Quotable

For those who know me and my current sales team (shout-out Team Clean), we end each morning standup with an inspirational quote from someone equally inspiring, successful, or famous. A recent example is “It’s not the load that keeps you down, it’s how you carry it” by Lou Holtz. While these are truly great, I've been fortunate enough to interact with some amazing people who have shared their own quotable nuggets of wisdom with me.

Below are a few of my favorites that I've picked up, and I'll add more context where needed. Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite, and please share your own favorite quote!

1. "Better Better Never Best." - AVP @ Salesforce
2. "Live in the healthy tension." - VP @ New Relic. Sometimes in a deal, there needs to be some tension to get to the root of a problem or obstacle that's standing in the way of both parties reaching a mutually beneficial outcome. This tension is very good, and shouldn't be shied away from!
3. "Focus intensely on your people's success." - GVP @ New Relic
4. "If you're going to be wrong, be on the right side of wrong." - VP @ Salesforce. I hear this quote in my head at least once a week when I'm forecasting my business. The goal of course is to be accurate, but if you're not, make sure that you're over-delivering!
5. " 'Phone' spelled backwards is 'ATM'." - Sales rep @ Salesforce. This is a fun reminder that good things happen when you pick up the phone and call your customers, and prospective customers. It's faster than writing an email, and the perception that people don't like talking on the phone is incorrect. Yes, you're going to get rejected at times, but it will also lead you to the right outcomes.
6. "Q4 magic is real." - Unknown
7. "Pipeline solves all problems." - Sales manager @ New Relic
8. "Do what's best for the customer." - CEO @ New Relic
9. "The team, the team, the team!" - Sales manager @ Salesforce. I love this quote because its simplicity speaks volumes. If everyone rallies together and focuses on helping each other be the best that they can be, magic happens. The team is bigger than any one individual.
10. "You'll know when your team is 'humming'." - Director @ New Relic. I've had the privilege of serving multiple successful teams now, and there is a moment where you take a step back and just know that they can keep achieving greatness. The road to 'humming' take time, effort, and buy-in from each team member, and it feels damn good when it's finally achieved. When you know, you just know.
11. "Do what you love, and the rewards will come." - My parents
12. "Time is the most important thing we have." - Yours truly. I believe that this is true not only in life, but especially as salespeople where working with a little consistent urgency leads to more success. It's up to us to choose how we spend our time, and you have just as much as Jeff Bezos. Admittedly, I'm also a 'watch guy' so quotes about time always resonate with me.