Have you ever seen a broke salesman?
You know the type, they are pushy and will not take no for an answer and are almost latched on to your leg when you are trying to leave the store dragging them across the floor? They will not take no for an answer and you can see the sweat forming on their forehead. Maybe it’s you or someone you know is starting out in sales and is living paycheck to paycheck. Getting down to the last penny in the bank and the next paycheck is still a week away. Is the credit card balance increasing every month and you swear it will be paid off as soon as you hit it big?
Do you have student loans that have been with you so long they are like a pet?
Debt is at an all-time high for individuals as well as the government.
I used to have debt when I started out in sales a long time ago. It was not fun. It is also true that someone that is in debt is fighting so hard to keep their head above water that they will sell whatever it takes to get some money to keep going. The problem is, that until you make the money work for you the way you need it to and change the behavior of how you handle money the problem will not go away.
That shiny new thing will pop up and you’ll click the two-day shipping so you can feel happy for a while. After a few weeks that shiny new thing loses its affect and you are in search of the next new shiny thing that will make you happy. The debt amount gets larger and larger until you lose hope and stop paying forcing the bank comes to start taking things back, or you change you habits.
I lived paycheck to paycheck for a while trying get rich quick schemes, and not getting anywhere. I started budgeting and changing the way I thought of money by studying wealthy people. These people were not rocket scientists. They were normal people that made sure they lived below their means and told money what to do with a budget. It was not some new fancy plan, it was a simple process. A long-term process that does not happen overnight.
I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for roughly three years for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Three years to start moving the needle. When I started doing that I was able to pay off debt and move forward. It allowed me to not be running in scared mode, but forward with confidence that I was changing my life. I didn’t try to force sales, I didn’t pitch fast and often, I didn’t have to work as hard either to make sales.
I was able to build confidence and then work on the sales process steps correctly in order to make more sales in a more relaxed state of mind. I was able to sell better, help the customer, and dominate the competition all by making sure I had my budget.
I don’t know if you are in the position I described at the beginning, or where you are at, but one thing I can tell you is that each time I go back to that budget I am able to find new areas where I am spending too much and when I shave it down a bit, I am finding more money to invest for a better future. A better future for my kids, wife, and myself.
Have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Kevin
P.S. If you’d like a copy of the file I use in my budget click the link below: