Traits of Top Salespeople

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This is likely the best commencement speech ever given

This is likely the best commencement speech ever given

A commencement address is supposed to be a motivating speech that propels graduating students on for the rest of their life. It is supposed to be those nuggets of wisdom that the graduate can look back at and understand the secrets of success as understood by the presenter.

Regardless of your profession, be it sales, management, accountant, shopkeeper, truck driver, or construction, most commencement addresses fall short of that ideal but this one does not. In my opinion, it is one of the best commencement addresses of all time and it is applicable to any and all people in the US and the world.

The University of Texas at Austin, 2014 Commencement Address, Admiral William H. McRaven Remarks by Naval Adm. William H. McRaven, BJ ’77, ninth commander of U.S.Special Operations Command, Texas Exes Life Member, and Distinguished Alumnus.

We all need this advice in life. Do the small things and the big things will take care of themselves, don’t back down to fear, and together, as a team, we can do great things.

  1. Make your bed – take care of the small things if you want to do big things
  2. Find people to paddle with you – you cannot do this along
  3. Measure the size of heart, not flippers – everyone is different and that is okay and it doesn’t matter to be successful
  4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward – failure is a constant part of life just deal with it
  5. Don’t be afraid of the circuses – it will make you stronger
  6. Sometimes you have to slide down obstacles head first – sometimes it is important to take risks to get ahead
  7. Don’t back down from the sharks – your courage will get you through
  8. You must be your very best in the darkest moments – in the darkest moments is when success is the closest
  9. Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud. Hope for everyone – together, we can succeed
  10. Don’t ever, ever ring the bell – quitting is a final act and you don’t get “do overs” in life

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