I loved Chris Farley and watched his motivational SNL skit over and over when I was younger, so when Ken referred to it yesterday when we were discussing topics, I was cracking up. So funny!! Enthusiasm is probably one of the most important traits in this business because if you are excited about what you are doing then people will be excited too! You can’t fake enthusiasm easily, so people believe it and have a tendency to give you a shot based on your passion and excitement alone…I have had that happen to me several times. If you haven’t noticed….I tend to be pretty enthusiastic about the things I am interested in. I just comes naturally!! So, the important thing here is to surround yourself with the people you believe in, a career you love and product that you actually would buy! I know, I know, I make it sound easy….nothing comes easy but if you take steps in the right direction you will find yourself in a good place faster than you realize!! I am walking proof of that! -Julia

The Importance of Enthusiasm

Many years ago when I was a National Sales Manager at Ecco, I received a call from an enthusiastic gentleman named John.   He owned a pair of Ecco’s and he just loved them.   So much in fact, that he wanted a job with the brand.   I asked John where he was working at the time and he told me “Modern Woodman”.   I had never heard of that company and I asked what kind of footwear they make.   He responded “they sell insurance, not footwear”.   I asked if John had any shoe experience or road experience of which he had neither.   As far as I was concerned, the phone call was over.   I did not have a position for someone with no prior experience in the industry.

The next week, John called back.   I had just landed in Orlando and was waiting on my luggage.   John told me that he felt certain he could sell the brand because of his love of his own Ecco’s.  He asked me if he could meet with me and I told him I was in Orlando and would not be back at the office until the end of the week.   “How about dinner tomorrow evening so we can get to know each other”?   I asked him where he lived and he said Virginia.   I told him that I would not pay for him to fly down tomorrow for a dinner meeting.   He told me that he did not expect me to and that if I agreed to meet him, he would drive himself at his expense.   I told him that this was not necessary and that I would meet him the following week at my office.   We met, and I offered him the job.   He got the job because of his enthusiasm!

I read Sheena’s “rant” last week about her biggest pet peeve – people who are negative.   I totally agree!   My former sales manager used to classify people into two categories: “energy supplier” or “energy drainer”.   When we would review our sales forces’ performance, we always lumped the force into these two groups.  Without exception, the suppliers always had the better results. 

 Enthusiasm is contagious!  Passion persuades.  I can tell you this is true from my own first hand experience.   I can also tell you that attitude is contagious – good or bad.

So – which category do you fall into?  Supplier or drainer?

Ken Proctor

Front Man

Twig Footwear, LLC

Ken@twigfootwear.com

www.twigfootwear.com