A few years ago when we hosted a speaking event for sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer, one of his most important points came at the end of his presentation: "It takes time," he told the audience. "Sales takes time."
What? Takes Time? Are you kidding? We want it now, yesterday, last week...
David Siteman Garland of Rise To The Top said it best when we interviewed him about one of his challenges growing his enterprise: "Patience," he said. "I lack it."
He's not alone. Most entrepreneurs could say the same. Over the years, however, as I've met and interviewed some of the area's top business owners, patience was one of the most striking characteristics they all shared.
It all goes back to the corridor theory. Imagine, as an entrepreneur, that you are walking down the hall of your grammar school. There are doors every 10 yards or so and each contains opportunities that may help you. You peek your head in one door and check it out. If you like what you see, you stick your whole body in and maybe even stay awhile. If not, you head back down the hall to see what other opportunities are available.
The point is simple: If you are not patient enough to really find out about the opportunities in each room and if they can benefit you, all you are doing is aimlessly walking down the hall.
--Ron Ameln, SBM
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