Top Performer by Stephen C. Lundin

Author:Stephen C. Lundin [Lundin, Stephen C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4013-8594-1
Publisher: Hachette Books
Published: 2006-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

Opening of the Envelope

My mind was spinning and I was tongue-tied. I took a deep breath and just started talking.

“I’m not sure where to begin.” Not exactly knocking him dead with clarity. Then it came to me. “Ahh … I am really curious about the contents of the envelope.”

“Easily done.” And the Rat Catcher took out an envelope and carefully tore off one end, blowing into it to make it easier to access the treasure inside. He unfolded one sheet of typing paper. On the exposed side was a circle with a small dot in the middle. He turned it over to show me that the other side was blank. He said, “This is where you are,” as he pointed to the blank page. “And this is where you need to be,” he continued as he indicated the dot in the middle of the circle on the other side.

I hope I didn’t look as stupid as I felt.

“You must approach this part of your journey as if you were a blank page. You might know a great deal about the specifics of what you do, but you must act as if you are a blank page when you consider a new way of being. The circle is the key.”

I just stared at him.

“It’s important that you not invite too much company along on the journey.”

“Company?” I was obviously alone.

“You are accompanied by your need for quick answers and quick fixes, and the comfort of routine thinking. But by trying to make new ideas conform to old ways of thinking you will miss the ‘juice.’ So keep your margins wide and your options open. Remember, the ‘juice’ is in the ‘jam,’ not in routine. Hold that thought. Now, what is on your mind? Begin.”

“Well, the issue on the top of my list is finding the energy I need for my work. Being a sales agent has become stale and way too predictable. I feel like I’m on autopilot, powered only by my discipline and ability to work long hard hours. Something fundamental is missing. I still deliver good results by doing what I have always done, but I feel like my energy and enthusiasm is slowly draining away and is not being replenished. I’m frantically treading water and the tide is getting stronger. It is harder and harder for me to stay in place, much less move forward. I work all the time. I’m burned-out and I worry about not being able to get out of bed one of these mornings, paralyzed by fear and boredom.” Wow. I had certainly let it all out.

“I see,” he said calmly. “You sell for a living?”

“Yes, I’m in sales. How did you know that?”

“You just told me, Jim. Continue.”

I filled him in on my history with Jensen.

“So you’re here at Hatters, talking with a strange busker, someone you’ve never met, looking for connections between what I do and what you do, in the hope that you can find a new source of energy to fuel your work? Is that about right?”

“Yep, that’s about it.

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