A discussion about sales, sales tips and advice, and about those who land the deal

I ran across an interesting article by Robert Cox, who founded one of the first "home shopping" networks on TV and has become rich by approaching each of his business ventures a certain way.

Here are his recommendations for anyone in sales or business on how to be successful.  The key?  It's all in how you think:

"The first thing you can learn from these billionaires is that money has no master. People are not born to be rich.

None of us say "money" as our first word. However, we all become aware early on that the more money a person has, the more options and freedoms he can exercise in his everyday life.

The billionaires I've worked with all came from humble beginnings (a factory worker, a grocer, a clerk, a shop-assistant). And each was self-made in his respective industry. How did these people succeed where others in the same location ... with the same opportunities ... maybe even with more investment money ... could not manage the same success?

Perhaps the most important reason is that they perceive more about their environment than the average person. They have clarity of vision. They see the hectic pace of business in slow motion.

Slow motion? Yes, indeed. They don't need instant replay, because they see everything clearly the first time. They do not perceive the world as what they want it to be but rather as it truly is. They are not walking around with their heads in the clouds. No sir! They actively listen to, watch, and participate in what is going on right now.

Some of us have to see, hear, or read a second, third, or fourth time before we "get it." Not these gentlemen. They have trained themselves to be aware and open to the reality around them . And this ability to see things wholly and clearly upon first glance is something the average person doesn't possess.

Think about it. When you watch a movie, do you catch everything the first time? Probably not. Whenever you see a movie more than once, you realize that there were things you missed the first time around - the foreshadowing, some of the dialogue, or a glimpse of the scenery. And if it was a good movie, that makes the experience even more pleasing the second time around.

How about going into a room that you have been in many times before? I bet you could go into any room you're familiar with and see many items you never noticed before. (Go ahead. Try it!)

How is it possible that billionaires have the best employees, contracts that favor their companies, and business strategies that bring them tangible financial benefits year after year? The answer is simple: They see more in people, contracts, and the various business strategies that are offered them throughout their careers.

Take Roy Speer's, for example. Bud Paxson had offered the concept of a shop-at-home TV channel to numerous investors. Where other people couldn't or wouldn't, Roy saw the big picture. He listened, perceived, and acted upon the wavelength of opportunity that Bud presented to him. The result ... the Home Shopping Network, and wealth for its owners and shareholders.

How do billionaires do this ... over and over again? It's very easy: They remove all distractions from their minds and concentrate completely on the immediate situation. They maintain a clear channel, and are not distracted by anything else."

Any habits or mindsets you need to change?  To be continued in part two of this post...