Life can teach you many things, but you have to be willing to learn.
~ Anthony Caliendo, The Sales Assassin
If you’re not willing to learn, hang it up folks. You must continuously absorb knowledge and information: They are a source of fuel for sustainable performance; your mind must be willing to learn and use what you have learned in the most effective way. Remember, you will learn from your successes and from your failures. When you learn and attain more knowledge, you continuously grow in the belief of what you can do and what you can be. Knowledge makes you strong and this strength gives you the ability to sustain. Just like energy, knowledge is contagious.
Lesson in Life: World Gym-Dream Deferred
In my early years I was in the health club business. I had a mentor, Al Philips, Chicago’s guru in the health club business. I would have followed this guy anywhere. At that time, I left Bally’s to pursue building up the Arnold Schwarzenegger’s World Gyms alongside my mentor. I was flattered that he handpicked me to build this dream with him. The deal was sweetened with an incentive to earn a small percentage of the profits after I successfully built the first two locations. I exceeded all my expectations and Al’s as well. I was a leader in pre-sales. Memberships increased and I managed the construction of our second location, ironically right on the Chicago River down from the Chicago Stock Exchange where I would soon work. Receiving a percentage of the profits didn’t work out, and yes I was disappointed and angry. I’m not suggesting that my mentor did a bate and switch. The fact was that our profitability had not been realized and that was a legitimate reason. In hindsight, I should have kept steadfast, but at the time, my young ego and relentless ambition would not allow me to accept that rationale. I respected my mentor, but I put in my resignation. My youth and arrogance got the best of me. Time to move on from the greatest business that I’d known at that point in my life. God, did I have the passion for this job. However, I looked down the Chicago River towards the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and left the health club business forever.
The Life Lessons I Learned:
• Learn when to cut your losses and move on to bigger things and other dreams.
• Know what you’re worth, believe in yourself and make a decision not to live another person’s dreams.
• Loyalty is great, but don’t be loyal to a fault.
• Integrity and trust matter: Make sure your name is a synonym for integrity and trust.
The Sales Assassin: Master Your Black Belt in Sales by Anthony Caliendo
