Seasoned business people from all industries know that professional development never stops. You never know all; there’s always more to be gleaned from others in your field. Whether you are a network marketer, professional speaker, sales person…heck just about any position, you should be constantly in learning mode.
Books and audio materials are popular platforms for delivering this information. Enter any successful person’s den or work area, and you’ll see shelves of books, DVDs, CDs, and even some cassette tape kits from the top performers and other experts. My collection is mostly books, and dates to the early ’90s. That’s when I landed my first sales position.
I’m always on the hunt for new materials, especially when the price is right. Recently I scored Chicken Soup for the Soul and A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul at a nearby library. They were being sold as part of a regular fundraiser. I grabbed both both for one buck. Can you beat it?
Well, I managed to top that recently thanks to a family member. One of my sisters works for an insurance company. They were clearing out dozens of books on leadership, management, and related topics, so she grabbed them. I pored over the collection and came home with nearly a dozen books, including:
A Massive Dose of Motivation, a compilation of essays by various authors
If You Can’t Climb The Wall, Build A Door! by Dr. Charles Lever
Customer Satisfaction is Worthless. Customer Loyalty is Priceless by Jeffrey Gitomer
Sustaining Knock Your Socks Off Service by Thomas Connellan and Ron Zemke
Exceeding Customer Service by Kirk Kazanjian
Smart Moves For People in Charge by Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman
In addition, I picked up “The Psychology of Winning,” a six-cassette kit by Denis E. Waitley.
With all this material, I will be absorbing some great information for the next two to three months.
What are you reading now, and how often do you invest in your professional development? Spend a few moments reviewing your field for possibilities. They could include seminars, webinars, books, CDs, DVDs, even coaching. While that latter option can be pricey, the others entail very reasonable costs. Remember that you’re investing in your future. What you spend now should come back to you many-fold due to your enhanced performance. Good luck!
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