It’s amazing how many people pass through our lives in a lifetime.  To quote a saying from the Grapes of Wrath, “some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain’t nice, but that’s as far as any man got a right to say.”  But I do want to say a little more because every now and then these people can make a real difference.  I found one of those people that made a difference in my professional life, and I was able to close a simple loop.  I was able to do this by simply saying, “thank you.”

To tell this story, we need to travel back to 1994.   There we find a wide-eyed Rob Jolles, fresh from the corporate womb called Xerox.  Who leaves a safe and stable career, with a corporate giant like Xerox, to create his or her own business in a scary and unpredictable business world?  Uh, me.

The game plan was simple:  Create a professional speaking business specializing in sales and persuasion.   All I needed to do was finish my sales book, grab my book deal, and begin my exciting new career.  With a successful book on conducting seminars already out and doing well with John Wiley & Sons, I was sure that getting another book deal would be easy.  The world would be my oyster.

Turns out my existing publisher didn’t want a sales book at the time, and neither did any other major publisher in the country.  That wasn’t going to deter me, however,so my reach extended to midlevel publishers, small publishers, and just about anyone who hung a shingle out with the word “publisher” on it.  A month turned into six months, and six months turned into a year.  A year turned into 18 months, and then it happened.  I met an editor named Janet Coleman. 

I accepted Janet’s invitation to meet in New York, and there, after 18 months of countless callous, rude, insensitive, and occasionally cruel rejections, I met someone who believed in what I wrote.  I’m not embarrassed to say that it was an emotional moment when I walked out of Simon & Schuster with a book deal in my hand, and it was easily one of the biggest moments of my professional career.  The book did very well, and it became the backbone of a business now approaching its 18^th year. Everyone was happy.  Isn’t that a wonderful story?

But what became of Janet Coleman?  Unfortunately, six months before the book even came out, she quietly left her job as editor and moved on.  I was immediately moved to a new editor, and continued my book journey never hearing from Janet again.  I thought about her from time to time, but that was about it.  Another book followed that one, and then another, and my memory of Janet faded away… almost.

At different times, I would think back on that one defining moment in my career, and every time I did, I would think about Janet Coleman.  How could she just not be there?  I honestly don’t think I would have made it through my second year in business without her belief in my message, and me and I was never even able to say “thank-you” to her.

So, about a year and a half ago, I buckled down and worked harder to try and find her.  I used every social media method I could find, but Janet Coleman is not exactly a unique name.  Still, I sent out message after message to every single one of them, and then, having felt like I had exhausted my search, I received a reply this week with a few simple words that included, “that’s me.”

I’m sure that you are also aware of certain peoplewho made a difference in your life.  You may have been able to thank some of them,but what about the others?  Often, these people have no idea the difference they havemade in your life.  I can say one thingwith complete confidence: If they did know the difference they made in your life, it would mean the world to them.  Don’t you think they deserve the pleasure of knowing that they made a difference in your life?  

I hope that I’ve inspired you to stop thinking about it, and launch a search of your own.  Find one of those people who made a difference in your life, andtell them how meaningful they were in your life.  Close the loop.  As for Janet Coleman, I was finallyable to say thank you.  I was able to thank her for believing in me.  I told her that she had made a difference in my life. Oh, and Janet did say something else when she received my email and finally understood the impact she had on my career and life.  She said, “Nothing could please me more.”

 

 

POCKET SIZED PEP TALKS JOINS THE TOP 5% DOWNLOADS CLUB!

What do you get when combine energy, enthusiasm… and great content?  You get a “Pocket Sized Pep Talk!”  Tune in and you’ll hear a collection of BLArticles®, conversations, and interviews that are sure to teach, motivate, inspire, and dare I say, entertain!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pocket-sized-pep-talks/id1497772972

 

IN THE NEWS…

I recently appeared on, “It’s Not Rocket Science! Five Questions Over Coffee,” a fun podcast with Stuart Webb.   You can listen to the podcast here:

• On Facebook com/INRSFQOC
• On Youtube – https://youtu.be/KJBK0dm-VaU
• On Linkedin – com/posts/stuartwebb_a-sought-after-speaker-and-best-selling-author-activity-6858787689332920320-zhxC

 

If you are looking for something to listen to on your next coffee break you might enjoy this brief chat between me and Tom Bailey, Founder of Succeed Through Speaking and the Succeed Through Speaking podcast. Listen closely if you would like some high value ideas to boost your business results.

You can read the transcript here – https://bit.ly/3BOfU7o

You can watch the podcast here – https://youtu.be/w-QgGvweE2M

You can listen to the podcast here – https://apple.co/2YVGWuN

 

I Zoomed my way to India to speak with Motivational Diaries, and Ashish Janiani.  We spoke for about 30 minutes about sales processes and training for success.

   Sales Process To Sales Success || Interview With Robert Jolles – YouTube

If you want to read some “Life Lessons” I was able to share in a recent interview, you’ll find them here:  https://worldclassperformer.com/short-life-lessons-from-robert-jolles/

I had the pleasure of appearing on Robert Miller’s, Follow Your Dream Podcast and thoroughly enjoyed the discussion.  We go way back in this conversation to my first memories of performance… at age four!  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!  https://follow-your-dream.simplecast.com/episodes/rob-jolles-superstar-salesman

I also mixed it up with a wonderful podcaster, Terry McDougall on her Marketing Mambo show.  As she puts it, we “Cha-cha-chatted!”  If you want to hear sales and marketing go toe-to-toe, you’ll enjoy this show. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1569061/8172686-the-art-of-influence-in-sales-and-marketing-with-rob-jolles

I recently did a podcast with a wonderful, new, and up-and-coming star named Jahmaal Marshall.  His podcast is called, “Listen Then Speak.”  I’ve done a lot of podcasts, but we got into topics I rarely talk about, and I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy the show!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-then-speak/id1550684472

I’ve appeared on the “Small Business Advocate Show” with Jim Blasingame for almost 20 years now, and you’ll find dozens of our conversations on his website.  We just sat down a few weeks ago for a great conversation about selling fundamentals and the strategic use of stories.  Here’s a link to over 100 interviews done over the years, including my most recent interview that explores our many behaviors we display that are based more on a default mechanism than actual logic. https://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-experts/rob-jolles-134

We posted a video series on delivering amazing online presentations with my friend, Jeremy Webb.  We go over some great stuff including:

• How to Select the Best Equipment for Online Presentations
• Pro Tips for Sustaining Interest in Online Presentations
• How to Look Like a Pro!
• Public Speaking Anxiety Tip
• Virtual Office Setup for Online Presentations

You’ll find the whole playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRO7BsBDl6oL-6ZPW3O01x-g5PiR38ljL

I was recently interviewed on the “Salesman Podcast,” which was a lot of fun. If you’re looking to Change Minds, check out this podcast: https://www.salesman.org/the-simple-step-by-step-process-to-influence-anyone-with-rob-jolles/

I loved talking about the book, Why People Don’t Believe You on a podcast that I’m sure you’ll like called Onward Nation: https://predictiveroi.com/podcasts/rob-jolles/

After 30+ years as a professional speaker and trainer, one of the most common questions I get is this: “How do we make sure the training sticks?”  Take a moment and listen to this podcast; “SalesChats” with John Golden.  If you want to know why most training fails, listen up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3dDOlTK7U&list=FLxBXKhqz0xBwbUPMqNthAJA&index=2&t=1293s