just the bane of my entire generation - as the baby boomers would lament.)
I have to say I have learned a lot at work - especially from our Sales folks. I'll outline a few lessons:
1. If you want someone to do something - give them multiple options - just make sure that the options that you don't want them to chose are totally unpalatable to their situation. Example: I want to eat a super expensive restaurant, knowing my companions don't want to spend that much but are completely unwilling to eat fast food. They say: Where do you want to go for lunch? I say: How about super expensive restaurant, McDonalds, or Kentucky Fried chicken - those are all close. Them: Ummmm how about the first one? Me (thinking): WIN!
2. Always sell things under the guise of being helpful - otherwise you come off as being slimy and a used car salesman. Example: Those "helpful" employees at HomeDepot. You go in trying to fix one thing but not really knowing how. Pretty soon you get out with ten things you didn't know that you "needed" to get the job done plus all the tools that you may or may not have at home - but are "essential" to get the project done.
3. Set expectations appropriately. Always play conservative when initially talking about projects. If it sounds like something sounds like it could be difficult for others to achieve (not necessarily you) - then really talk it up and then go away to discuss to "see what you can do." This leaves room for charging slightly more (don't be greedy.) IE Under promise and over deliver. This way when the final product comes out - even if it's not as good as you think you could do - it's better than the person thought was possible from anyone. Them (thinking): You are a god! I can't believe you were able to do this! Amazing!
4. Ask the right questions up front to figure out if it's going to work out. This applies for everything in life. If the customer is willing to pay enough for your product, if you are dating someone and want a family - and find out that they don't, if you buy a car etc etc. you get the point. This is not always easy - and takes a lot of persistence and asking the same question in 40 different ways until you are able to get an answer. The more problems you find out upfront - the easier it will go for you in the long run. An unqualified opportunity is just as bad as finding out that your date is a tranny - about 30 seconds before you crawled into bed with them.
5. Shit happens - mistakes are made. It's not about if you make a mistake or not - it's how you handle the mistake. If you do something wrong - come clean as soon as you realize it, admit to the fault, apologize, and try to fix it. Do not try to blame someone else, do not try to explain endlessly, and for god's sake don't just ignore it and hope they don't notice. Man up. It will always go better for you and you will be much more trusted if you go about it the right way. Having someone lose trust in you is losing the relationship (business.)
6. Organize yourself based on what is important - not what everyone else thinks should be important to you. You will be much happier and much more successful if you focus on thing that bring in the $$ (or in your personal life - bring you happiness.) This does not mean what is easiest - but what is most important to your sales strategy overall. In your personal life this is doing things like spending your time and money on things that make you happy. Don't just buy random shit and then moan when you can't go on a vacation to Italy. If travel is important then spend your money like you think its important (IE less than what you spend on iTunes.) If looking good is important to you - then spend your money on a gym membership, make up, a tread mill - whatever. You get the point. Stop pretending to be a victim of your own making - take the bull by the horns - have a plan and follow it.
7. Be nice and chatty to everyone - try to make friends. This is so that when you fail to meet their time line (that of course they have not told you about) - they will be more likely to forgive you. This also goes for your friends. If you love your friends/family - you are willing to put up with a lot of weird bullshit in the name of "loving" them.
8. Persistence. This is the hardest one for me. How do you go through life with the same passion and drive from day to day - when you feel beaten down by rejection? Please note that there is a fine line between between a persistent person and any annoying one.
I have a question - why the hell do some people feel like they are "above/more important" than you and have to prove it at every turn? I think the problem is that I refuse to sink to that level or show any reaction. I'm sure he thinks I'm trying to be passive-aggressive in some sneaky way or something. Really - I just don't fucking care enough to react or even try to get back for anything. I don't need to prove myself or justify my existence. I'm good at my job (and really excellent when I'm really motivated.)
We're so fucking close I can smell it. All signs point to my company getting close to an exit play. Exciting and scary at the same time. It's time to put on the gloves, zip up your jacket, and make that final climb to the summit.
I think this weekend is going to be the calm before the storm. The month of September is shaping up to be relatively busy - busier than work has been lately (don't confused bored with work and being not busy... there's a ton to do - I've just done it all before.) I was doing 8-5's for a while there this summer - looks like I'm back to the standard 8-630 or 7 everyday. Between the work and this weather it's putting a cramp in the running. I really just need to kick my own ass the last couple of days to get out there. I've needed a couple days rest though just to let my body recover from some of the harder runs lately.
It's always weird to start thinking about your past - both past opportunities and people that you used to be good friends with but for one reason or another you ended up losing touch. There have been quite a few of the later lately that seem to be popping up in my life. The problem is the emotional attachments are hard to get rid of - and just when you think you are finally over all the bullshit that surrounds the person - they suddenly come back into your life. I really should just be more like the hard-ass that I am at work. Tell them to fuck it - you're idea/company is never going to merit my company enough profit to make it worth while to work with you. It's the same struggle I have with work - I want all the good times - but don't want the struggle with it (it's that just the bane of my entire generation - as the baby boomers would lament.)
I have to say I have learned a lot at work - especially from our Sales folks. I'll outline a few lessons:
1. If you want someone to do something - give them multiple options - just make sure that the options that you don't want them to chose are totally unpalatable to their situation. Example: I want to eat a super expensive restaurant, knowing my companions don't want to spend that much but are completely unwilling to eat fast food. They say: Where do you want to go for lunch? I say: How about super expensive restaurant, McDonalds, or Kentucky Fried chicken - those are all close. Them: Ummmm how about the first one? Me (thinking): WIN!
2. Always sell things under the guise of being helpful - otherwise you come off as being slimy and a used car salesman. Example: Those "helpful" employees at HomeDepot. You go in trying to fix one thing but not really knowing how. Pretty soon you get out with ten things you didn't know that you "needed" to get the job done plus all the tools that you may or may not have at home - but are "essential" to get the project done.
3. Set expectations appropriately. Always play conservative when initially talking about projects. If it sounds like something sounds like it could be difficult for others to achieve (not necessarily you) - then really talk it up and then go away to discuss to "see what you can do." This leaves room for charging slightly more (don't be greedy.) IE Under promise and over deliver. This way when the final product comes out - even if it's not as good as you think you could do - it's better than the person thought was possible from anyone. Them (thinking): You are a god! I can't believe you were able to do this! Amazing!
4. Ask the right questions up front to figure out if it's going to work out. This applies for everything in life. If the customer is willing to pay enough for your product, if you are dating someone and want a family - and find out that they don't, if you buy a car etc etc. you get the point. This is not always easy - and takes a lot of persistence and asking the same question in 40 different ways until you are able to get an answer. The more problems you find out upfront - the easier it will go for you in the long run. An unqualified opportunity is just as bad as finding out that your date is a tranny - about 30 seconds before you crawled into bed with them.
5. Shit happens - mistakes are made. It's not about if you make a mistake or not - it's how you handle the mistake. If you do something wrong - come clean as soon as you realize it, admit to the fault, apologize, and try to fix it. Do not try to blame someone else, do not try to explain endlessly, and for god's sake don't just ignore it and hope they don't notice. Man up. It will always go better for you and you will be much more trusted if you go about it the right way. Having someone lose trust in you is losing the relationship (business.)
6. Organize yourself based on what is important - not what everyone else thinks should be important to you. You will be much happier and much more successful if you focus on thing that bring in the $$ (or in your personal life - bring you happiness.) This does not mean what is easiest - but what is most important to your sales strategy overall. In your personal life this is doing things like spending your time and money on things that make you happy. Don't just buy random shit and then moan when you can't go on a vacation to Italy. If travel is important then spend your money like you think its important (IE less than what you spend on iTunes.) If looking good is important to you - then spend your money on a gym membership, make up, a tread mill - whatever. You get the point. Stop pretending to be a victim of your own making - take the bull by the horns - have a plan and follow it.
7. Be nice and chatty to everyone - try to make friends. This is so that when you fail to meet their time line (that of course they have not told you about) - they will be more likely to forgive you. This also goes for your friends. If you love your friends/family - you are willing to put up with a lot of weird bullshit in the name of "loving" them.
8. Persistence. This is the hardest one for me. How do you go through life with the same passion and drive from day to day - when you feel beaten down by rejection? Please note that there is a fine line between between a persistent person and any annoying one.
I have a question - why the hell do some people feel like they are "above/more important" than you and have to prove it at every turn? I think the problem is that I refuse to sink to that level or show any reaction. I'm sure he thinks I'm trying to be passive-aggressive in some sneaky way or something. Really - I just don't fucking care enough to react or even try to get back for anything. I don't need to prove myself or justify my existence. I'm good at my job (and really excellent when I'm really motivated.)
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