One of the first training tools in the Cumulus On-Line Training Library is an audio tape from Earl Nightingale called the Strangest Secret. It’s always fun to ask a group of sellers if they have listened to the audio and they all enthusiastically raise their hands. But then I throw them the zinger. I ask if anyone can tell me what the strangest secret is? In almost every case, the sellers just look at me like I just arrived from outer space. Sure they listened to the tape but they didn’t retain even the most basic idea.
In a nutshell, Earl Nightingale says the strangest secret is "you become what you think about". If you get up and think negative thoughts, things will turn out negative. If you think positive thoughts, things will turn out positive. In his audio, Earl suggests you write down on a 3X5 index card the one thing you want more than anything else in the world. Then carry the card around and think about what you’ve written. The more you think about it, the more likely you will achieve your goal. It’s not about fake positive thinking. It’s about honest thinking on a singular goal.
Earlier in January, I had some market visits planned where I was going to be doing some training. So I wrote down on a 3X5 card the one thing I wanted more than anything else. When I was conducting the training I would wave the 3X5 card around. I wouldn’t tell anyone what was on it unless they asked. I told the story about how all of my big achievements in life came from being focused on a singular goal.
So let me tell you the rest of the story.
I wrote on my 3X5 card "I want to be financially secure enough to build a nature sanctuary on my farm". I have a beautiful farm near Topeka. There is a state lake on the south property line, a Boy Scout camp ground to the east and the school district nature preserve to the west. I’m right in the middle of it all. There is deer, turkey, quail, hawks, owls and even a bob cat or two. You even see a bald eagle every now and then down by the lake. Sorry hunters, no leases available here. I like to build bird houses for blue birds and brush piles for the quail. I really like being on my farm. But being in Atlanta during the week makes it very difficult to have any quality time back in Kansas.
I started carrying this 3X5 card around with me and I would look at it while I was traveling or in between flights. As I looked at the card I realized something was wrong with my goal. So I modified my goal. I changed it to "I want to be financially secure enough to build a nature sanctuary on my farm". I decided that "be financially secure enough" was a qualifier that might never be met. I figured that would always be an excuse not to move forward.
So what do you know, I’ve been wanting to spend more time doing things like this and all of a sudden, the Topeka job opens up. It’s the strangest secret.
Maybe it’s time to go back and have a sales meeting on the Strangest Secret.
Talk to you soon.
