When I emailed Ken last week to tell him that I was leaving my “business” to focus on the two things I love (my art and this website), he said that this weeks article (last weeks oops) was going to be secretly dedicated to me….well I guess not secret since I am telling you all but….I LOVE IT! My journey to the place where I am has involved a few Jerry Maguire moments… because when I first left recruiting I didn’t have any clue what I was going to be doing but I knew it would be something! The last couple of years has been a tough, exciting, crazy, TOUGH and interesting journey to discovering who I am not only in my career but in life and now that I feel like the lightbulb has finally been turned on, I am nothing short of EXCITED!!  I definitely agree with this movie in the sense that if you follow your heart the money will come and once you figure that out…it’s really difficult to do anything just for money. Trust me, I have tried and being a passionate person doesn’t get you far when you are trying to do something you are not passionate about for money!!   I now feel like I can definitely relate to Jerry and his “ah ha” moment and am simplifying my whole life to make a go at what my heart is telling me I need to be doing! I am not scared…..I am ready and I am going to enjoy it every step of the way! Lot’s of people have told me…it’s not just about getting to your goal, it’s about the journey along the way!! Thanks for thinking of me Ken! I know you more than anyone get all of this!! -Julia

Ken sent me this clip when I told him my big news! haha LOVE IT!!

“That’s How You Become Great Man”…..

What is the one movie you will always watch when channel surfing on a Saturday afternoon?   For me, it is “Jerry Maguire”.

Many years ago(1996) while taking inventory in the back room of the men’s shoe department at the Nordstrom in Towson, MD, the Assistant Manager Marisio told me I reminded him of Jerry Maguire.   I had not seen the movie, so I really did not know what he meant.   Now that I have seen the movie hundreds of times, I can say it is one of the greatest compliments I have received.

As the movie unfolds, Jerry states “I ate two pieces of bad pizza, went to bed and got a conscience”.   This line has proved inspirational to me over the years as it governs me frequently during sales calls.   Often, new accounts(and especially new stores) get excited when they see product and they commit a cardinal sin of retail: they buy with the heart and not their head.   We have all seen this far too often.   Of course I would like a big order, but I always to try to think in terms of what is best for the client which is of course, the foundation of what the movie is based on.   Jerry operates in an environment of always striving for the “big order” instead of doing what is right.   I realize this is hard to do when you need to make the numbers for your boss.   Jerry knew this and went into business for himself.   When he announced that he was leaving and asked for people to go with him to start a new venture, only person left with him – Dorothy Boyd.   Was it a risk?   Was it dumb?   Was it un-safe?   Probably, but Jerry and Dorothy were concerned with conscience versus commerce.   Jerry knew(or at least reasoned) that if he followed his heart and his conscience, the money would follow.  

My other favorite line from the movie comes when Jerry goes to the copy mat in the middle of the night to print his “mission statement”.  The statement is based on fewer clients but a more personal relationship with each.  The employee that did the copying for him says “thats how you become great man, hang your balls out there”.   Fabulous line!    How many of us want greatness but won’t hang our (proverbial) balls out there”?   How many of us think but do not act?  How many of us just do what we are told, because we do not want to make waves?   Head down…follow the rules…and do what you are supposed to do.   One word – most!

One of the first trade shows I attended after starting Twig was a kids show in Chicago, IL.   I was nervous, excited and apprehensive.   I remember an older salesperson who had worked for me at my previous company(and now worked at another company) came into my booth.  He looked at the shoes and asked me a few questions: “What are the prices”?   “What are your minimums”?   “Will you sell off of your own website”?   I answered him honestly and he said “Well, you will never make it.   Your prices are too high, your minimums are too low, and you must sell off of your own site to balance your margins”.   My response to him was completely out of character for me.   I said to Hal “Get the F— out of my booth”!   He immediately went on the defensive saying “Whoa..why are you getting so upset”?   I was upset(and I told him this)  because only a small man would step on the dreams of another man while trying to reach for greatness.  Hal – in the ultimate case of karma – got fired two weeks after the show and has not been in the shoe business since.

Jerry’s fiance Avery called him a loser.   Jerry’s boss laughed at Jerry when he got fired.   In the end, Jerry set up his own business and ran it the way he wanted to.   He may not have made the same bank as he was making at the agency, but he fulfilled an obligation to himself.    

Ken Proctor
Twig Footwear, LLC
Ken@twigfootwear.com
www.twigfootwear.com
832-748-1865