Setting The Stage

Preparation is key vital. Embarking on any endeavor, worthy or not, requires preparation. Preparation is defined as the process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration. Another definition is the state of being prepared, but when you go a bit deeper, it gets better. Prepared means subjected to a special process or treatment. When we put that together we get “the state of being subjected to a special process” or “the state of being subjected to a special treatment.” Our treatment is, or will be special. The reason, most are not prepared.

First job selling Life Insurance was with an agency that specialized selling to farmers and ranchers in Texas. We used a script. A script for the phone calls, a script for the sales presentation, a script for overcoming objections. We had a script for just about everything. At the time the state allowed you to sell on a temporary license. It may have been valid for about 90 days. The agency provided a training cassette tape and I listened and listened and committed it all to memory. My first week in sales, I made about $1200 for three days work. I was sold on selling life insurance. But I wasn’t prepared. The stage wasn’t set.

I took another week or so and studied for the Life Insurance exam. I took a prep course, studied at home, and became immersed with the material. I passed the exam on my first attempt. I happily called the instructor from the prep course and told him I scored something the mid eighties. He jokingly replied, “You studied too much” since I only needed a seventy to pass the exam. I embarked on a career selling Life Insurance which helped set the stage for other careers.

Some work needs to be completed before other work can be done. A lumberjack doesn’t pull out an axe or chainsaw and start cutting. A doctor doesn’t start performing surgery or writing prescriptions for patients. Athletes practice. Actors do as well. Performers have rehearsals. Sprinters and runners stretch before a race. They ready themselves via a special process. As a professional, I must do the same thing. If I don’t, I lose credibility. I erode and erase all trust with incompetence. I will not lead a career that way. I’ve never done that and there’s no reason to start doing so now.

You and I are not at step one or zero though. There are things we’ve done before which can help on just about any endeavor we are beginning. For me, my experience form sales, presentations, writing, and a few others help me deliver my messages more effectively. For you, well, you will have to determine those things on your own. I will venture a guess and say you have skills you can stack. Something you’ve already mastered may become a building block or cornerstone of what you aspire to build now. It takes a bit of time to assess, but it’ll prove worthwhile when setting the stage for your newest endeavor.

Today, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, I am grateful that:

Victoria and I spoke yesterday. Technically it’s earlier today for those in the states, but for me it was last night. I really enjoyed our conversation and I’m happy we both find something during each call that’s mutually beneficial.

My community conce

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