Armstrong on Pushing Through

 

“Pain is temporary.
Quitting lasts forever.”

– Lance Armstrong (1971 – )

American cyclist

7-time Tour de France champion

cancer survivor

In 1996, Armstrong was 25 (and ranked the No. 1 cyclist in the world) when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his stomach, lungs, and brain. Doctors gave him less than a 40% chance of survival.

Two years later, after a miraculous recovery, he got back on a bike but quit a race in Paris realizing he wasn’t ready (ironic given today’s quote).

The following year (and the next 6), he won the Tour de France and retired as the only person to win it seven times.

Branson on Getting Over It

 

“I’m not the sort of person
who fears failure.”

– Richard Branson (1950 – )
English entrepreneur
chairman of Virgin Group

Comfort. Risk. Both are enjoyable.

One we strive to create. One we try to minimize.

One can make us lazy. One can make us stronger.

When did you last risk failure? When did you last leave your comfort zone?

Huxley on The Brooding Muck

 

“On no account brood over your wrong-doing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.”

–Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)

English writer

You don’t know everything.

You do know that, don’t you?

Continual learning is a basic necessity to professional improvement and in many cases it’s other people who will help you get there.

But only if you’re coachable. Are you?

To be coachable means to be…

  • Approachable
  • Attentive
  • Receptive
  • Curious
  • Objective
  • Trusting
  • Shapeable
  • Confident

It means you must listen with the intent to learn rather than to show what you know – exactly the type of listening required in the sales process.

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