Don't come in tomorrow

My middle son Zach is a smart kid, but this year realized he had enough of college for now. He chose to go abroad for a year to work, hang out, and figure out what he wanted to do with his life. On November 1st I drove him to DIA and off he went to Australia for a year. What I think of his decision is irrelevant - but I do think it was a good idea!

In case you were wondering, he didn’t simply "show up" in Australia. He found a program that helped him get a work visa, plane ticket, housing, and a job. Regarding the job: unfortunately, upon arriving in Brisbane he quickly discovered that there was not going to be enough hours and money to make ends meet. He promptly got a second job - a sales job - which was music to my ears.

What kind of sales job does a 21-year-old in a foreign country get? A hard one! His job is to go out in public places and stop people passing by to sell them a membership - or whatever the heck it is - to support lifeguard training. What he’s selling isn’t the point - the type of selling is the point - and it’s incredibly hard!

It’s great that he is attempting ’adulting’ - and doing it halfway around the world. On the other hand, he is my son, I love him, and as a parent, I am always worrying about my kids.

At 5:30am this past Monday morning my phone rings. It’s Zach, and after I pick up the phone I know immediately he is not okay. 

I said, “What’s wrong?”

He replied, “My boss told me not to come in tomorrow.” 

I asked him why and he tells me that he didn’t make any sales today (while it was 5:30am Monday for me, it was 10:30pm Monday for him!). His boss told him he needs to take a day off, but he needs the money, and now he's upset and stressed about how he’s going to make rent next week.

When he left six weeks ago he was confident and optimistic - he thought he knew everything - but oh how quickly things change! Now I might be the smartest guy on the planet (to him) because he appreciates the effort required to knock on doors for 16 years. 

We spoke for a few minutes. I talked about mindset, commitment, intention; and about not taking things personally. Results will vary from day to day because sales is a roller coaster. Then I reached back on my bookshelf and grabbed my tattered copy of The Greatest Salesman In The World by Og Mandino. This was one of the first sales books I bought in real estate, and the one I leaned on the most in my first several years in real estate. 

I immediately flipped to one of my favorite passages, one I have read maybe 30 or more times. 

“… you must prove to me, and more important to yourself, that you can endure the life of a salesman for it is not an easy lot you have chosen. Truly, many times have you heard me say that the rewards are great if one succeeds but the rewards are great only because so few succeed. Many succumb to despair and fail without realizing that they already possess all the tools needed to acquire great wealth. Many others face each obstacle in their path with fear and doubt and consider them as enemies when, in truth, these obstructions are friends and helpers. Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better . . . or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future."

Here’s my point: what if someone told you not to come in tomorrow based on what you did today?

Look, nothing new is going to happen next year. Sure, it’s a new year, but consider you’re not going to get anything new in your results if you don’t take on new commitments and action.

All of us could use a little extra urgency and accountability. 

Unfortunately, we don’t get the "privilege" of a boss to hold us accountable. We have to create it.