The Lesson Eli Manning Has Been Trying to Teach Me for 13 Years

All is right in the world!  The G-Men finally won a season opener against the 'Boys so yes there was much to celebrate, well, until next Sunday, ha!  Interestingly though what got me most excited was this moment of clarity I had...

For years fans, media, and general public alike would get on Eli Manning for bonehead plays (at times) in critical moments of a game - yup, the same people who revered him for his magical moments.  What I now realize (and have much greater appreciation for) is his ability to ACT INSTINCTIVELY.  A quality that is typically revered in the business vertical.

Acting instinctively is exactly what all our modern day leaders and successful entrepreneurs are preaching daily - keep firing, take the good with the bad, learn from your mistakes etc. The difference was people weren't watching the Steve Jobs or Richard Bransons of the world make their split decisions on national TV.  Understanding the same quality (truly believing what's possible and being curious enough try) that made you fail will also help you succeed!  To make the play, seal the deal, or solve the problem we must possess unwavering confidence and ACT INSTINCTIVELY.  This quality alone has the ability to showcase to the world OUR greatness.

For better or worse, Eli Manning has been trying to show me this lesson for 13 years. 

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #26

Relentless by Tim Grover

What I like best:  For those of you who don't know Tim Grover is the man who privately trained Michael Jordan for 15 years and then Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade (just to name a few.)  Yup, the man these legends relied on to get coached up on their "legendary" mindset's. Further proving a completely different point but one I'd like to highlight - everyone requires support!  These all-time greats or "cleaners" (as Grover calls them) didn't go to him because he knew more about physical training. They went to him because he instilled the mindset they needed to be unstoppable.  Relentless DEFINITELY hammers home - mindset matters - more than anything!

Grover shares stories on exactly what these past players were willing to do day in, day out.  You will learn the differences between a cooler, closer, and cleaner - a point Grover never let's you forget. If you are looking for a how to book then this probably isn't your best option. The book tends to be more conceptual as opposed to tactile. Either way it's fun too crawl inside the mind of a man who spent a lifetime 1 on 1 with the most envied NBA players of all-time. As always pick it up - let me know what you think!

Best Quote: "The fact is, you can't train your body - or excel at anything - before you train your mind. You can't commit to excellence until your mind is ready to take you there. Teach the mind to train the body."

Crust the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #25

In honor of the NY Giants upcoming season I thought it was perfect timing for this book...

Earn the Right to Win: How Success in Any Field Starts with Superior Preparation by Tom Coughlin

What I like best:  Although Coach Coughlin is no longer with the team he has been cemented in G-Men lore forever. The principles displayed in this book are exactly why that is the case. They are also the primary reason why he is two-time Super Bowl winning head coach. He stresses the importance of preparation starting with self-analysis and how preparing to excel starts while nobody is watching!

If you want a book that punches you in the face with preparation techniques then look no further. "This is not a football book...it's a systematic approach to life," says Coughlin. Making this book applicable to everyone hence the title.  It's an easy read as he shares untold stories about his past players like Michael Strahan, Fred Taylor, Tony Boselli, Justin Tuck, Doug Flutie, and Eli Manning. You will also learn the importance of "Coughlin time" or 5 minutes earlier which most Giant's fans already are familiar with, ha! I love his thought/technique on how to anticipate obstacles and future situations - SO enviable. Pick it up this weekend and PREPARE yourself to crush the last four months of the year!

Best Quote:  "We learned there was a purpose behind his system. He didn't enforce the rules because he wanted to catch people and punish them but rather to make sure everyone was committed to the same purpose." - Michael Strahan

Crush the day!

DV

A Thought On Support

In the 21st century support comes in many forms. Support is a kind word of encouragement, a thank you, or yes, even a "like" on Facebook.  All forms of support can be taken to the next level. For example this is precisely why the "share" was created. The ultimate form of social media support.

However, I will contend the best kind of support still comes through human to human interaction, conversations, and interest. Yes - engagement, so if you truly want to maximize your support for somebody or something, then show interest and inquire more about it. This form of support trumps every other by a mile. Don't believe me, just think about your own life. Which means the most to you? 

Support your customers. Support your friends. Support your family. Support makes a world of difference.

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #24

All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin

What I like best: If you follow me at all then you know what I like best...Seth Godin, ha! You can't take the title of this book literally though. Seth is being slightly satirical and because of that it's original release misaligned the public to the messaging of the book. Which is why he later changed the name to All Marketers Tell Stories in a re-release years later. "All marketers are storytellers. Only the losers are liars," says Godin. So what he really meant was authenticity is the key and we believe things we want to believe. Or as puts it, "many things that are true are true because you believe them." 

So ultimately this book is about how great marketers tell stories and even more importantly how they tell stories to people who have the same worldviews. Making authenticity and targeting two very important qualities. Which is the exact reason you can get $80,000 for a Porsche and $36,000 for a Volkswagen that's largely made with the same parts or why people pay $3 for a bottle of Fiji water.

Whether you're trying to market yourself, a company, product, or service - doesn't matter - the principles are the same. This book will show and prove you that. As always, pick it up! Let me know what you think.

Best quote: "We drink the can, not the beverage."

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #23

The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason

What I like best:  Clason's work with TRMB is touted as one of the most important finance books of all time.  It's only 110 pages long but packs a wealth of knowledge.  It is the epitome of simple and actionable.  Published in 1926 and still selling copies today, it surely has stood the test of time. Clason uses ancient Babylonian principles to guide the reader with story after story of timeless personal finance lessons. You will meet the goddess of luck, the luckiest man in Babylon, the gold lender of Babylon, and of course the richest man in Bablyon. You will learn the 7 cures for a lean purse, 5 laws of gold, and the golden rule - "a part of all you earn is yours to keep." Overall it is a fun, quick, and impactful read on an extremely important topic. Pick it up, read it, and engage - let me know what you think!

Best Quote: "Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts."

Crush the day!

DV

Before You're A Good Salesperson, Be A Good Person

In our culture salespeople have been battling a bad wrap for decades.  It's a career and skill set that's assumed to hinge on lying, deceit, and quick-wit.  Like most thing's in life, there's more than meets the eye.  Unfortunately, the majority of people choose to not seek comprehension.  It's not their fault we all do it.  It's requires signicantly less work to assume.  However, this surface level assessment couldn't be farther from the truth (in quality salespeople.)  They believe first and foremost, BE A GOOD PERSON.

As salespeople it's our responsibility to understand this very real societal assumption exists. Yes, we have to take responsibility for it.  Otherwise, your lack of awareness will be your downfall. Sorry, it's what you signed up for.  We are fighting an uphill battle everyday.  Which means people, yes, even our customers are commonly looking for a way to pin that assumption on you. It's just easier for them, the association has been conditioned by society.  Don't let it happen, BE A GOOD PERSON.

I'd recommend, CHOOSING to view this positively, not as a victim.  It is an opportunity to stand out, showcase our character, provide unique value, and be an asset to our customers.  This set's you up for long term success rather than short term gain.  So before you're a good salesperson, BE A GOOD PERSON.

Happy Selling!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #22

Just Listen by Mark Goulston

What I like best:  Dr. Mark Goulston is a prominent present day psychiatrist who's had a ton of critical acclaim throughout the course of his career. This book has already made a substantial impact in my life and I just finished it two weeks ago, ha.  So much so, that I am adopting and doing further reading on a few of the strategies so I can confidently implement them into groundupSALES - that's how impactful. 

I don't typically suggest books until I let things sink in a bit. However, this book has to much value ($10 on Amazon) with actionable techniques, strategies, and tips to improve your communication skills.  A skill that ALWAYS requires refining and improving. We are almost never as good as we think we are at communicating. So let me repeat that, communication skills ALWAYS need to be refined and improved. Excellent communication skills are the foundation of diplomacy, problem solving, and comprehension - among many other things.

As Dr. Goulston says, "Do you ever feel like your talking to a brick wall?" If you want to be heard then you need to breakthrough - whether they are the cynical colleague, overwhelmed spouse, or a furious customer. This book tackles that plus much, much more.  Pick it up and let me know what you think!

Best Quote:  "Perceiving is believing. Misperceiving is deceiving. And worst yet, it prevent's achieving."

Crush the day!

DV

THANK YOU!

Yes, yes - today is my birthday. They tell me this one is a milestone, the big 3-0. Yup, 30. The funny thing is I don't feel much different than I did yesterday when I was 29. I did notice a few gray chest hairs this morning so that was a bit concerning. I noticed a few more wrinkles over the past year or two but I guess I have you to thank for that, making me laugh/smile all the time. Honestly, I was kind of happy I turned 30 because people don't listen to anyone in their 20's so I kind of needed it to happen quickly, ha.  On a more serious note...

I appreciate ALL of your support. I wanted to THANK every single person who has made the first 30 years of my life memorable and the rest of my life possible.  Whether it was heartache or jubilee - I am thankful for it all - everything has led me to this point. So here's to all of you.

I am eternally grateful, THANK YOU.

Crush the day!

DV

Relationships Require...

Relationships of any variety - romantic, business, or friendship - need to be built and are meant to be worked on. Yup, that's right construction and maintenance. The idea that a relationship just naturally happens or just naturally continues is ludicrous, ha. 

"Nothing worth having comes easy." - Anonymous

In all relationships either party expects to get something out of it, that fact is clear. We date people we like. We do business with people we like. We hangout with people we like. Somewhere lost in between intention and authenticity customers/prospects/people view relationship building as - gaming - which couldn't be farther from the truth. The point of a business relationship is to build trust and confidence so you can problem solve together NOT against each other. 

Crush the day!

DV