Stop trying to control your future (and do this instead)
Stop trying to control your future (and do this instead)
Quotaless reads less than 300 words to help master your mind, business, and time.
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There are two feelings during quarter-end.
You got it all figured out or you’re completely lost.
I remember once committing two deals to close on the final day. I had four meetings scheduled and three canceled before I finished my morning coffee.
The other flaked after lunch.
It was Friday and Halloween. It felt like no one was working, except my manager who rang every 5 minutes to remind me about the commits.
The owner of an electrical company agreed to hear my pitch at 4. I told him if he had plans with his kids, we could meet Monday. He said he was there to do business if things made sense.
Two hours later, he signed paperwork for both office locations. He even moved over 70 cell phones securing the month’s biggest deal and my commits.
Years later, I tracked a $60,000 software deal on the final day of my second quarter at Blue Jeans Network. The customer promised paperwork end of day, setting me up to exceed quota in as many tries.
Just after 5, he sent a 40-page security document and list of needs from procurement.
The deal pushed and I missed my number.
As different as I felt during each moment, the reality was the same. Both experiences had little to do with things in my control.
That’s life’s beauty, isn’t it?
Closing deals, landing jobs, writing my first book, getting my dog, and meeting my wife all trace back to things outside my control. Like that cell phone deal, many came as surprises on the heels of disappointments.
You can’t control the future. And you don’t need to.
Just do your best to influence it then embrace its surprises.
Because the best things, the really special things, are more surprising than you can imagine.
300+
Read 63 more words about being “just a number”
Read 47 more words about habits
Read 305 more words about doing something you’ve always wanted to do
Read 19 more words on promises
Last week’s Quotaless Podcast features a conversation with Alli Rizacos on defeating imposter syndrome. Let me know what you think if you feel called to give it a listen.
Remember,
When we embrace practice, develop awareness, and align our efforts, we can rise above the deal.
We can live #quotaless.