How Does Sport Affect Your Career

 I am Ian Rose a current National competitor at the sport of Judo and have been to the last 4 Paralympic Games. Alongside this sporting success I have also built a very successful 10 year Internal Sales career, but how did sport help me?

If you have ever spent any time doing New Business Lead Generation on an Internal Sales desk, you will know what I mean when I say "you need the self motivation of a World Champion and the drive of a formula one car". Cold call after cold call, taking rejection after rejection and then finally making that call you've been waiting for all day. At last someone who is actually interested in what you have to say and a lead that means something. Now your training comes into its own and you ask all the right questions and listen when you should.

How do you do this day in day out? Motivation is the key and Goal Setting is the technique to keep you Motivated. The most important lesson I learned from top level sport that could help at work is, SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS and you will stay motivated and reach targets. I have spent 10 years doing around 30 cold calls a day no more and no less, but always with the same daily Goal. TO HAVE AT LEAST 5 GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH A DECISION MAKER AND COME AWAY WITH AN ACTION. Following this rule I managed to open opportunities in markets where others failed and not burn out after 3 months.

Remember you are part of a team and there is nothing a team likes more than good news. Whenever you book a meeting off a Lead given to you by Marketing let them know and they will feed you more quality leads. Always keep a record of your success and tell people about it. This will firstly make you feel good and motivate you to do more calls, but it will also gain the trust of your field sales colleagues.

As in sport preparation is key before doing a cold call, do your homework on the company and person you are calling and build that all important picture of the organisation before starting. Again always have a Goal set for the call. Do you want to come away with a meeting, an action or simply more information? If I went on the Judo mat without being fit, or knowing my best technique and my competitor's weakest technique, I would have more chance of loosing. Apply this to your calling and your conversations become more meaningful.

Of course sport made me fit, but it also gave me that sense of achievement that we all need. If I had a good night at training, then my next day at work would be good and if my day at work was successful, then I would usually have a good night at training. Success breeds success.

Above all prioritise your life and find out what makes you happy. This will determine your balance and allow you to share your time effectively. You are in control of your dreams and only you can achieve them.

Ian Rose Professional Speaker, Double Paralympic Medallist and Successful Salesman Find out more about my sales speeches at www.ianrose.org or email me at ian@ianrose.org

"ANYONE WISHING TO USE THIS ARTICLE MAY DO SO, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT MUST STAY UNCHANGED"

About the author:

As a current Paralympic silver medallist and former World and European Champion, Ian Rose is highly self-motivated. Both in his sporting and vocational careers, he shows incredible willpower to reach for goals and achieve winning performance. Ian's sporting and work achievements are a benchmark for sales, marketing and management teams throughout the UK. Ian is now using his experience to Motivate sales teams to higher achievements as a professional speaker.

 Ian Rose

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