Editor’s note: Now if this doesn’t expand my readership, I don’t know what. Who doesn’t want to get ahead in life?
How to Get Ahead in Life
Where I work we sell copiers. It’s a large place – we do a large business, with a big sign on top – and almost no walk-in customers. In fact, people rarely call us up to inquire about a copier. Now and then, someone new with very small needs, will inquire via the internet. But basically, no matter how prominent your dealership is, or how big your sign, in order to sell a copier you have to go find a prospect and meet with them. Our equipment costs a lot, and has proven to be quite popular. But it doesn’t sell itself. This is the first rule of advancement in life: Nothing sells itself. Somebody has to tell somebody else about it. You want something? You have to tell someone that. You have to ask people to do something, if only, “look at my stuff.” Nothing sells itself.
Then, whether selling myself or a copier, someone has to buy. And to get that person to buy, you have to go to them. They rarely come to you, which means that to get ahead in life you’re probably going to have to travel. Bob Dylan didn’t stay in Hibbing, Minnesota. Bob Dylan had to get to New York where they were buying what he was producing. If you have an exclusive product to offer, statistically it just makes sense that whoever needs it will be somewhere else than right across the street, especially in Hibbing. You’re going to have to travel. Maybe you’re lucky, and your prospect is just downtown.
When I visited New York City some years ago, what surprised me was how small some of the famous spots were. Greenwich Village was truly ‘village’ sized. Little Italy was, indeed, ‘little’. And yet these spots marked the ground zeroes from where numbers of artistic movements and cultural icons have originated. This (plus some reading I have done) causes me to state another truth which is, that the leading creative activity happens within a fairly small radius; within a very small clan. There are companies who employ large numbers of people, most of whom use our copiers. But it is a very small number of people who actually determine whether it is our copier they will purchase. Decisions about your future are made by a very small clutch of people who live and work and pass their time within a very small radius. And you have to find them and get in with them if you want to become a part of it all; if you want to get close enough to grab the gold ring.
As Woody Allen noted, “eighty percent of life is showing up”. He meant that you had to have the work done and ready to go. But it also means, that you are there where the work is done. So if you’re a musician and you’re in the recording studio, even if you’re not employed as a musician, you’re ready in case they need another horn, or if they are trying to think of a musician to call. As noted above, you’re within the radius. Kris Kristofferson started emptying ashtrays and sweeping up at Columbia Studios in Nashville. When you ‘show up’ there is the possibility of something happening. You want to date that special girl? You first concern is to be nearby, to give her the sense that you’re already somebody within her community, who she might speak with, who she has ‘seen around’. Show up. Be there!
All of this advice will work whether you wish to get ahead in a big way, or just in the smaller way of the day to day, especially this last trick: Be of help. You want something from someone, be it recognition, attention, respect or whatever – being of help is an excellent way to start. First, it’s a nice thing to do. And second, it markets to the person’s needs.
Wherever a person needs help is a place where that person is a prospect. And if you fill that need, there’s a good chance they’ll make a little purchase. And this works with anyone whether it be a wife or a child or a boss or even someone you don’t know as yet. You want to gain your wife’s attention? Do something she needs doing on a regular basis. You want to make sure your son obeys? Help him to do something he’s interested in but doesn’t know a lot about. They will come to rely on you. And people recognize and respect the persons who they need and depend upon. So be of help. Help to advance someone else and they may advance you.
(One caveat here: A little discrimination is in order here. Be sure that person stands within a circle you would like to share. They might be in a circle you are trying to get out of…! Screen your prospects. Otherwise, you might not feel better. Not screening their prospects is how ‘nice guys finish last’. ‘Caveat helpor’: Let the helper beware.)
Motivational Posters by Carl Nelson and available at: http://www.imagekind.com/artists/carlnelson/MotivationalPosters/fine-art-prints
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