I was ask yesterday how I got into sales.

Really, we are all in sales. We sold someone to hire us, we sold our spouse into marrying us, we sold a used car, convinced someone to do something for us. We are all selling in some form every day.

Yet what really got me into the business? Well, I was sold of course!

It was Randy Shurtz (SP) that managed a RadioShack in NW Topeka. I was bagging groceries in the business next door and was always in checking out the latest electronics. One day he told me he wanted me to work for him. It may be cocky, however that hiring decision (Along with some others) eventually got him promoted. Not sure what Randy ended up doing, I know he ended up with Comp USA (That did not end well) other than that, I am sure he is in sales somewhere.

So, I suppose in some way I am saying thanks for that day some 15 plus years ago. (PS I am sure I would have broke out of the bagging groceries business)

The dark is near.

In less than a week the time falls back one hour. That means it will be dark when I get home. Bummer. It also means that it will be dark when I go to work. This tends to be depressing not only for me but for many. I must get into the work out routine to keep my energy up. Well and lets face it, my weight down.

Here in KS we have had an extremely cold fall. It seems like I have spend most of October inside. Usually that does not start till November, it could be a long winter. I find it easy to hibernate during this time.

Have you really thought about speed of information?

You know, when I was in HS and College, speed of answers were calling, the library or a text book. Today it is measured in milliseconds. All you have to do is Google it. I can look up more in an hour than I could in a semester. It can be done with a PC, Laptop or smart phone.

There does seem to be a digital divide. Those who think in terms of Googling things and those who do not have this as a first thought. What immediate too quick for you?

I would rather be beat down than beat up.

Here is what that means to me;

I would rather be beat down from being too aggressive, working too hard or going too far, than being beat up because I was not doing enough, getting the job done or just not pushing the limits.

It is easy to ask forgiveness for doing too much. Hard to get it if you have not done enough.

This may seem obvious.

However the more we work with the sames people and groups, sometimes the obvious is not as obvious as we think. We spend a lot of time doing procedures not really thinking why. So next time you find yourself working on something that may be wasted. Ask why you do it. Propose a better way. You might find out that no one else knows why you are doing it either!

We did it.

Caden and I survived a week. No explosions, fires or other disasters. Only one small lunch issue.

Although it is hard to get used to having a boss around again.

We made it till Friday !

Caden and I are still doing well! We have made it to school on time or early every day, I have not forgot to pick him up and I even managed to pick up the cookie dough order.

We have even managed to have dinner every night. OK sure we only cooked on Wednesday, however we will call this the eating out in Hays stimulus package.

On a different note, it continues to amaze me how you are trying to make offers to help people and they cannot get past the fact that you might be trying to sell them something, screw them over or take advantage of them. It was interesting further that some of these people wont event take 1 minute to listen to you.

Their loss. I think the important lesson is to make sure that I don't do the same thing.