Business is About People
I read a lot of recycled news. Every day, there’s a new happening regarding Amazon, ecommerce, another retailer closing…..the list goes on. And while I like keeping up, social media is challenging for me because so many folks post the same articles, as if to imply: “Have you seen this?” Occasionally, there will be a reaction or opinion, which I’m much more likely to respond to. At the end of the day, though, the news is the news, and most of us aren’t in a position to offer any real insight.
I share this because I recently started a new job, and in the spirit of originality, decided to pen a few thoughts that you won’t read elsewhere on the internet. With change comes reflection, and while things have changed quite a bit since my last transition, a central theme keeps popping up in everything I do.
Business is about people.
I started my first job out of college working for Kellogg’s in Salt Lake City, UT. Only a few days in, I had a customer list of the people I was supposed to call on, but that was about it. After my first week, I got a call from my manager who outlined the upcoming weeks of my training and then asked me what I had been up to. “I just got back from an account,” I told him. Somewhat shocked, he started to respond but let me finish. “I figured the best way to sell something to someone is to get to know them first, so that’s what I did.” No training, no collateral, no strategy. It was an amateur move, but it came from the heart.
Steve Kiyan was my manager at the time. He was the perfect teacher; literally, a guy who thrived on pumping up my strengths, calling out my weaknesses, and most importantly, encouraging me to develop a “sales style” based on the very root of who I was.
I later moved to Los Angeles, where my “style” was further challenged. Competition was fierce and unforgiving. To be there and not “know thyself” was a sure ticket to failure.
I spent the next four years in Chicago working for seasoned veterans, Mike Steiner and Mark Spliethoff. Instead of going suit & tie to my first ever meeting with an 8 figure account, we met them on a lake, in a pontoon boat, and ate BBQ. Could the relationship have blossomed had we met in a boardroom? Sure. But we didn’t do that. I watched those guys interact at trade shows, host big meetings, and handle pressure situations with poise. Steve had helped me build a foundation; these guys added polish.
As I start fresh, I certainly don’t know everything there is to know about ecommerce, business, or anything for that matter. I’m learning our systems, our culture, and the priorities of the company. And yet, I’m so excited because I can look back at my stops and sincerely appreciate the coaching, mentorship, and friendship that I’ve been offered. If I can provide even a sliver of that to others, I will feel accomplished.
Make your business about the people. It’s the tried and true way of never getting lost in the noise.
#ecommerce, #sales, #business, #strategy, #amazon, #management, #entrepreneurship, #leadershipdevelopment
