The things you do are always with you. The things you don’t do are too. You can never get away from your actions or inaction. You can’t run fast enough to escape.
Let me share a funny example!
Years ago, 1961, one of my relatives had an accident. She was a small woman. With shoes on she barely made 5ft. That’s important to the story.
Her car was a 1956 Chevy Bel Air. When she drove, she had to look through the steering wheel.
It was all she could do to see, steer and reach the pedals.
She and her nine-year-old daughter had been shopping. When they backed out of their parking space their trailer hitch slipped under the front bumper of a VW parked behind them. She hooked the car without knowing it.
So, she drives off. She checks her rearview mirror and sees the car following her. She comments that he’s really tailgating. She waives him off to no avail.
She speeds up. The VW does too. She cheats a stoplight. The VW flat out runs it.
She’s fussing as she drives so her daughter turns around to get a look. “Mom, I can’t see a driver. I don’t see anyone in the car.” She’s mad so she gives it more gas.
All of a sudden, a police car joins the chase. She pulls into a parking lot as does the VW. The officer follows. By the time he reaches her window he can’t hold back his laughter.
It’s a small town so he knows the driver. He hears her complaint about the tailgater. He continues to chuckle and explains what happened. She’s embarrassed. They all have a laugh. The issue now is getting the VW back into its parking space.
I share this because it’s funny and I hope for some laughs. But I also share it because it’s a good object lesson for business. As I say often, “you get what you get when you do what you do. You can’t plant beans and hope for corn. You can’t skip planting altogether and hope to harvest anything.”
My experience in sales and in business is the truth always comes out. If you’re being honest, it will show and you’ll earn trust. If you’re doing the work, you’ll succeed. If you’re paying attention to details, you’ll make fewer errors. Over time, you’ll pass those that take shortcuts. You’ll win and eventually, they’ll fail.
Regardless of your technology, you, your work ethic and your integrity are what’s valuable. You’re the reason the sale happens. You’re the key to success.
Do the work. Honor the process. Keep your promises and be confident. Selling isn’t rocket science. Neither is business.
It all turned out fine for the lady in the Chevy. There was no damage and a really good story was born. How can anybody not like that?
The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions. Artificial Intelligence may have been used in part to create or edit this content.
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Bill Gillespie has been in the printing business for 49 years and has been in sales and marketing since 1978. He was formerly the COO of National Color Graphics, an internationally recognized commercial printer and EVP of Brown Industries, an international POP company. Bill has enjoyed business relationships with flagship brands including, but not limited to, Apple, Microsoft, Coca Cola, American Express, Nike, MGM, Home Depot, and Berkshire Hathaway. He is an expert in printing sales, having written more than $100,000,000 in personal business during his career. Currently, Bill consults with printing companies, equipment manufacturers, and software firms. He can be reached by email (bill@bill-gillespie.com) or by phone (770-757-5464).