Like Columbus you might find India

It is very interesting how we all have our make up and certain characteristics built into us. From a young age, I had always wanted to be the best in the world! I know for some people it sounds silly to think, but when I was competing in sport, it was possible to achieve the claim of No.1 in the world!

Perhaps it was this indoctrination and desire, of being No.1 in the world that has stuck with me since then. As I moved into the business world, the mentality of competing on the global stage stuck was so ingrained in my make up, that I couldn't see any other opportunities. I was not satisfied to just compete with the company round the corner from me, but I was looking on take on the companies that were over the seas and lands. I wanted to build a company that would be respected not only locally, nationally but internationally.

I have done business on every continent of the world since then, I have learnt various cultures and the ins and outs of each countries unique ways of doing things and expectations. I have learnt that we are all the same but not the same!! I know that it sounds weird, but through all the relationships that I have built throughout the world, once you peel away the outside layer, you will see that the same passions, beliefs and fears drive every human being.

All though many things are similar, not everything is identical. I have come to see over the years of business that although I have had grand ideas and visions of taking on the entire world and being victorious, not everyone does! In talking to new clients, I need to keep this in the forefront of my mind. I am open to seeing new opportunities and think creatively how to capitalize on tools and opportunities, however the person sitting in front of me or on the other end of the phone call can not see past the first challenge. People like myself have to work hard at helping to paint the big picture for the other person or persons in the conversation, painting it so clear that they can see the progressive and logical steps to finish the picture to completion.

The image that comes to mind is the children's coloring books that have numbers in each area telling you the color to put into that designated area. As you have others complete the individual area the way required for the big picture, you will see the big picture coming into focus.

Some people are better seeing the full picture without getting too worried, others need to be focused onto the individual task, because that is what they do best!

Just a sales person speaking to a potential customer

There's a great quote from the movie Notting Hill, by the character played by Julia Roberts. "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

I was thinking about this quote earlier today, when speaking to a potential client. So often in the business cycle we have either been harassed continuously or abused, that we lose sight of the fact that the person on the other side of the call is just a person trying to do business with another.

The cycle of business requires that I call you to try sell you my goods or services. This cycle will in turn come full circle with you calling me to sell me your goods or services.

Now it might not be quite as easy to see within a closed loop and cycle, however any business community is dependent on the parties making up the community, transacting with each other. There is a simple economics principle that says, the more times that people within the community transact and do business with each other, the healthier and more affluent the community becomes.

The two problems that I come across in business is the business community that too quickly sends business outside of their immediate community, and we see this all too often in the global business community. The second problem I see is that many business people are not willing and open to hearing from different people with different solutions.

Remember that in doing business, we need to remember that we are all just people, standing in front of another person, asking for an opportunity to add value or products to their business.