In today's economy, many Americans are suffering. A lot of us are broke, but today I want to discuss the difference between being broke, and broken. Being broke is a symptom that is caused by the decisions that we have made. Being broken is a disease that permeates our entire being. Often times I will ask people why they have chosen sales as a career. Without exception, the answer is always the unlimited earning potential, and the ability to 'write your own paycheck'.
Some of us always knew that we would choose sales as a career, but the vast majority of salespeople that I have met did not dream of being a sales pro when they were a kid. Most of them wanted to be firefighters, police, park rangers etc. just like everyone else. The reason they ended up in our industry was a desire to be able to be compensated based on their efforts.
So many of our fellow Americans don't have the ability to 'strap up their boots' and pull themselves out of the hole that they are in. They are being 'downsized', 'outsourced', 'let go', 'terminated', 'cut back' or any of the other euphemisms for being fired that Corporate America likes to use. And for those lucky enough to still have jobs, they are locked into an income bracket with no opportunity to increase their income other than the unlikely chance of getting a raise in today's tough economic climate. There is no job security in today's world, there is no loyalty amongst employers and their employees. Every day you hear stories of men and women who have worked for companies for 10, 20 even 30 years just to be let go with no warning and no back-up plan.
As a true sales professional you don't have to worry about this. The top salespeople at any company are never let go. It would be financial suicide for companies to fire the people that are driving the most revenue to their business. We also have the ability to turn our situation around at anytime. 'Broke' is a situation, and 'Broken' is a state of mind. As long as we don't allow ourselves to become 'Broken' and lose our will to win, today's bad situation can be turned into a learning experience that will help to build our careers.
Don't succumb to the negativity of your peers, don't cave in to negative or 'stinkin thinkin' that will turn you into a broken person with broken dreams. Each morning when you wake up rather than dwelling on your current situation, be thankful. Be thankful that you have a job when so many others don't, be thankful that your situation can change at any moment if you have the drive to succeed and the will to settle for nothing less. Be thankful for another day of this gift that we call life, be thankful for your family, and pretty soon you will be thankful for that huge paycheck that is sure to be waiting for you!
