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

I coach high school football in the fall, which is one of my passions in life.

If you ask just about any sports coach out there, they'll tell you that they would like a coachable kid over an athlete that's a little better but won't take advice and direction.

So, in your sales career, let me ask you this:  Are you coachable?  Are you open to instruction?  Are you looking for ideas and principles that might challenge your long held beliefs and traditions when it comes to the way you sell what you sell?

Seth Godin talks about being coachable in a recent post, and ends his thoughts with this interesting story:

"Years ago, at the great Bolshoi Ballet, auditions for the troupe were conducted among 8 year old girls. That's because it took ten years to become great. How did the auditions work? The teachers weren't looking for the best dancers. They were looking for the dancers who took coaching the best. The rest would come with time."

That should prompt a gut check from you.  Are you always looking for ways to be coached-up?  If not, you're probably not going to get any better than you are right now.