I have been absolutely obsessed with reading recently. I currently have 40 items out and 3 on request from the library. I have books on sales, on business, on selling myself, multiple streams of income…..oh, and the Walking Dead. Last night I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited about my business and reading. I carefully got out of bed, used my phone as a flashlight, grabbed about 4 books and went upstairs. I pretty much inhaled The Sandler Rules adapted by David Mattson. Holy. Cow!

It’s crazy how much I’ve changed in the last week or so….it was mostly triggered by two things….first the Strengths Finder 2.0 by David Roth…where I learned what my strengths were (I highly recommend this book! I can’t stop talking about it to my friends!) One thing was that I get energy from helping people. After just two days doing some demo and painting at the new K&B space as well as chatting with Bridget’s husband Chris, I felt like new. It lit a fire in my soul that has not been put out since.

I also read a truly inspiring story in Superstar Sales by Rick Conlow and Doug Watsabaugh.

Cliff Miedl, a 20-year-old plumber’s apprentice, accidentally drove his jackhammer through three high-voltage cables one day at work. His body instantly received 30,000 volts of electricity. That’s 15 times the voltage delivered by an electric chair. The shock shattered his knees, exploded part of his skull, took off most of his toes, and left a hole in his back as the electricity left his body. Even though his heart stopped three times, Cliff survived. Doctors said he’d never walk again.

Through a slow and painful recovery, Cliff learned to walk again. Even further, he was inspired to start kayaking by Greg Barton, the 1988 kayak Olympian who managed to win two gold medals in spite of having two clubfeet. Cliff became so good that he made the U.S. Olympic team. At the 2000 Sydney Games, the 603 U.S. team members nominated Cliff to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony march. Cliff turned a tragedy into a triumph.

Receiving 30,000 volts of electricity is hard. The road to recovery is hard. Product problems and customer complaints can also be hard, but not in comparison with Cliff’s ordeal. Always believe in your potential – the things you can manage and control.

Do not waste time on things you can’t do or can’t control. Superstars have a persistent spirit and a can-do attitude that their clients love. The payoff is in the increased sales and income!

~ Superstar Sales by Rick Conlow and Doug Watsabaugh p. 12

The most applicable photo I have to share with this post is Bret and I kayaking, something I hope we do much more of this summer!