Greg Kozera: Don’t Wait, DO IT TODAY
When my daughter Dannielle was a young child she loved her “Sweet Pickles” books. The books are about animals with a human personality trait, like Accusing Alligator, Healthy Hippo, Worried Walrus and Dannielle’s favorite, Goof Off Goose. I read the book to her so many times it’s etched in my memory. Goose’s house was a wreck. Everything could be delayed. She said, “I can do it tomorrow.” It was a funny book. The message for children was to not be lazy and do important things today.
In my corporate life in sales as an account manager, during a particularly challenging year I learned from my manager at the time the importance of doing things today and not putting them off until tomorrow. That mindset helped us to finish strong and have a great year. If it is important, do it today!
In Steven Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Habit #3 is to Put First Things First. It encourages people to focus on our goals and manage our time. Covey encourages people to focus on those things that are important but not urgent. For example, submitting my Federal Income tax is important in February and March, but not urgent. On April 8th with the tax deadline a week away it becomes important and urgent. The looming deadline puts working on my taxes above other things I need or want to do.
In health matters, my wife, Lynnda is a model of what it now looks like. It is one year this month her breast cancer was discovered on a mammogram. It was a small mass. She had surgery to remove it. Lynnda elected not to do precautionary radiation because it would only reduce the likelihood of recurrence by 4% in her case. She wasn’t sure about the side effects of the radiation treatments. Lynnda had a follow up mammogram and ultrasound in July, which showed no cancer. We were both thrilled and thankful. Her next mammogram is already scheduled.
Lynnda views having a mammogram as important. She acted and avoided having a tumor that would have grown and spread making radiation and chemotherapy urgent. She still must be on a hormone pill for five years to help prevent reoccurrence. A better alternative.
In the 1980s I discovered a lump following a soccer injury. I was concerned but put off seeing a doctor. Once Lynnda learned of it, she set up a doctor’s appointment. What I thought was unimportant she thought was important. At the doctor’s appointment, I learned it was more serious than I thought. I had surgery the next day and found out my lump was cancer. They found it early! After radiation therapy to treat areas where it had spread, the cancer was eliminated. Five years later I was pronounced cancer free. A doctor’s visit and early treatment was important and prevented a bad end. I got to see my children grow up.
It has been 11 years since my younger brother Rob passed from colon cancer. I saw him at a funeral in March, six months before he died. He had lost weight and looked good. When I commented on his weight, Rob responded, “Yes, maybe too much.” Colon cancer typically is slow growing and easily detectable in a colonoscopy which Rob never had. He apparently was having issues for some time. His wife urged him to see a doctor. Rob made excuses why he didn’t need to go. Seeing a doctor wasn’t important at the time. In July he was so weak he could barely walk across a room and finally saw a doctor when it was urgent. His colon was bleeding. The diagnosis was stage 4 colon cancer. There was very little they could do. He died on September 7th.
Rob loved his two sons and his four grandchildren. Sadly, he never saw them grow up. He would be proud of his sons and grandchildren. His grandson Tyler is attending Central Florida University on a baseball scholarship. Central Florida is in the Big 12 with WVU. We are looking forward to seeing Tyler pitch against WVU in Morgantown next spring. For our family, Rob’s death is a reminder of the importance of regular checkups, colonoscopies, mammograms and seeing a doctor when we have health problems.
Putting first things first and acting is essential in business, especially when it comes to sales. Many sales people put off seeing the difficult customer, doing a cold call or seeing a new customer they aren’t comfortable with. When their company makes a mistake or gives poor service they avoid the customer hoping things will blow over. The sales pro knows to contact the customer immediately after a mistake is made, then do what needs to be done to make it right. Apologize for the poor service or mistake immediately. Don’t put it off. Take responsibility. Don’t blame me. This earns the customers’ respect and may even salvage the account.
Shale Crescent USA had an incredible SELECTUSA conference in Washington, DC in June. We connected with over 80 companies. At least 20, look like good prospects to expand to the Shale Crescent USA region. Success after any conference is doing the follow up with prospects. We started doing follow up emails, sending text messages and having Zoom calls with prospects immediately after our return from Washington. Many European companies take the month of July off as “Holiday”. The follow up is just delayed. We share our information with all three states (WV, OH & PA). They will do their part on follow ups to help our prospects. Three companies are already making plans to come to the Ohio Valley for site visits.
Goof Off Goose says, “I’m taking it easy today. I can do it tomorrow.” We are all better than that. In business operations, sales or our health, act now. Tomorrow may be too late. Do what is important today before it becomes urgent. Don’t be a Goof Off Goose. Act!