A Clear Vision Helps With The Potholes

By Author: Jack Daly
Total Articles: 2
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Hi, this is Jack Daly, and I wanted to share some thoughts about the importance of vision in one’s life whether we’re talking about you in your role as an owner or entrepreneur, whether you’re a sales person, whether you’re aspiring to be a top salesperson, or whether you’re talking about any dimension in life. The importance of having an understanding of what your vision is, of what the end zone is is absolutely critical in sustaining through the challenges that you will surely encounter along the way.

As many of you know, I am a long distance endurance athlete participating in many, many marathons and of recent note participating in the triathlon sport specifically Ironman. And to date I have successfully completed eight Ironmans in eight countries, and the most recent Ironman that I did was in South Africa. Now I don’t know anybody that participates in these long endurance sports that doesn’t encounter some type of pothole, speed bump, hurdle along the way. They’re always out there whether you’re at the pro level or whether you’re at the so-to-speak rookie level.

Well the same holds ...
... true for us as a sales person. Winning new customers and growing the ones we have or leading an organization as an owner, CEO, entrepreneur. There definitely are going to be challenges. There are going to be potholes, and what will sustain you through those hurdles and challenges quite frankly is a very, very clear picture of what it is that you’re trying to build, because that is magnetic and compelling. And I’ll tell you as an owner of a business in particular share it, share it, share it with everybody that you work with so that they can help you achieve that vision.

Well back to South Africa. When I started that race, I had a vision of the end zone, and the end zone looked like this. This is me finishing Ironman South Africa looking fit, looking strong, and I’ll tell you what, looking celebratory. And this is that vision I plant in my head before the gun goes off before the race takes place, and we’ve got a long journey ahead of us that day before we’re going to finish.

Well along the way we hit the potholes, and during the run portion of the Ironman, a professional photographer came along and snapped me in running form. [Laughter] I say that because this doesn’t look like the celebratory fit guy that I had a vision of at the end of that Ironman. But what got me through this was I understood even then when I’m giving thought to throwing in the towel and quitting, what really, really pulled me through this tough stage was that vision. That vision of crossing the finish line with so many people cheering you on. Then throwing that medal around your neck and saying gosh darn it I did this thing. And we as business people can learn so much from that dimension of life.

Again, a clearly articulated vision, very, very visual for you. Share it with other people so they can help you in your journey, and I’m looking for you to have a platform position in your journey as a business person. Hopefully this was helpful.

Jack Daly has 20 years experience in Sales Training Courses specializing in Sales Management workshops and sales training courses.