He gave me permission

The place was The Hilton Hotel. The location was the financial district of San Francisco City. My retired Marine officer brother-in-law Felix and I came in quite early. One solid hour before the seminar started. I flew in from Manila just two days before.

I know what jet lag is and when it hits me it hits me hard. But I also know that when I am extremely interested in a seminar observing and absorbing the lesson then jet lag is put on hold. I was excited because the speaker is the best in his field. His name is Jeffrey Gittomer and he is the world’s number one sales guru today.

I’ve heard his CD’s I’ve watched his DVD’s and now I am meeting him for the first time and learning from him. The fact that some three hundred participants are attending didn’t matter. When I am interested in a lesson and when I am impressed with the speaker it makes me feel like I am the only person in the ballroom.

Jeffrey delivered. When the day was over I wanted more. The best I can do is to buy his CD’s. And this guy is gracious. I asked permission if he would allow me to feature some of his work in my column and radio broadcasts and he did not allow me to finish the sentence but said, “Thanks Francis…by all means…consider it done. You have my permission.”

His stuff is good I want to make sure every one in our beautiful islands would learn and put it into practice.

So here are some of the things I learned from him and I will add some pointers along the way:

• Jeffrey says: “All relationships are important to business. Not all relationships should be sales but sometimes relationships would lead to sales.”

• How true this is. In fact I have always considered the relationship as being more important than the sales and the most rewarding outcome is when my client becomes my friend over time.

• Jeffrey says: “The economy is down. (Have you heard?) But why don’t you worry about your own personal economy?”

• My take on this is you don’t just stay worried you have to add more intensity to your work during difficult times and you convert the worry energy into positive outcome.

• Jeffrey says: “Social media is not going away. Hundreds of millions are involved.”

• I spend a great deal of time interacting with “friends and fans” on my Facebook pages. I learn a great deal from them.

• Jeffrey says: “Your customers should be your fans.”

• If you and I do a great job then our customers will give us repeat businesses, which is a great indication that they are fans.

• Jeffrey says: “Many people fail in life because their fear of loss is greater than their desire for gain.”

• Successful people take educated risks. Losers gamble and they often lose. Now how can anyone take educated risks when he or she is not educated in the first place? This is why living life and doing business is a non-stop learning experience. 

• Jeffrey says: “People are more afraid of losing their lifestyle than their money.”

• Isn’t this one of the senseless things to do. Carrying a designer bag without money in it? Running into debts without the means to pay them and pretending to be somebody when he or she is not?  

There is so much more but so little space left. Go to Jeffrey Gittomer’s web site. You will learn a lot from him. But the one thing I like about my brief encounter with him is that my suspicion was confirmed. Great people are secure, they do not have to boast and they do not have to be intimidating. They are generous and they share their knowledge. Little people are insecure. They will only take and they will never share.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is not a cute worn out cliché; this is what Scriptures say because this is the algorithm of life.

The seminar concluded. The jet lag did not hit me. I was learning a lot.

Now I have a lot more things to teach and a lot more things to share. This is how things should be. 

(Francis Kong will be the lead trainer for the Dr. John Maxwell’s “Developing the Leader Within You” leadership program this Nov. 18-19 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-6872614 or 09178511115)