Here`s how to create wisdom and wealth -- today

They say wisdom comes with age. And one`s income generally increases with that greater wisdom. But the good news is you don`t have to wait for your 90s to realize greater wisdom and, therefore, a greater income.

What`s the one room that multimillion-dollar homes have that more modest homes don`t? A library.

The wise understand the way they got the multimillion-dollar home was by investing. But not in the stock market. Instead, they invested in the most important thing -- increasing their knowledge. I am convinced that wisdom produces wealth.

I am shocked to learn most sales people have never read one sales book cover to cover. I believe part of the reason is that sales people can acquire the title of salesperson just by accepting a job -- not by earning it. This is what makes the positions so appealing for some. Professions such as finance and medicine, thanks goodness, have certification programs that chart and ensure the necessary learning curve.

Don`t get me wrong. The best sales people embrace learning. When you ask top-performing sales professionals which sales books they`ve read, they usually can cite dozens or maybe even hundreds of books.

The best answer was from a job candidate I was asked to interview. I asked which sales books he`d read in his career. His answer was "I`ve read almost any sales book I could get my hands on."

I quizzed him further and asked for three of his favorite books and why he ranked them so high. He passed with flying colors -- and, yes, he got the job.

Here are some ways to speed up your pursuit of wisdom:

• Invest in yourself. In most professions, you need to invest in tools of the trade. To be a carpenter, you have to buy a hammer, drill and screwdrivers. In sales, your most powerful tools are your brain, your attitude and your skills.
• Set a weekly or monthly learning goal. My monthly learning goal is to read one book that will help my career in some way, one book to help my family and one just for fun.
• Make friends with your public library this week. When I was a new mom, I loved taking my sons to the library. First we`d make a stop at the business section. I`d grab some books for myself and then head for the children`s section. As my sons crawled around, I`d skim my books, deciding which ones to check out.

Once you`ve found the books you really like, buy them and start building your own library.

• Use your commute time wisely. Listen to CDs you`ve picked up in the library that will improve your attitude and skills.
• Subscribe to at least one business or industry publication. In addition to picking up great tips and techniques, you can also pick up a bunch of prospect leads. Carry these publications with you in your bag or briefcase. Waiting in line or at your doctor`s office will go much more quickly, and you`re killing two birds with one stone.
• Read newspapers. This will allow you to stay informed.
  

   

QUICKINFO

IN PURSUIT OF WISDOM

• Invest in yourself. In sales, your most powerful tools are your brain, your attitude and your skills.
• Set a weekly or monthly learning goal.
• Make friends with your public library.
• Use your commute time wisely. Listen to CDs you`ve picked up in the library that will improve your attitude and skills.
• Subscribe to at least one business or industry publication. Carry these publications with you.
• Read newspapers to stay informed.
  
  

  Continue to make this the best day ever!
  
  Won`t Be Denied!
  C.F. Jackson
  
  Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

There`s a story in today`s news about 7 years of information on laptops in grade schools. It turns out that after spending millions of dollars, New York school systems found absolutely zero improvement in the educational levels of any students, based on their in-class use of laptop computers.

One of the quotes I read indicated that the ability to think is disappearing. That`s actually the ONLY reason we have an educational system. It isn`t about pumping children`s heads full of facts and figures. We`re supposedly teaching them how to use their brain to think, be creative, discover solutions, and make connections.

Using a computer offers a 1-click solution to finding answers. But real life doesn`t work in mouse-clicks. When a possible buyer starts asking questions, they`re not interested in waiting while you do a Google search for the answer. They`re not interested to hear, "I`ll get back to you with that." They want answers.

Reading anything seems to be a down-moving trend these days. Yet libraries seem to also be prospering and growing. SOMEone is doing a lot of reading, using the reference desks, and otherwise using a library. Who? Why?

Modern society wants the "instant fix." People want instant gratification. Yet at the same time, many stores are removing sales people with any product knowledge at all. It costs too much, apparently. Web sites routinely have horrible writing, bad copy, and confounding navigation.

Wisdom is certainly useful, and it comes by joining knowledge with experience. But another aspect of wisdom is in learning *empathy.* That`s the ability to imagine what it is to be in someone else`s mind and life.

Reading offers a way to enter into other minds, to experience a life far removed from one`s own. Since good sales skills rely almost completely on knowledge and empathy, it stands to reason that anything that would enhance one`s empathy skills also would improve one`s sales abilities.

The skills necessary for success come from an understanding of the self.

What is your purpose? Why were you created? What is your role in life?

Once we understand who we are, and what our purpose is, then and only then can we be the best we can be. If we learn to love the self, we can love others and be loved by others.

This may seem difficult to some at first glance, but our purpose here is to love one another as we love ourselves. If we are into sales, then we should bring to the marketplace that which we would want for ourselves. We can study sales books, take all kinds of courses, but without a true belief in what we offer we will miss success every time. That is not to say we won`t have temporary successes, but a fulfilling life will be missed; and the chosen career will be short lived.

Why is it that so few understand the reason that although we live in one of the richest countries in the world, by the time we reach the age of 65, 95% of us will be dead or broke.

There is a very simple rule that will guarantee you success: "Give and you shall receive".

I have joined a group of like thinkers that have been able to retire in a few short weeks of employing this simple truism; and you can too.

All that you need is two others that believe in this principle and you can retire by next week! You plus two. That`s it!

Sounds simple; it is simple, yet you will find it almost impossible to do because most of us don`t know two people that love us as they love themselves.

The people you know, believe it or not, really don`t want you to have as much as they have. We have been raised to compete rather than cooperate. That`s what is meant by keeping up with the Joneses.

The group I belong to numbers 35,000 and is scattered throughout the world in 16 countries. We offer financial freedom to all that join us. The only requirement is that you find two others that believe in "Give and you shall receive" and that they will also find just two others who believe the same.

Edited by DavidC - May 07, 2007 at 2:18am