Years ago I enjoyed many days and afternoons fishing with my Grandfather.  He was a Scotch Irishman, who, up into his 70’s was a master carpenter, real estate salesman, business owner, … well you get the picture – an entrepreneur.  And, he loved to fish – especially with me.

I remember a particular day that we loved to spend … starting early in the morning and fishing long stretches of bank while walking from Cherokee Dam to the State Park.  We would finish up there each carrying a croker sack full of bluegill and bass; and, many times, only eating a peanut butter sandwich along the way.

I remember watching his hands and trying to do everything exactly like him.  If he reeled once, I reeled once.  If he twitched his rod tip, I twitched my rod tip.  I loved him and respected him and he taught me a lot about fishing and life.

Once after fishing the route between the dam and the park, we neared our usual finishing point.  I noticed people fishing from the bank with nice large radio boxes blaring, food, and a lot of loud talking.  I also noticed that they had not caught any fish.  So, I turned to my grandfather, and at age 10 asked, “How come they don’t have any fish?”  Whereupon he said, with a serious twinkle in his eye,

“They don’t know how to hold their mouth right.”

Sadly, there are a lot of salespeople just like them.  They’re not really serious about their goals.  They’re not trying to learn.  They’re not trying to get better.  They work with a lot of noise around them and a lot of talking.  They end of being takers and not givers.

But, you’re different.  Goals are serious.  Why?  You’ve got to keep bread on the table.  You’ve got to pay bills.  You need a new car or you need to fix your house or you need to provide for your family.

You really know “how to hold your mouth right.”  You know that you can be better.  You give your best and you strive to improve.  People respect you.  And, now people count on you.  You’re alive.  You walk with a purpose.  You’re the best salesperson you can be for the benefit of other people.  Lance. (By the way, this is a picture of Ryan, my youngest of three sons – and the beat goes on.  L)

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