Are You Living Life On An Automatic Transmission?

Not too many people know how to drive a stick shift.

I remember when I was around 18 years old, my uncle Wilbert taught me how to drive a stick shift in my aunts old Nissan Datsun (I think that’s what it was).  Driving a stick challenged me to think because it wasn’t something that the car did on it’s own (automatically). I had to literally learn how to put my foot on the clutch and shift the gears based on how fast or slow I was going, or whether I was going uphill or downhill. At one point during his lesson, we were going downhill and he told me I had to downshift. I was confused as hell and didn’t know what he meant or how to “downshift.” I almost crashed the car and killed both of us.  Needless to say I learn the fundamentals of driving a manual transmission (the stick shift) that day and it was a major lesson for me.

I wonder how many of us are living life on an automatic transmission? Average people live on automatic. To be successful in life you’ll need to learn how to drive your life on manual transmission and “shift your life gears.” It’s up to you to learn how to drive your life as if it had a manual transmission. Learn how to shift gears based on the direction and pace your life is going, and not stop or cheat by throwing it in neutral.  When my uncle was teaching me to drive the manual transmission there were times I would cheat by putting the car in neutral just to start back over. In life, sometimes you’ll need to slow down (neutral) but that does not mean you stop or stay in neutral.

Stop living your life has on an automatic transmission. Operate like your life is a manual stick shift and you have no choice but to learn how to drive it.

Key Points:

• Take control of your life by learning how to drive it on manual transition.  
• When you’re down learn how to downshift. When things get faster learn how to kick it into 4th or 5th gear.

Challenge:

Write down one or two areas where you’re currently going through life on “automatic transmission.” Identify what gear you’re in and what gear you need to shift to.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT KENDALL FICKLIN

Kendall Ficklin is a thriving Entrepreneur, Sought-After Sales Coach; Nationally-Recognized Speaker as well as Published Author.

For more than 20 years, Kendall Ficklin has been at the helm of his own successful companies. He is the author of five business books and founder of a personal and business development community GRINDATION. Kendall is also the creator and facilitator of B.O.S.C. (The Business of Speaking and Coaching Training Program) where he serves as a sales coach, leadership instructor and motivational speaker.

Kendall’s entrepreneurial journey launched after leaving a 10-year career AT&T in the late 90s. From there, he opened his first barbershop in Atlanta, GA. It was during these years that Kendall’s gift for coaching became abundantly clear. Clients would enter for a haircut and leave with vigor and newfound energy to take massive action in their lives. Kendall’s advice ran the gamut—from business to personal, analytical to emotional. When he’d left corporate, Kendall already knew he had the knowledge and endurance to run a service-oriented company, but he discovered his ability to transform and draw out the best in people.

Since those humble beginnings, Kendall has inspired thousands of people across the country through his seminars and training programs. His work has touched the lives of people from all walks of life, from professional athletes to hedge fund managers to students. “My journey to this point was built on commitment and sacrifice. I’ve experienced it all—from sleeping in airports when I couldn’t afford a hotel while on the road to building my business to now being in a position to hire others and build a booming business,” he notes.

Kendall Ficklin is a self-taught, self-made businessman whose knack for sales and leadership has earned him the honor of serving major clients such as the NFL, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Delta, Home Depot, WNBA, Arby’s, Honey Baked Ham, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and PepsiCo. From the barbershop to the boardroom, one thing remains consistent about Kendall: he excels at coaching. Not only is he is committed to motivating others to reach peak performance, Kendall leads from a place of authenticity. There is no one else like him.

Originally from Linden, NJ, he now lives in Atlanta with his wife and children. His businesses: GRINDATION and B.O.S.C. are the perfect solution for companies and individuals looking for leadership development, corporate training and ways to boost sales beyond belief.

To contact Kendall, please visit: https://kendallficklin.com