Confidence in any thing you do in this world has a certain edge to it. It is something that makes people more attractive in who they are and what they do. But like anything in this world one must remember that there is a time and a place for everything. Many would argue and say that they are who they are and that is that. Get used to it. Some very successful people would even say that this principle is not true. They are where they are and tough if you don’t like it. They are always tough. They are always blunt. They are always straightforward and that is who they are! But I digress; I would bet the world that any of you who think this way would be even more successful if you applied the general principle of time and place.

Excuses do exist!

You are too young…face it! How you choose to face this issue is key. I think it is funny when people say no excuses. They don’t exist. Tough it up and stop whining. Tough it up is so old school. Don’t get me wrong I am all for the old school method of growing a pair but let’s be honest you have to know how to grow a pair first. If you are a young businessperson than you have something against you in essence if you are trying to achieve any kind of gain or approval from the business world. This is real so toughening up just might not be the answer!

Smartening it up is probably something that you will find to be a lot healthier for you in your professional endeavors. So many people forget how they actually got where they are in terms of success so quickly and when they give advice they often take the lazy road and just offer the age old words of just keep going and try harder. Persistence is the mother of all success traits however you still have to remember to be smart in your approach. Many times those that are giving the advice are intuitively business smart in their encounters with those that can get them what they want. It is like Derek Jeter telling you how to hit a fastball by saying just go to the cages and you will get there. He is naturally gifted and has an amazing intuitive knack for hitting a 95 mph fastball and often times that can be something that he may take for granted when explaining himself. So let’s talk from one non-business gifted person (at least not initially) to another about how to be a smart young guy or gal in business!

Often times we are so eager that we forget that no matter what you might be offering or how confident that you are human touch is still going to outshine all things in the end. Until you are driving a Bentley and showing a huge check the older generation is not going to take you serious. It is just a reality. Even when you do achieve these feats you are often going to be overlooked. So you have two options: 1) Allow your pride and ego to keep you broke or not as prosperous as you could possibly be or 2) Be smart J!

Ok Wes, how and what do you mean?

Let’s talk about offering your service to someone that is older than you. (A little caveat here. Some say this is manipulation while I contend that anything in this world can be considered manipulation if it is in the wrong context. You will have to be your own moral judge on how or what you are offering and whether it is something that you can live with if you indeed use certain skill sets to get someone to look at them.) My success has come from Network Marketing. When I started I was 27 years old and had no previous success in my back ground to speak of, so I had to take the humble approach which I sooner learned was the smart approach that so many really do not apply. I wanted people to check out my business and in order to do that I had to have someone come to a presentation or view a tool of mine (a DVD). Facing the old school issues of Network Marketing that many have in their back ground (meaning there hatred for being tricked into something or losing a lot of money previously) teamed with me not having any real clout in the business world; I thought I might want to approach people a bit differently than being mister excited know it all who knew how to conquer the world with what I had! I decided to do just that.

My approach to people was a little more humble than proud. Trust me that was a learning experience for me! It was just that it was that important for me to become a new and more prosperous me! I would approach a friend and I might say to them “Hey Joe, I really admire what you have done in your business life…so much so that I am hoping to have that kind of success in my life as well. I am searching vehicles and would like your opinion on something that I am looking at right now.” The approach was very simple and to the point and respectful. Of course I would not say this if he were not successful. To be honest in sheer business sense I would not approach him anyhow if he or she were not successful. I am looking for leaders not those who know nothing about leadership. This is business remember! Back to the point! You can see that I complimented Joe. He immediately is off of his natural competitive fight back system. Second I am saying I want to be a bit like him. That is going to massage his ego even more and make him really listen up. Third I am asking advice. Advice after being complemented two times is something that he is going to easily want to give me. For now he is my “guardian” in his own mind. My goal was to get him to look at my company or view the tool and now he has real reason to. If your tool is good there is a good chance that he will make it all his own. Mission accomplished in a respectful but smart manner.

I never ever use the same script. All people are different. Respect them in that way and you will find better success. Sound like a sales robot and you will get thrown to the wolves. Look at the kind of success that people have and go from there. Some have successful families in which I might compliment in my approach..some are great story tellers… some are wonderful listeners…some are amazing teachers in which I acknowledge in this manner with a bit of preparation. “Hey Joe…you have been a successful teacher for a long time. I am not looking in the schooling industry but I am searching other arenas where I can teach others. I think I have come across a teaching company that I like and I would really appreciate a teachers view point on what I am looking at.”

You can frame anything if you use a little smarts and take your time to think a bit. Take your time and prepare is the big thing and keep your darned ego out of the way.

Remember Time and Place and loss of Ego. Smart approaches always consist of massaging an ego and asking for help. It sounds simple but getting out of our own way can be the toughest thing in the world to do. People love being complemented and enjoy the superiority feeling that often comes with helping a new kid find their way. This is UNIVERSAL in all businesses where you are trying to accomplish something; not just network marketing. It will continue to be the way a young person can do business until society shifts and people don’t get old! That being said; Work on it. Be smart. Get out of your own way. Most importantly be happy and have fun. It is very contagious.

To your success

Young guns always wanted!

Wesley Anderson