5 Sales Lessons I Learned From "Hamilton: An American Musical"

From bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, from rebel to war hero, Alexander Hamilton is a musical about a scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America. If you haven't seen or at least heard it on iTunes, you are doing yourself a disservice, especially if you are in sales.

A CEO of a former company I worked for once told me, "Knowledge alone is nothing, but applied knowledge is everything." Here are 5 things I applied from Hamilton to my sales career, each being the title of the song:

1. Aaron Burr, Sir

Simply put, "If you don't stand for nothing Burr, what will you fall for?" Sometimes you will be the diamond in the rough when it comes to what you believe, especially around sales process. If you think there is a better way to do something, do it. Don’t be the "talk less, smile more" guy all the time. Speak up!

2. My Shot

"Do Not Throw Away Your Shot!" Learn to shoulder every burden and every disadvantage learn to manage. Eventually people will see your ascendancy. Be scrappy and hungry, think Past Tomorrow, rise up and take a Shot.

3. Right Hand Man

When you feel "outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, and out-planned" in a deal, do not explode, find someone just as scrappy and tell them the situation. They will no doubt love to take a "shot."

4. Ten Duel Commandments

"Can we agree that duels are dumb and immature?" Some prospects or clients are so difficult that it easy to shoot the "unqualified" shot at them. Count to ten before you do.

5. Non-Stop

Go at everyday like “you’re running out of time.” Even if you are alone in doing it and if no one understands why you are doing it. Turn the world upside down.

Next time you a cranking out e-mails, I am definitely suggesting adding this hip/hop and r&b history lesson to your playlist. You may not get the same sales lessons but 2 hours and 22 minutes later, you'll be fully equipped for 1800's American History Trivia.