I have been a top producer (top5%) for my company for many years. I am not saying this to brag – but more than likely you don’t know me. After you read this blog you will understand me a little better – I am not a person who wants to boast about anything. I am a hard worker, a proud person and I love what I do. I believe this is why I have been able to get where I am – what I don’t want is to be put on any pedestal.
What I hope to accomplish by telling you this is gain a little credibility. Because the people who drive me crazy are those who pretend or worse actually believe they are some body, but have never ‘walked the walk’. How many so called consultants are out there telling you how to make money and yet they have trouble paying their own bills? How many consultants tell you how to run your office, but only had an office themselves for 2 years and hated it so much they decided to become a consultant?
I want to follow someone who has performed the way I want to perform. I don’t want to follow someone who boasts to have performed. As a matter of fact, I really prefer the guy who is usually too busy to show me what I need to know. I try to be their friend. I will learn what I need to know over time and in a sincere way. They will usually be happy to share what they know because they are so proud of what they have accomplished and helping others makes them even happier. These people live like I do – they are not worried about the financial gain, it just seems to follow them.
The Losers I love to follow….
They are great negotiators and understand their own personal value.
They don’t really care what anyone else thinks – although they have a sincere interest in making sure nobody is hurt.
They only care about win-win. They are never out to “Beat” anyone.
They love life. They love their chosen path.
They usually have about 100 things cooking at once, even though 90 of them are going to fail – they know 10 will succeed.
They are not afraid to fail, because they know it is the only way to succeed.
They took many years to become an overnight success….
They don’t think they are better than anyone else.
They see value in every person they meet.
The pressure of high performing people
One place I have been uncomfortable is taking recognition for my accomplishments. We have sales meetings with presentations for ‘top’ sales guys. I don’t like getting in front of people to accept an award. I don’t feel I have done anything spectacular – I have performed to a level I only expect of myself. I am not so sure that these meetings motivate others to try harder. I sense often that others are thinking about ‘how much money’ that I might make….or ‘what a great life’ it must be to be in his shoes….or ‘he got lucky’….or probably for those who don’t get me ‘how the hell does he do that?’.
Are you this person as well? I am very happy to meet you!
I would rather be recognized for my accomplishments in helping others- not in how much I sold. My worth is in the skills I have gained from my many failures. The amount of times I kept going when others told me I suck. The many times I felt like a loser, but still got up and tried to do things again my own way. My value and what I get paid for is to help people accomplish their goals – and I am very good at this because I have learned what works and what doesn’t. I am not afraid to step out and try things that are a little whacked – because these are the things that nobody expects. These are the things that need to be tried in order to take the game to a new level.
Can a person be recognized as a leader and visionary without having everyone look at how much they make or sell? And can they be recognized without getting up on a platform that people love to find fault in (ya but….)?
Thinking of high performing people….
Do athletes, actors, and musicians face this?
Why is someone like “Tiger” a loser now if he isn’t winning every fricking tournament? (I know he has personal issues too – but that is another story)
Why is a musician judged on the follow up album to the album that was just number one on the charts for 30 weeks?
Why is the actor that ‘made it big’ and is now having trouble getting another film role considered a nobody in five years?
We love to find fault in others – is this a way of defending ourselves? Are we looking to find fault to make ourselves feel better? Maybe so we don’t feel like losers ourselves for not trying as hard as we could? Do we find fault and criticize because its’ easier than saying to ourselves that we need to be trying harder?
Are they happy, and do they really care about what you think?
The good ones are quite alright with where they stand. I really appreciate the Top 5% who are modest and barely anyone recognizes them. They plug along anonymously and nobody worries if they win – they just consistantly place among the top. Again and again.
Or how about the people behind the scenes? The coaches (Hoss, Kathy)? The producers of the music, the coaches who bring the athletes to this high level, the directors of the movies. The guys behind the scene that understand how to accomplish the goals -but don’t necessarily need to be in the limelight. They are confident, and they get paid and everyone probably knows who they are but they don’t have the hassle of having to be publicly number one all the time.
Next time you look at me and think that I am a loser because I didn’t ‘sell’ what I did last year…..think of this. I don’t care what you think of what I sold. I do care that you know I am always trying to be the best person I can be, and I am achieving the goals I have set for myself – not a goal another person has decided to set for me.
Get passionate about what you do – and don’t worry about what others think.
Take risks and learn from your mistakes.
Love life, and live it.
Peace.
Warren Bobinski
Success in Dentistry and Life.
