I am forever talking about the profession of selling. And I’m an advocate for continuous learning, regardless of your level of experience or degree of natural talent.
But developing your skills to be an extraordinary sales person or business leader, without also focusing on your growth as a human being, is as crazy as expecting grass to grow green without water.
Now I am an avid reader of sales and business books. But when I look back over my career, from marketing professional… to front lines sales… to sales leader… to executive… to business owner… to author, a lot of what shaped my sales success and powered me along my path was what I learned from books that have little to do with selling, and everything to do with being.
[ctt title=”A lot of what shaped my sales success and powered me along my path was what I learned from books that have little to do with selling, and everything to do with being.” tweet=”My sales success I learned from books that have little to do with selling, and everything to do with being. via @JillsalesSHIFT #salesSHIFT http://bit.ly/2FBOynF ” coverup=”0ufdn”]
I have an eclectic library of books that have helped me grow as a human being and I want to share five of them with you. Deciding which five was like picking the best candy from a favourite candy box. I’ve landed on five evergreen classics that I return to repeatedly, because they offer lessons that continue to enrich my career and my life.
So in no particular order:
Second Innocence by Dr. John Izzo.
This is the book for those of us who sometimes feel like our job, or even life, has skidded into a rut. Dr. Izzo’s goal is to help us reclaim our sense of wonder (we all possessed this as kids) and renew our joy in work, relationships and life. He does this through simple and heartfelt story-telling that will lead you to new perspectives. His opening chapter, Most of Life is Rowing, the story of John as a young boy on a rowing trip with his grandfather, provides a metaphor that revolutionized my view of life.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown.
This quote from EE Cummings says it best: “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody but yourself – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight – and never stop fighting.” If, like me, your “perfection-addicted” brain is filled with these questions, “Have I done enough?” “Am I smart enough?” “Is my success enough?” this book is your new BFF. If you feel the pressure in today’s competitive world to conform to being someone you are not, or if you are trading your true self for the approval of others, this book provides you the courage to live who you really are.
The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Bejamin Zander.
An extraordinary read that has us viewing the world, our careers and those around us from a mindset of possibility. The authors share 12 practices that will shift your perceptions, beliefs and actions. And ultimately transform your approach to work and living. One of my favourite take-aways from this book because I read it at a time when I most needed it (and it makes me smile) is Rule Number 6: “Don’t take your self so g-damn seriously.” And if you are wondering, “What are the other rules?” There are none. Think about it. Better still, read about it.
Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
To operate at our peak performance, we need to notice and understand those moments in life and work where we are fully engaged and immersed in the joy of what we are doing. We all have these “flow experiences” in our life but we often ride through them without noticing. While I now use the concept of “flow” in my coaching practice, I wish I had read this book when I was a corporate sales leader. It is an extraordinary tool for sales managers seeking to help every individual on their team work to their optimal performance and highest level of satisfaction. And what leader doesn’t want that?
[ctt title=”To operate at our peak performance, we need to notice and understand those moments in life and work where we are fully engaged and immersed in the joy of what we are doing.” tweet=”To operate at peak performance, notice and understand those moments where you are fully engaged and immersed in the joy of what you are doing. via @JillsalesSHIFT #salesSHIFT http://bit.ly/2FBOynF” coverup=”fUQJ3″]
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.
Different to my other picks, this one is for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial sales people. Counterintuitive thinking at its best, the authors take great delight in tipping the sacred cows of business. “Planning is guessing. Writing a plan makes you feel in control of things you can’t actually control.” Ha! Think about it. Given the world we live in today, could they be right? “Swap ‘Let’s think about it’ for ‘Let’s decide on it.’” Uncommon sense at it’s smartest! “Focus on what won’t change.” Hmmm, now you’re thinking. While you may not agree with everything the authors propose, I guarantee you will pause to think. And their fast-paced almost irreverent style keeps you turning the pages.
So there you have it: Five catalysts to a fresh perspective. Five books that have nothing to do with selling yet have everything to do with your success. As a sales person. As a business leader. As a human being.
[ctt title=” Five books that have nothing to do with selling yet have everything to do with your success. As a sales person. As a business leader. As a human being. ” tweet=”Five books that have nothing to do with selling yet have everything to do with your success. As a sales person. As a business leader. As a human being. via @JillsalesSHIFT #salesSHIFT http://bit.ly/2FBOynF” coverup=”6Zpew”]
I am always looking to add to my library. So if you have a book that has spurred your growth as a member of the human race please share with all of us in the comments below.
