Open your mouth!

People often forget the promise that if we ask, we shall receive.  They could care about something very deeply, but fear will keep them from sharing their conviction.  People in general, are often considerate of what people think and how they will react to them.  For this reason many of them don't open their mouths when they need to.

Due to their fear of not feeling that they measure up, people will miss many opportunities which may come their way that have a huge potential to enhance their lives significantly.  There are a plethora of avenues available in the contemporary world, where people could make huge spiritual, financial, or health conscious shifts to something better, but they feel they can't do it.  People are afraid of the idea of selling!  They want to run a successful business or do something else that they dream of, but they never take a leap of faith because they feel they are not the sales type.

What exactly is the sales type anyway?  Is a good sales person not someone who simply demonstrates their expertise about a product or service in order to help a buyer to make a more informed decision?  Are they not people who enthusiastic about what they do?  Do they not greet you with a smile, and work often to get you exactly what you need?

I am here to tell you that sales people are all around you!  The nice waiter at your favorite restaurant tells you all he knows about the new entrees on the menu.  He tells you which one he likes best sometimes, and more often than not, people go with the waiters choice.  Doctors and Lawyers are sales people too.  They sell you their knowledge of the body or the law, to keep you well and out of jail!  In fact, YOU are also a sales person!  You sold your experience, education, and other qualifications to get your job (even if now you realize that you hate it)!  You sell your friends on why they should shop in a certain place, or why they should  not use a certain product or service. In fact, most successful businesses get their start via word of mouth advertising!

So really, the only difference between you and a successful sales person is that they open their mouths and tell others what they have to offer, more often!  Good sales people practice having charisma, they study the ins and outs of what they sell, so that they can help you make a more informed decision.  They practice using their charisma and charm.  They make mistakes along the way just like everyone else, but they have the faith to keep on going until they have perfected the skill.  Consequently, they change their lives as a result.  You can do the same thing!  Set a goal for yourself and keep working to achieve it, being happy in the work, until you reach the goal.  Have the faith to step out of your comfort zone.  Learn what works best for you and what doesn't.  Before you know it you will be on your way!  After all, if you don't use it, you lose it- and you'll be stuck wondering what could have been.  Start by simply saying hello to someone.  It may seem hard at first, but just like riding a bike, it gets easier and easier.  You can do it!  Find that thing you want to do more than anything...and regardless of how crazy it may seem, get to work on finding the best way to sell it and then do it!  You will be so glad in the end that you did...and the faith you develop as a result will take you a long, long way!

Let's Make Being Nice the way to be....AGAIN!

My sister and I were traveling to our local fitness club to work out.  We were making a right hand turn, but had to stop at the red light in front of us, as there was traffic zooming through the intersection during the mad evening dash home from work that so many Memphians participate in.  While we were sitting and waiting, another driver, a woman talking on her wireless phone decided that she was going to go around us and she almost hit us!  Instead of her apologizing to us for almost damaging our car, she instead yelled at us, calling us every obscene name that she could think of.  She was so busy yelling at us, that she ran  the red light that we were sitting at and almost hit another car.

I immediately pondered the question, "Why did the woman act that way toward us?"  We were following all the traffic rules and we were not being nasty towards her.  I thought to myself, maybe the woman was upset about something else and took it out on her.  Maybe she hadn't learned any manners growing up.  I was always raised to be polite to others and in my adult life I have been really focused on how I treat other people.  I try to go out of my way to be good to people and to help them out.  I thought, if the woman had simply honked and asked if we could let her by, then I would have happily obliged her and there would not have been an issue.

In contemporary society, where there is already so much negativity, it would be great to see more people be nice.  There are so many perks to having  a positive and pleasant attitude towards others.  Most people never get what they want in life because they don't want to ask for it.  Many young people that I have these pleasure of speaking with, say that being nice can get them accosted by their peers.  I am now asking the question, "When did it become taboo to show courtesy and respect towards another human being?"  When did we start allowing it to be okay for bullies to hurt people and get away with it?  At what point is it okay to spread rumors and lies about celebrities (without even considering how it will affect their children) for the sake of making a buck?  

Even though, there are some who don't think that being nice will take you far in this life, I am a firm believer that it can take you very far.  After all, employers are not going to hire an unpleasant person.  Unpleasant people can be arrested if they are less than cordial to the police.  Being mean spirited can make you lose your friends and loved ones very quickly as well.  We have all seen it happen, and we wish that we didn't have to deal with unpleasant people, regardless of the circumstances.  I call upon all of you to help me to make being nice hot again!  By being nice to someone you don't know, you could very well change their perspective on life.  Our being nice to someone, just may give them the will to keep on living.  But we will never know unless we try.  With that being said, I am going to set out tomorrow, being even more passionate about being even nicer to people.  As I do so, I hope to inspire you to do the same thing.