Reinventing yourself

No doubt about it. Times are changing. And the last presidential election not withstanding, people are resistant to change.

But for many people today they have no choice but to change. The media is changing. The economy is changing. People's lifestyles are changing.

How do we change as well?

I thought about this this weekend with the release of the new Ron Howard film " Angels and Demons."

This intense drama stars Tom Hanks and was produced and directed by Ron Howard. It was the number one box office attraction this weekend.

Tom Hanks who started his career dressing up as a woman in "Bosom Buddies" and Ron Howard known as "Opie" and "Richie Cunningham." Neither of these debuts would lead anyone to believe the great things that lied ahead for either of these men.

Tom Hanks, who co-starred with a dog in " Turner and Hooch" took some career risks. The same guy that starred in "Bachelor Party" also starred in "Saving Private Ryan" and "Philadelphia."

And Opie could have stayed typecast and become another child star tragedy. But he wouldn't let that happen. He started directing. And while people remember such hits as "A Beautiful Mind" and "Cinderella Man" don't forget he also directed such forgettable classics as " Grand Theft Auto" and "Cads, Cards, Guns, Gore, and Death."

My point is you must periodically reinvent yourself and take some chances. You must find a project you believe in and give it your best shot. You can't rest on your past accomplishments.

Don't rest on your laurels. Don't think " That's not the way we used to do it." As the old song goes.. "Take your passion and make it happen." Look at your current environment and adjust the old ways to adapt to the new paradigms.

Don't react to change, but enact change.

Take chances. Embrace the new world. You won't always succeed but you never know. You could have a hit that is bigger than you could have ever imagined.

Keep It Fresh

I'm going to go see Elton John and Billy Joel tonight in concert. These are two guys that have been playing the same songs for decades. It would be real easy for each of them to get on stage and just go through the motions.

But the reason they sold out an 18,000 seat venue in a flash is because the audience knows that when Billy Joel sings "My Life" or when Elton sings "Your Song" it will be sung with the same enthusiasm as if it was sung 35 years ago.

They have also switched things up a bit by touring together again to make it fresh and different for them and for the audience.

How does this apply to you in sales?

How many times have you given the same presentation? After a while you start to go through the motions. In your mind you start to think about your grocery list, while you are mouthing the words to your pitch. Your pitch loses it's punch if you just say the words without the passion.

Focus. Keep it Fresh. Just like the concert tonight, it may be the 75,000th time that they have sung the songs, but it's the first time most in the audience have heard them live.

Sing your song like it's the first time EVERY time.

I've Gone International!

Recently I spoke with Shelly Holmes an Australian journalist and business expert. We spoke about how every great leader has to have show business skills. It was a fun interview to do. I hope you enjoy it. Listen Here.

Warren Buffett SuperStar!

I just spent the weekend at the Berkshire Hathaway meeting in Omaha with over 35,000 of my closet friends. Here I am at a Friday Night book signing event.

People were lined up at 5 in the morning waiting for doors to open at 6 for a presentation that doesn't begin until noon. Then people sat for hours listening to what Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger had to say.

Now granted, when you are one of the richest men in the world you will automatically command attention. But not THAT kind of attention unless you are entertaining them as well as educating them.

The meeting starts off with a humorous video, and then for hours Warren and Charlie charm the crowd with humor and information that is relevant to the audience.

The biggest rock stars can't get that many people in one room and hold their attention that long. Warren Buffett is truly a rock star. The people left that meeting feeling good about their investment in Berkshire Hathaway. Feeling good about Warren Buffett. And feeling better about their economic future.

Can you imagine over 35,000 people lining up for hours to hear a sales speech? Because that's what it was. It was a presentation to sell the Warren Buffett brand. It was a sales pitch to reassure the investors to stay with Berkshire Hathaway. It was a sales show for Dairy Queen, Geico, Fruit of the Loom and all the other Berkshire Companies.

Make sure that when your customers leave your sales presentations that they feel better then when it started. Entertain and inform them.