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

Motivational speaker Charlie Adams, one of the rising stars in inspirational speaking, corporate motivation, and keynote addresses, has a great piece from his weekly newsletter that really made me think.

The Notre Dame Football program once had a highly successful offensive line coach named Joe Moore. As a leader, he was known nationally for his ability to guide people to genuinely believe they were better than what they were. 

One time the Notre Dame assistant coaches were gathered in a meeting room where they started sharing their personal philosophies on leadership and other topics.

When it came Joe's turn to share a key insight, there was a long pause.

"I don't want to be a train," he finally said in his gravelly voice.

The other coaches had a collective look of "Huh?"

"What exactly do you mean by 'don't be a train', Joe?"

He leaned forward and shared the story of growing up in a house that was right by the railroad tracks. His childhood bedroom was the room closest to the tracks.

"That train would come by at 3 a.m. every night and shake the walls of my room," Moore recalled. "I would almost jump out of my bed it was so loud. That went on for a long time. But you know what? Eventually I got to the point where I could sleep right through that train. It never woke me up even though it made the same noise. I just phased it out."

The coaches were captivated.

Moore went on to explain that as a leader he couldn't allow himself to become a train like that train that roared by his childhood home. If he droned on and on at every meeting, eventually those that he was guiding would start phasing out some of what he was saying.

He learned to be short and to the point some days. Other days, he would spend more time talking about a point. He varied things up when it came time to address those he was leading.

From time to time it's wise for leaders to do a check on themselves to see where they might be becoming a train.