It's that time of year again. The harvest is over. And that means it's time for Thanksgiving. As in: "I couldn't get this on my own, so thank you for giving it to me." I prefer to call it "Immediate Gratification Day" as people are only grateful for what's placed immediately before them. Throw a slab of turkey on the plate and people are grateful for the meat. But will they think about the effort that went into it? Will they even consider the months of raising the bird, cleaning its cage and checking it for worms? No, of course not! People are only grateful for results.
It's the same with sales. It's all sarcastic quips and unfounded criticism about your tried and true sales techniques. Sometimes you have to offer up a junior employee to a sex crazed female executive to close the sale.It's called business. But once it's a done deal, and there's some money to be had, then suddenly everyone's onboard. Everyone's sticking their greedy little paws out for a piece of the beet and kidney pie. "Dwight, I gave you that lead." "But Dwight we helped you close that sale." "You stole that client from me."
This year, why not try something different? Take a look at the larger picture. Look down at your plate and don't be grateful for the beet. Be grateful for the hoe that tilled the field. Don't be thankful for the turkey. Be thankful for the bloodied axe that slaughtered it and turned it into a meal. For it is because of these tools that our harvests are bountiful enough to share with all you "grateful" people. This year, I know I'm thankful for the greatest tool of all: me.
And also Halo 4.
Happy Immediate Gratification Day.