Ross Perot: Fall Down 77 times, Stand up 78

This is an important lesson from Ross Perot, American Business Magnate, Billionaire, Philanthropist, and Politician, who once stood at the pinnacle of success as a top employee at IBM. In a remarkable feat, he achieved his annual sales quota within a mere two weeks. However, his journey took an unexpected turn when his efforts to present innovative ideas to supervisors were met with indifference.

Undeterred, Perot decided to forge his own path, leaving IBM in 1962 to establish Electronic Data Systems (EDS). Despite facing refusal seventy-seven times while attempting to sell data processing services to large corporations, Perot remained steadfast. His perseverance bore fruit as EDS continued to prosper under his leadership.

In 1984, Perot made a strategic decision to sell EDS to General Motors for $2.5 billion worth of special-issue stock, securing himself a seat on GM's board of directors. However, his outspoken criticism of GM's management prompted them to buy back his seat for $700 million in 1986.

Ross Perot teaches us a powerful lesson in sales motivation: the importance of unwavering perseverance. In the face of rejection, it's easy to become disheartened, but Perot's experience reminds us that success often lies just beyond the setbacks.