I took last week off from writing because my daughter was hospitalized with breathing problems, called Restricted Airway Disorder (RAD). She is home now and responding well to medications, so we are all doing much better than we were last week.
As often happens with a life event, I found myself reflecting on the big questions. Why do I do what I do? What is really important in life? And, for me, my family is more important to me than anything in the world.
That said, I love my work, too. And it got me wondering about all of you. Do you LOVE your work? And, why do you do what you do for a living? Have you asked yourself that question lately? Ever?
Here are my answers, and I’d LOVE to hear yours as well.
1. I am passionate about putting ink on paper. I used to joke that I fell into printing. I said that no little girl dreams of becoming a print sales rep; I just happened to meet people who guided me in this direction and, 20 years later, here I am.
But I love print. Just as much as that crazy Canadian who made those videos some years ago. I love it, I respect it, and I am challenged by it. I am invested in its future. I desperately want to see print thrive. And so that means we need lots of print evangelists in order for it to thrive.
What does this mean for you? If you, too, are passionate about print, are you acting like it? Do you talk about it, get excited when you see a new application, fervent spreading the word about print and what it can do for people?
I want you to think about this seriously and figure out how to fall back in love with print, if you feel you’ve lost that lovin' feelin'. (Cue The Righteous Brothers or Tom Cruise.) And if you need help, I can help you.
2. I love helping people. Back in third grade, I got in trouble for helping a classmate with her math problems because the teacher approached us just as I was telling her the answer—she missed the first five minutes of the conversation in which I was explaining the mechanics of the problem and why the answer was what it was. Some of us are just born teachers and mentors, and I am proud to be making my living as one of them.
3. I love the flexibility. I always told prospective sales candidates that one of the best things about sales is the freedom. Being out making sales calls all day means you are free to go where you want, when you want, and in some cases, sneak in a bucket of balls or a manicure.
Of course, I was always careful to point out that you have to earn that freedom. Newbies with no customers or volume have to really work their butts off for the first few years to be able to take an hour here or there, but when that freedom is earned, it is SWEET!
So please take some time today or this week to reflect on why you do what you do, and then ask yourself whether your actions and words reflect your feelings. As always, I am here to help you in any way that I can!
Here’s to being in love...WITH PRINT!
- Categories:
- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.