If we could only learn like Keishia teaches

It was announced last week that Keishia Thorpe, a teacher of 12th grade English in Maryland, was awarded the $1 million Global Teacher Prize by UNESCO.? Whoa….HER?Thanksgiving just got a lot better, eh????

But wait,?Keishia refuses to make this about?her.? After the award was announced, Keishia said she will use the money to “…help more students worldwide access higher education.”? (Again…whoa.)? She said it was because “my students are the reason I’m here…who?am I?without my students?”??

(Throat clearing.)? One moment, please.....!? Thanks.?

?My first thought was,?oh MAN do I wish I had Keishia as a teacher.

Taking a page out of Keishia’s book means all of you B2B sellers will take?part?of the commission check coming your way in the next month or so and …and invest it in your continued education???? Yes.??That’s exactly what you’ll do. (Or?should?do.)? You can still put a down payment on that new Tesla or a new house…but you?need?to keep investing in yourself too.

The two barriers keeping you, the B2B revenue warrior, stunted on your?continued education?path are very obvious:?

1. Confidence: you’ve kinda got it going on, right?!? I mean, look at you…you’re doing well, and each year it keeps getting a little bit better.? And besides, it?appears?there’s always gonna be someone coming along willing to pay you?more...eh???
2. Discipline and time: all of your energy goes into your work…where are you gonna find the?time to?learn??

To a degree, both of these reasons are valid.?(...to a degree....)

BUT deep down you know you have to feed your brain because this “classroom” of ours is unbelievably demanding, and not getting easier.? It’s a rigorous, turbulent arena where B2B “revenue warriors” toil and pound against constant headwinds (and each other).??

In a few weeks, the "Q4 Manic Dash" will be over and we'll start easing the engines, and that means it's the?best?time to plan a?continued education?strategy for next year.? Because we both know it's gonna take some personal discipline to get to activation, we need to start talking about it now.? Here are my tips on how you can invest in your personal learning plan...most of 'em won't even make a dent from your commission bonus:?

1. Read a book.??ANY business book.? (Do you really need to watch Netflix every night?)? Here’s a?good list?of books that come with my seal of approval.? They either have to do with selling, sales management, or entrepreneurism.? But?of course, pick any business book you feel will expand your brain and tool kit.??
2. Find a podcast that scratches your itch.??Okay yeah, the podcast?arena often looks like one big junkyard, but if you look hard enough, you’ll find some gems.? I have been listening lately to Guy Raz from NPR’s “How I Built This”.
3. Take a master class.??Chris Voss?offers a good one on negotiating, even though I'll put MY negotiations workshop up against him any day. (Call now, operators standing by.)
4. Watch a YouTube video.??No, not of your favorite band for the umpteenth time...of something?educational?and skill-building!
5. Subscribe to newsletters.??For B2B revenue warriors, this one called Selling.2.YES ain't bad (but - hee hee - mine isn't the only voice you should be absorbing)!
6. Go to conferences…get out and mingle a bit.? It's safe again.? (Just don't lick any doorknobs.)
7. Find a mentor?who knows more than you and be like white on rice…. invest hard in that relationship and come to the table frequently with curiosity and questions.??
8. Start a club of your peers?and meet every month to talk about experiences and specific self-assigned topics.

I’m laughing as I type these words because I’m doubtful I’ve impressed you with?any?of these.? Let’s face it, you’ve heard ‘em before.? You’re thinking…. “maybe #7 is something I’ll do…sounds simple enough and it will involve either coffee or beers.”?(Greeeaat..!)? But overall, you’re still on the couch and you haven’t even considered hitting the link on the book list.??

For my final act - and I think Keishia Thorpe would be proud - I encourage you to open the “Notes” app on your phone and voice record ONE THING you learned today against three categories: a SKILL, your COMPANY,?and?your INDUSTRY.? G’ahead….go set your calendar reminder for each night during the week.? Date your entry and record ONE THING you learned in each of those categories.? Push yourself to do it ...who knows, you may start with a few nights per week and it'll grow.? And as it does, watch that small little two-minute task ignite your discipline and expand your learning!? I know you still got it...after all, it got you?here, right!

Tis the season?for giving thanks, so why not start giving thanks to YOURSELF for what you’ve achieved so far.? But let's go further.? You CAN go further, right?? That would mean you have more "thanks to give"!? Cool.