Defining Success

11/14/2012

This week I had lunch with David and Krystal Hall of Cellular Health Innovations. David is the internationally-successful entrepreneur behind the Cellerciser® which is the product he introduced several years ago to revolutionize the mini-trampoline industry. Before lunch, David presented for an auditorium of entrepreneurs-in-the-making. They heard his words of wisdom on what it means to be successful, but what they may not have realized is that they, simply by observing David's presentation, were receiving a primer in salesmanship from a master in the art.

For several years I worked at a Ford and Mercury automobile dealership - beginning as their an assistant sales manager and concluding as their director of marketing. I learned the skills of selling. One day, while sitting in a room full of "car salesman" receiving training on how to "sell better" something clicked and I suddenly realized the difference between conning and selling. A good salesperson believes in what they are selling so genuinely that when they communicate it effectively, you contract their belief and, if the price is right, you make the purchase. A con artist on the other hand, says anything to convince you to buy - whether they believe in the product or not.

In a list of "keys" to being a master salesperson, the very first is to truly believe in your product. David reminded me of that. Other skills then follow, mastery of which David demonstrated by his presentation: Know your product inside and out, know your audiences' interests and needs, lay a foundation of trust, set up the problem, explain the solution, demonstrate the solution effectively, engage the potential buyer, etc.

But, what of this "success" about which he set out to speak? Here are two thoughts he shared that sum it up:

Success isn't so much what you achieve, its who you become in the process.
Persistence overcomes resistance!

I would love to have you share a comment. Have you observed someone's persistence pay off and been inspired by it? Share with us!

Julian Johnson

11/15/2012 05:58:43 am

Martin Luther is a great example of someone who has perservered through a lot of things. He had led the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's he had to fight through discrimination, prejudice people and resistance to change. He did not give up on his fight. Martin led marches and peace rallies to end this time of hatred. He showed courage, leadership, perseverance and most importantly he never gave up no matter what happened. Martin Luther King has been arrested, his house was burned down, he was threatened but all because he persevered through these hard times America was dramatically affected by his famous I have a dream speech and by his death. If it wasnt for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his perseverence I dont know where this country would be today because he could have easily gave up.

Rachelle Bench link

11/16/2012 02:41:23 am

I believe Mike Schlappi is definitely a person who has shown great persistence and overcame a great challenge and later became very successful. He definitely fits the persistence overcomes resistance mantra. At 15 years old he was accidentally shot in the chest at point blank range by a .38 caliber bullet, being fired out of his best friend hands. He was paralyzed from the chest down and he has triumphed over his own tragedy and accomplished many great achievements in his life, just to list a few, he is a husband and father of five children, a MBA Graduate, A licensed financial advisor, an Author, an Olympic Gold Medalist and an International keynote speaker as well as an inspiration to anyone who has the opportunity to meet him.
I would refer you to Mike Schlappi.com if you would like more details on his story.

KC Keisel

11/16/2012 09:54:40 am

I know a guy by the name of Graham Wood. You wouldn't know it by looking at him or talking to him, but he actually was a high school drop out. He started working as a sales representative for APX Alarm. With his strong persistence he acquired the role of a sales manager. His team soon grew and before they knew it Graham was a regional sales manager. His team was one of the best and most prosperous in North America. APX has told him that he had to slow down and that he could not produce as many accounts. Graham did not want to hear this and soon made a deal with a new company Pinnacle Security. He worked with Pinnacle for two years and produced about a third of the companies revenue. Graham knew that he had something special. He then decided to start his own company,Titan Alarm LTD. Which is one of Canada's fastest growing companies. In two summer seasons they have produced over 17,000 accounts. Me myself helped manage 4,000 of them. I look up to Graham as a successful businessman. He is very hard working and dedicated. He is always fair and tries to give back to charities every year! Great guy!

Krista Butterfield

11/17/2012 02:01:47 am

I have a friend who had a hard time growing up because she always felt the need to be a rebel. She started smoking then drinking and sneaking out of her house. After a while her parents put her into a rehabilitation school called West Ridge Academy where she began by spending all winter up in the Uinta mountains. After leaving there she went to West Ridge where she was basically in disciplinary school. After running away from that twice and finally graduating, she did well for a while then slowly regressed and moved out getting worse and worse. finally she met a great guy who helped her to stop doing drugs. I am happy to say that she is now happily married, living in Texas with her husband and his family. They both still smoke but have stopped drinking and are cutting back on the cancer sticks. She got her GED and is now at Paul Mitchel beauty school and will live happily ever after...

Braden Waiters

11/17/2012 10:53:41 am

Heidi Anderson would be the person that comes to my mind when it comes to persistence. She grew up in a poor family and started out on the wrong path of life by parting and basically saying “screw it”. She soon became pregnant with her son and was a single mother with no education and almost no income. On top of all of that she had to take care of her drug addicted brother. Her life was thrown in a loop and she chooses to fight through it. After years of work she worked her way up the charts at GE’s credit card industry, and at 40 she was told she needed a college degree to move any higher. After all of that she GEs credit cards division was sold to Amex where she now the CIO. So I would say she is a great example of perseverance.

London Simonsen

11/17/2012 11:13:03 am

Michael Jordan showed amazing persistence before he achieved his true potential and greatness. He was cut from his freshman basketball team. He persisted and worked the hardest he possibly could. He made the team the next year. Through his persistence Michael was able to win 6 NBA championships and a label of the greatest player of all time. He is an amazing example of persistence in my eyes.

Lejon link

11/18/2012 06:44:04 am

Elizabeth Hosteenez

11/18/2012 11:15:17 am

Alright so honestly i couldnt think of sombody who had overcome somthing with persistance and so i went and found one. The link is http://www.motivation4athletes.com/stories. This story is told by the brother of the man who overcame the problem. The brother looks up to the the elder one from about all his life. One day when he was seventeen his parents told him they need to talk about his brother Vince. The younger brother was all ears and learned that his brother was sick. He had developed a very rare disease called Dermatomyositis. This eats at your bones and crushed his dreams of running or you think it would. Finding this out insead of continuing leting his brother carry him up the stairs he fought back. he started using the stairs as exercise. Along with this he started lifting the weights he could handle and running to build muscle back up. He actually kept running marathons instead of stopping. While doing this he completed his dream. He failed a few times but kept going till he was qualified. Then ran the Boston Marathon and broke his own personal record. This story really is remarkable as well as enjoyable to read about.

Spencer Heywood link

11/19/2012 01:34:32 am

I have an uncle who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. When he was born he was predicted to not live past a couple of years. He is now almost 60 years old. I see his example of persistence every day when he works out. Due to the thick mucus in his lungs he has a much harder time pushing his body than others because of his inability to effectively obtain oxygen. I have not seen someone who is in such good shape despite age and unfair circumstances. I know that he would literally not be alive today if he did not push himself to work hard, harder than most people ever will even though they have it much easier.

G. Munns

11/19/2012 12:35:51 pm

Chris Herren is a great example of persistence. He is a Boston native that grew up in a rough neighborhood, but found a way out because of his ability to play basketball. But when he went to college, his freshman year he got injuries and started using drugs. But even with his drug abuse he was still an amazing athlete. He played in the NBA for a number a years with the Nuggets and the Celtics. He also played professional ball all around the world. But the whole time we was using drugs. His life came to a crossroads when he was released from a hospital after over dosing. He left the hospital, went and bought some alcohol, got drunk and pasted out in an ally behind the store, and when he woke up he thought,"maybe i should just become a bum and stop dragging my family and friends down with me?" But he didn't he got into rehab, and after many years and many relapses, he finally became clean and has been for years. Even though many of his problems were self inflicted, once he decided to become clean, he did it. No matter how hard it was or how many times he relapsed. Now he provides for his family and tells his story to help prevent people from making the same mistakes he did. ESPN made a movie about him. You can find it on the internet or Netflix. Its a great documentary that everyone should see.

Ryan Topham

11/26/2012 09:41:06 am

My Girlfriend was in a car wreak 10 years ago. She broke 5 vertebres in her neck. Doctors told her she probably would be paralyzed. Ten years later she is walking with the aid of a cane because the whole right side of her body is paralyed. But she did what doctors told her she wouldnt. In ten years she has earned her AAS and AS degrees and had been a loving mother of two. She also refuses to use a wheelchair to get around in. The strongest woman I have ever met.

taylor

11/27/2012 12:06:47 pm

A football coach at my high school was electricuted while working on a well. He lost both legs and continues to coach. He has shown great persistance.

David Halterman

12/14/2012 05:37:36 am

When I think of overcoming trials and persisting through it to achieve success, there is one name that comes to mind more than any other. Joseph Smith, Prophet of the LDS church. He overcame many, many things that most people wouldn't imagine and he kept persisting through it over and over again. He was a great man and never gave up to his death.

tre james

12/19/2012 02:40:51 pm

my brother walter ingram grew up in the hard streets of baltimore. grew up with no father,to add on that he was diagnosed with dislexia,and told that he may not be able to finish school with the other kids. he stayed after school when school let out. did seond grade work in the 6th grade because it was hard for him to comprehend the letters and number. went onto highschool. still behind but gradualing getting better. went to a 2 year college because his grades wasnt good enough for a four year almost failed out of college but he buckled down the four years later he recieved his bachelors at missouri university. my big brother is my hero becasue he overcame adversity and did something many people who are not dislexic can do even though it took him 6 years he still finished school

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Alan

As a sought after speaker and trainer, Alan shares insights on leadership, business, communication and success elevating his audience and motivating them to application.

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