My Head Haunting Insight for Other Entrepreneurs

This year marks the 5th year I have gone to Hubspot's now named "Inbound" conference (I think). In the years prior, it was done as part of another conference, then became its own separate gig for Hubspot's customers and partners. As it has started to become a movement, it's become like the proverbial snowball rolling downhill. 

And naturally each year has had its own theme. Whether it is to be remarkable or create marketing that people love (better to create companies that people love IMHO but I digress), everyone has their own takeaways and varying opinions on what it means to them. 

There are many inspirations, confirmations, and insights that I took from #inbound13 this year and there are many blog posts bubbling under the surface as a result. So many in fact, that I had a hard time deciding which one to write first. Then it came to me, in the form of a fortune cookie. 

It's because of that fortune cookie that I had to write this post before any other. But it wasn't just the fortune cookie after dinner that sparked it. It was also the overheard conversation from the next table over that provided the gas for the fire.

"To be in sales you always have to be on- you don't have a 9-to-5 job." Now I understand the curse of knowledge well, because the next thing I expected to overhear in this conversation was, "You're always on because you're always there to help prospects and customers." Instead he talked about having to report to his sales manager. He talked about having to reach his quota. Not once did he mention the person who was seeking their help to make the right buying decision. In fact he never mentioned buyers, prospects or customers at all. Never mind seeing prospects and customers as actual people, they didn't even exist in this conversation. This is what is wrong with sales, marketing, and business in general today. 

Because when you're in it (whether you are in sales, marketing, gardening, baking, or candlestick making) when you are truly in it, it's not that you're always on, it's that you never shut off. And you never shut off not because you're always closing, (or always baking), it's because you are always seeking to help. And you can't help others until you know yourself and how you can help.

But this post isn't about sales or marketing. It's about what gets you up every morning, what makes you tick. Because when you understand yourself, your passion and purpose, you see it everywhere you go. You are always on not because you have to, but because you don't know how to shut it off. It's a part of you. It doesn't matter what stands in your way, or how insurmountable it seems. You overhear the words spoken in another distant conversation and instantly want to listen and contribute. You don't just want to help, you are driven to.

So maybe the secret to successfully growing your business lies in not just how well you know your prospects and customers, but in how well you know yourself (and are willing to learn). It has to start there.

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” 
― Lao Tzu