Each December, we compile “Lessons Learned” from the year. This is the #1 most important thing that clients took away from the year that will make them better for the rest of their life. The lesson could be personal or professional.
Following is a compilation of Lessons Learned from 2016. I hope you use any one of them to be inspired to make 2017 your best year ever.
1. Look at procrastination as 'delayed gratification'.
2. Integrity is binary--it is all or nothing.
3. Listen! Ask a question & Listen. Ask another question.
4. Be flexible, diverse and creative in an environment of uncertainty.
5. I am my own worst enemy.
6. You need support from other groups in your organization to keep the business going.
7. Listen to your gut instinct--it is right 99% of the time.
8. Do things differently. Be creative in your approach; stand out.
9. Develop relationships that will stick with you through good times and bad.
10. When I take Scott’s or Will’s call, it leads to revenue.
11. Don't get too much of your business tied up with too few accounts.
12. Know your customers...in all functions and all levels.
13. Make sure you have the right people on the bus.
14. Act in accordance with your core beliefs.
15. There is no shame in failing...as long as you learn from it and continue to set goals and improve.
16. Strong preparation is vital to success.
17. Buyers are liars!
18. Pause and consider all angles and related communication opportunities before taking controversial action.
19. Stand your ground, show equal business stature and go "negative" if you have to.
20. Embrace and accept the things that bring joy.
21. Walk away from those who are not serious; removes much stress and saves time.
22. Without a good initial "attitude" towards your sales calls you are automatically set up to fail.
23. Family is most important in life.
24. Bad things don't get any better if you wait to act on them.
25. One method does not fit all.
26. Every company must have measurements that are meaningful for them.
27. Excellent communication is a key to keeping existing customers happy.
28. Know when to walk away and not waste a sales cycle.
29. Listen more than you talk.
30. Mercy is NOT GETTING what you DO deserve. Grace is GETTING what you DON'T deserve.
31. 70-year-old dad to his 30-year-old son, "When you were young I hated the sound of slamming doors. Now that I am old, and you are gone, I hate NOT hearing the slamming doors."
32. Life is fleeting and worrying about yesterday or tomorrow robs me of the joy of living in the moment and savoring my relationships.
33. Employees have to have the desire to learn and be open to change.
34. Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.
35. Reacting -- often with incomplete information can make the situation much worse.
36. Don't waste a day or an opportunity to do something that will improve someone's life (including your own).
37. Up Front Contracts using ANOT
38. Balance: the better you are on the "Identity" side your "Role" side will improve.
Tell us in the COMMENT section below what your biggest takeaway from 2016 was!
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