'My Momma Said' No. 2: You Want Something, Go Get It!

Credit: Charlsie Gillespie, 1955

You want something, go get it. How does the saying go? “If it is to be it’s up to me.” Don’t waste time overthinking things. Don’t wait on help from others. Don’t look around for approvals. You want it, go get it.

My mom preached this. I learned, early, that my life, happiness and success were up to me. I was born in a free country. It was up to me to make that blessing pay off.

She used to say, “we don’t all have the same starting line. Get over it. Life isn’t fair. You can’t choose where you start but you can choose where you finish.”

She continued, “don’t wait on others to do things for you. You aren’t their focus. They have their own goals. If they help you, remember it and repay the favor, but don’t count on it. Don’t waste time thinking someone else will make you successful. It’s your job to be successful.”

I make her sound hard. She wasn’t. She was a committed and loving parent. She was convinced I could move mountains. She was patient and kind. But she wanted me to depend on myself, not others.

It served me well. When I got into sales I went after the accounts I wanted. Oh, I checked the lists. If a company I wanted was assigned, I found out how much work we were enjoying. If the numbers and potential didn’t line up, I asked questions. I made the boss say “no Bill, we’re happy with the small amount we’re doing.” Guess what, they never said that.

When work came my way, I always said yes. Sometimes it wasn’t giftwrapped. I didn’t ask the plant for permission. I took the order and put leadership in the position of saying no to revenue. Guess what, they never did. Somehow, they always found a way. “Is it impossible or is it inconvenient” became my slogan.

Being the guy that always said yes made my numbers explode. Being the company that always said yes kept my employers busy and profitable. We solved one “impossible” assignment after another. Prices relaxed and quotations were details for purchase orders not bids.

Business Observation: When you and your company say yes you become exciting. Clients want you around. Others want to work for you. The best reps and the best craftsmen find their way to your door. Success is contagious.

Pro Tip: You can spot the people that won’t do it. If you’re interviewing a rep and they have excuses, be careful. If their interview includes comments like, “I could sell more if we had a different plant manager” or “My numbers would be better if we could get our prices right” you should run. These guys are waiting on others to make them successful. It ain’t gonna happen.

Your life and your success are up to you. No one can give it to you and no one can take it from you. You are, personally, 100% responsible for where you land in your career journey. If you own your outcomes you’ll succeed. If you’re inclined to fault others, you’re in your own way.

Back to my mom. She was born in Copperhill Tn. She didn’t have indoor plumbing until she was married at 18. She didn’t go to college.

But she owned her life and made it grand. She never spent a minute waiting on someone else to pave a path for her. She said, “Believe this Bill. Live it and you’ll never be without a job or success.”

Photo? I wanted some crackers. Mom was convinced Nabisco would use her snapshot for an ad. Somehow it never happened. I wasn’t destined to be a model.

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