“You Can’t Handle the Truth” Colonel Nathan R. Jessep (Jack Nicholson) – A Few Good Men (1996)
If you haven’t tried your hand yet at the “30 Movie Quotes You Really Should Pay Attention To… (If You Are Trying to Grow Your Business)” – you can do so at this link.
If you’re in a bad emotional place right now, it’s probably best if you don’t read this.
Actually if you feel the whole world’s against you and you’re looking for me to tell you that you’re right and they’re wrong – then this definitely isn’t the piece for you either.
One of the most revealing things my original business mentor shared with me was this;
It’s All Your Fault.
Once you take charge and responsibility for where your career, prospect list, bonus cheque and personal life are heading, there’s nowhere else to hide, no one else to blame.
So you stand up, grab it by the neck and sort it out!
Two circles you should know about – one inside the other.
The inner circle, the Circle of Control, is everything that you can control – and to be fair – that’s pretty much just you.
The outer circle is the Circle of Influence – the people who will listen to you, will take orders as subordinates, may help you as friends, might respect you enough to follow your lead, could see you as an expert and take your advice – you can’t control them but you have some influence.
Outside of those two circles is the great void that is everything else.
And trying to change things you have no power over is like staring at a rock and willing it to change into butterflies.
The only way to take more control over your future prosperity and happiness is to increase your circles of control and influence.
Your circle of control will grow as your skill base, knowledge and self awareness increase.
Your circle of influence grows by increasing your value to others.
Remember this;
Everything you want is just outside of your comfort zone – if it wasn’t, you’d already have it.
The fabulous Steven R Covey, in his book the 8th Habit, talks about becoming a Trim Tab.
What’s a Trim Tab?
You find them on the really huge ocean liners, those ships that are the length of a high street and take over a mile to come to a dead stop.
So how do you change the course of something so massive?
Well you move the steering wheel, which operates a rudder, which then turns the ship.
But Steven R Covey points out that the rudder itself can be enormous; perhaps even ten stories tall on some ocean liners.
So what moves the rudder?
The rather ingenious answer is a tiny second rudder called a trim tab, which is attached to the big rudder.
“Through the marvels of engineering, when the trim tab swings to one side, it creates just enough vacuum to pull the big rudder around. The trim tab is tiny compared to the size and weight of the ship, yet it is the trim tab that determines the ship’s course.
Far too many people are not engaged in their work, they are neither fulfilled nor excited, most of all they feel powerless to change anything, and they blame it on the organisation or their boss or their lack of authority.
In truth you are the creative force of your own job and life.”
So, no more excuses – as Dr. Covey also points out “Responsibility is having the ability to choose your response!”
See you for next week’s movie quote
Chris
This year, I want to help you and your team become more successful than you’ve ever been before – call my team now on 0844 293 9777 or request a call back by going to the Contact Us Page here.
You and I can work out a sales training programme that suits your requirements perfectly – foundation level sales training, field sales training, account management training, selling value over price, FMCG Sales Training, customer service training, whatever it might be – but it’s a big old world out there and if you don’t take two minutes to invite me over, I may never know you need me.
We create bespoke training days from as little as £185 per person, so give my office a call today and we can get a date in the diary to start working on tailoring something just for you.
Chris Murray
0844 293 9777
By the way, if someone has forwarded you this newsletter, you can sign up to receive it directly from Varda Kreuz here
