Our mortgage company booth at SummerFest Day 14: After watching my son start his own animation business this last year, I am thankful that I had the mentorship of some very savvy sales people when I was younger. And it dawned on me how very much we learn from other people in life if we are open to it. While talking with my son about "getting the business", memories of so many people flooded my mind. Fond memories, some awkward, some obnoxious, certainly lots of politically incorrect events and conversations by today's standard. I "grew up" in the financial industry starting in the mid 80s which was predominantly male. Let's just say that I was told "sex sells" on more than one occasion..."never hurts to show some cleavage and some thigh". I laugh to myself now when I remember those conversations. How very absurd. But something interesting dawned on me...
Our nightclub, Club 728 When I knew I was being seen as a "pretty thing to look at", I realized I had to know more than my male peers about the product I was selling. And I had to keep asking for the business....and keep asking...and then ask again. Oh, I showed cleavage and thigh when I knew it would get me in the door, and I am not ashamed of it. Let's be honest, I wish I had those knockers and tight thighs now. But I digress. My point is that we use what we have, but it doesn't have to be all that we have...men or women. Sometimes I feel we hide behind out political correctness and are not given the vital life lessons to survive a still very incorrect world. I had my share of being cornered in elevators by men who thought it was okay to invade my space. Those men saw stars and usually ended up on the elevator floor...strong thighs and knees! But truth be told, most of the men and women I met in the business world respected you if you pushed your way in, constantly asked for the business, and then knew what the hell you were talking about. Regardless of how we communicate, by phone, e-mail, text, FaceBook, LinkedIn, etc, maintaining that human, real contact will close the sale every time. I feel like we need to impart to the next generation that just because there are rules of political correctness, it doesn't automatically afford you the right to be respected. Respect is something earned...and it's only earned if you do your job, do it well, and care about the people you are dealing with....and ask for the business...and ask for the business...and ask again for the business.
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