Everyone strives to be a success, but few know how to reach their best potential. In the next few editions of the Tip of the Month, I will explore Jeffrey Gitomer’s 18.5 Secrets of Success from The Little Red Book of Selling while adding a carwash “spin.” Here are the first 6 secrets for you to think about:

1. Believe you can: Believe that you can be a success. Too many people look outside for the money they can make rather than inside for the money they can earn. Have a positive attitude about your life and your business.
2. Create the environment: The right home and work environment will encourage you. Supportive spouse, family members and co-workers will make the road to success a smooth ride.
3. Have the right associations: Do business with the right people. If you want others to consider you honest and reliable, you have to do business with other honest and reliable people. Don’t risk your integrity just to save a buck or two. Continuously network to meet new people and create a respectable name for yourself and your business.

   Don’t rush when hiring new employees or choosing new chemical or equipment suppliers. These all reflect on your business, and it is up to you to make sure you are projecting the image you want. Research potential suppliers to find the best match for your needs. You want your employees to work hard and be knowledgeable and helpful for your customers. Providing great customer service is key to creating customer loyalty.
4. Expose yourself to what’s new: If you’re not learning every day, your competition is. How much time do you spend each day learning something new? Experiment with new methods to bring in new business. For example, what do you do when you attend tradeshows? Do you walk by each booth merely glancing at new products or do you stop to find out more about these various new products from company representatives? The minute you think you know it all already, you’re in trouble.
5. Plan for the day: You never know on which day success will occur so be prepared every day. Prepare with education and plan with goals.
6. Become valuable: The more valuable you become, the more the marketplace will reward you. Your value is linked to your knowledge. You want others to consider you a resource, someone whose opinion they can trust.

These principles are focused around selling. At first, you may think you are not a salesperson, but if you look a little deeper, everyone is. If you are an employee, you need to sell yourself to your company and continue to show that you deserve to be there. If you are a salesperson, you have to sell yourself to your customers. If you are a manager, you have to sell yourself and put confidence in your employees and your superiors. No matter what you do, consider yourself a salesperson and act accordingly.

Brent McCurdy, Senior Vice President, Blendco Systems, LLC
Blendco manufactures a full line of detergents and waxes for the professional carwash industry. You can contact Blendco at: www.blendco.com.