What Matters

I recently took a break from blogging because of some incredibly tragic personal circumstances.

When a family member dies unexpectedly, let alone a child, it is an opportunity for introspection, reflection and a reassessment about what really matters.

This is what I found.

Most of the people I knew were incredible. Even people I didn’t know well contacted me with their thoughts, love and heartfelt wishes of support. And it really was the thought that counted.

Then there were others who stayed away. One or two were friends whom I thought were close friends who didn’t even send a text. Incredible. But it made me realize that there were a couple of types of people in the world: those that take action in spite of their own discomfort or feelings of not knowing the right thing to do, and those who stand back for the same reasons.

And it made me realize that it’s not just the passing of a loved one when people act like this but whenever something difficult or challenging arises. There are those who take the first step in good faith and with good intentions and those that don’t.

And it makes all the difference.

Taking action no matter how small can mean the difference in letting someone know they’re not alone, in letting someone know they’re thought about and not forgotten and that you have enough strength of character to put yourself out there. Business disappointment, job loss, missed sales opportunity, resignation, let alone a personal loss are all reasons to connect.

Moreover, it’s the everyday connections that build collateral in the relationship/connection bank account. Making deposits regularly into the quality of your connection with those in your personal, family, professional life means that oversights are less of an issue. Your goal is to never be overdrawn on any relationship.

So I implore you. Don’t wait to thank the people in your life. Don’t wait to say I love you to those that matter. And for all of those who are good to you: don’t ever make them wonder if you notice.

Make them especially glad you did.

View our other posts

Energy flows where intention goes

I’m not one for denying reality. When it comes to a healthy emotional and mental outlook, accepting reality is a key component. And as I write this, Victorian small business, in particular, has been assaulted with another lockdown on a weekend that many in...

The Year of Recovery

2020…COVID. Lockdowns… Sorry, I don’t mean to be triggering…! But around April last year organisations pretty quickly realised that in such an “unprecendented” year it would be unfair to expect their sales teams to achieve original sales targets. In fact,...

If you think there’s more, there probably is…

What a revelation!? If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably allowed yourself at times to entertain the notion that there is more possibility for you….even if you don’t know right now how to access it. More roles, more revenue, more market share, more customers,...

Pressure reveals mindset

Getting back into a rhythm of market contact this year is going to be interesting to say the least. In some sectors of the market, in person meetings are still rare indeed. In others, market contact is all about being respectful of time which seems to be even...

I don’t “sell”

Every now and then I come across professionals who say things to me like: “I’m not in sales.” “I’m not a salesperson.” “Selling leaves me cold” When I ask about their roles, it turns out that while they’re “not in sales”, they’re responsible for :...

Entitlement vs gratitude

I heard a story the other day that I found troublesome but not uncommon. And it’s something that will absolutely separate those who will be ready willing and able to make the most of 2021 and those who won’t be. The first story was that of an employee who was...

Making the shift from Knowing, Doing to Being

I’m not interested in what you know, how long you’ve known it for or even how much you know. I am happy that you know it. Experience shows me though that it’s not knowledge that changes things, it’s the application of that knowledge. We can know a lot of...

Choose Enthusiasm

Joy!….What is it good for….absolutely everything! Say it again! Customer service people, sales people, leaders of people….those of us who work with others to achieve an outcome understands the power of enthusiasm. Of bringing joy to a situation. It’s...

Are you successful in spite of yourself?

Success. Achievement. Getting results. In sales and in sales leadership, there’s a measure of success: improvement in sales, improvement in margin, increase in average transaction value, reduction in sales cycles…So when targets across these measures are...

2021 Starts Now

Victorian sales teams: if you’re waiting for the end of lockdown until you can get back out there in person to see your prospects and customers, stop waiting! The time was 2 months ago. Act now. I say this because it’s like we’ve been wading through treacle...