Any New Books Recently???

[OttoGraf]

One of the things I take for granted far too often in this line of work (esp. if you're a road warrior) is the opportunity we have to consume a vast amount of audio learning, encouragement etc. I do better with this in different seasons, but during baseball it's hard to pull away from mind-numbing sports talk radio.

Anyhow, I recently went back and listed to some old John Maxwell stuff on leadership and really got a kick in the pants! He basically infers that leadership is "influence" and that got me evaluating myself as to what type of influence I am and what types people (influences) do I surround myself around. To put it another way, what value do I provide others and do I intentionally run in circles that add value to me?

I immediately drew the connection to what we do without having to strain too hard. Probably the most common value proposition we see around here is "who can make me rich the fastest" and while comp should be an important consideration I'm not so sure it should reign supreme.

There are other fundamentally important value pieces that good leadership can provide such as reoccurring evaluation/training, positive feedback and providing platforms for other potential leaders to grow their skills (This one really stands out to me. I believe it's inevitable that the top agents in our circles are going to get bored and fizzle out sooner than later if they are not given opportunities to be a part of the organization in more impactful ways.) In fact, I feel strongly that creatively finding ways to have members of our individual teams feel like they are contributing to the overall success of the organization is paramount to the longterm health of the organization. After all, there's such a minute percentage of agents that make it long term (even as killer salesman) because it's a lonely grinding profession imo.

So those were the thoughts that came to me and were a challenge to me personally as I am exploring ways to serve other agents well. In addition though, as I know we have hundreds of unregistered users here lurking, the other question is what value do you add to your team? As a part of the kick in the pants for me I was reminded that those who just suck the organization dry and provide nothing in return fizzle out and jump around from ship to ship anyhow.

I'd love to look back at the end of the day and of course be able to say that I was successful personally, but even more, I'd really get deep joy knowing I brought as many as I could along the journey with me and ultimately saw them surpass my triumphs not only in business, but many other more important areas of life frankly.

Welp that's my long two cents. I also wanted to see if ya'll have read anything recently that challenged you to get your crap in gear or change your frame of mind?!?!

 

[indiana260]

One of the things I take for granted far too often in this line of work (esp. if you're a road warrior) is the opportunity we have to consume a vast amount of audio learning, encouragement etc. I do better with this in different seasons, but during baseball it's hard to pull away from mind-numbing sports talk radio.

Anyhow, I recently went back and listed to some old John Maxwell stuff on leadership and really got a kick in the pants! He basically infers that leadership is "influence" and that got me evaluating myself as to what type of influence I am and what types people (influences) do I surround myself around. To put it another way, what value do I provide others and do I intentionally run in circles that add value to me?

I immediately drew the connection to what we do without having to strain too hard. Probably the most common value proposition we see around here is "who can make me rich the fastest" and while comp should be an important consideration I'm not so sure it should reign supreme.

There are other fundamentally important value pieces that good leadership can provide such as reoccurring evaluation/training, positive feedback and providing platforms for other potential leaders to grow their skills (This one really stands out to me. I believe it's inevitable that the top agents in our circles are going to get bored and fizzle out sooner than later if they are not given opportunities to be a part of the organization in more impactful ways.) In fact, I feel strongly that creatively finding ways to have members of our individual teams feel like they are contributing to the overall success of the organization is paramount to the longterm health of the organization. After all, there's such a minute percentage of agents that make it long term (even as killer salesman) because it's a lonely grinding profession imo.

So those were the thoughts that came to me and were a challenge to me personally as I am exploring ways to serve other agents well. In addition though, as I know we have hundreds of unregistered users here lurking, the other question is what value do you add to your team? As a part of the kick in the pants for me I was reminded that those who just suck the organization dry and provide nothing in return fizzle out and jump around from ship to ship anyhow.

I'd love to look back at the end of the day and of course be able to say that I was successful personally, but even more, I'd really get deep joy knowing I brought as many as I could along the journey with me and ultimately saw them surpass my triumphs not only in business, but many other more important areas of life frankly.

Welp that's my long two cents. I also wanted to see if ya'll have read anything recently that challenged you to get your crap in gear or change your frame of mind?!?!

Think and Grow Rich.

Good book. The crazy thing is it was written close to 100yrs ago and nothing has changed

 

[Glen Shelton]

One of the things I take for granted far too often in this line of work (esp. if you're a road warrior) is the opportunity we have to consume a vast amount of audio learning, encouragement etc. I do better with this in different seasons, but during baseball it's hard to pull away from mind-numbing sports talk radio.

Anyhow, I recently went back and listed to some old John Maxwell stuff on leadership and really got a kick in the pants! He basically infers that leadership is "influence" and that got me evaluating myself as to what type of influence I am and what types people (influences) do I surround myself around. To put it another way, what value do I provide others and do I intentionally run in circles that add value to me?

I immediately drew the connection to what we do without having to strain too hard. Probably the most common value proposition we see around here is "who can make me rich the fastest" and while comp should be an important consideration I'm not so sure it should reign supreme.

There are other fundamentally important value pieces that good leadership can provide such as reoccurring evaluation/training, positive feedback and providing platforms for other potential leaders to grow their skills (This one really stands out to me. I believe it's inevitable that the top agents in our circles are going to get bored and fizzle out sooner than later if they are not given opportunities to be a part of the organization in more impactful ways.) In fact, I feel strongly that creatively finding ways to have members of our individual teams feel like they are contributing to the overall success of the organization is paramount to the longterm health of the organization. After all, there's such a minute percentage of agents that make it long term (even as killer salesman) because it's a lonely grinding profession imo.

So those were the thoughts that came to me and were a challenge to me personally as I am exploring ways to serve other agents well. In addition though, as I know we have hundreds of unregistered users here lurking, the other question is what value do you add to your team? As a part of the kick in the pants for me I was reminded that those who just suck the organization dry and provide nothing in return fizzle out and jump around from ship to ship anyhow.

I'd love to look back at the end of the day and of course be able to say that I was successful personally, but even more, I'd really get deep joy knowing I brought as many as I could along the journey with me and ultimately saw them surpass my triumphs not only in business, but many other more important areas of life frankly.

Welp that's my long two cents. I also wanted to see if ya'll have read anything recently that challenged you to get your crap in gear or change your frame of mind?!?!

... Besides my book

I would highly recommend The 4 Hr Work Week by Tim Ferris.

 

[nfl72]

For the typical FE crowd I would recommend

Mad Magazine

the "only way to get a head" article was a very eye opening experience and would be very helpful for most agents.

 

[Rearden]

Atlas Shrugged, audio version to listen in your car.

 

[NSRH]

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/rel...d=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP4783&k_clickid=3x4783

 

[JimmyUt]

Atlas Shrugged, audio version to listen in your car.

I should have gone that route. The paperback was brutally long

 

[scagnt83]

"Fred Factor". Great book to give perspective on both life and work. Its actually required reading for stock traders at a few big name funds.

 

[Rivers1]

Anything Grant Cardone you can't go wrong. Checkout Shad Helmstetter's "what to say when you talk to yourself" and "the power of neuroplasticity", both excellent. My newest read and recommendation is from Mel Robbins, "the 5 second rule" is a gem.

 

[PA Bill]

A great book I read recently is one I got for my son. It's called "the Mental Abc's of Pitching" by the late sports psychologist H.A Dorfman, who worked extensively with guys like Roy Halladay. If you've ever pitched, you know how mentally stressful it can be. As a kid, I remember excellent Dodgers pitcher Burt Hooton literally start crying on the mound during a particularly stressful playoff game against the Phillies.

The book is all about staying focused and mentally balanced regardless of circumstances the pitcher has no control over and merely focusing on what he can control, the next pitch. Pitchers often lose it over stuff like bad umpires, errors behind them, etc. Don't we salespeople often lose it over stuff we can't control (fill in your own examples)? Remember one word above all else, "Next". No sense chasing or fretting over water that has already passed under the bridge.

p.s.- My son really took to this book and the concepts have helped him tremendously. It was a revelation to him as he remarked, "Dad, this stuff is SO true!". To make a long story longer, "Keep those blinders on"!