Wristwatch Rack

I won? Did not know I was in a contest

Jack laughed out loud when the letter arrived.

"I won a sales contest," he said later, "and I did not even know I was inside.

Jack a vendor independent print, was one of our most loyal customers photo lab. It was not really a photographer, but he sold in color brochures and postcards, and its customers has never had good photos of their facilities so that they provided.

Just ensure that the sale has eluded him, he bought a cheap 4×5 camera and learned to take the photographs necessary for its clients. And he brought all his film processing for us.

He did not know that the pictures he took were better than most of the work that had "real" photographers. And I doubt he would have supported if he had known. Jack has never claimed to be anything other than a seller – just do the work he enjoyed.

Then came "the letter". The company that printed all orders color postcard notified him that he was their seller of the year, he had exceeded the nearest competitor by 4-to-1. They handed Jack a cash prize, a trip and a beautiful engraved plaque.

He put the money in the bank, put the plate on a wall, and took a few days off in Jamaica. But as soon as possible, it was back on roads, knocking on doors.

He loved helping people put a better face on their companies. It's how he saw his work.

I proposed a psychologist might say that he was "headed inland."

But time went on, I left the lab, and now, decades later, I am a Japanese writer.

And last week I received a phone call my unexpected long-distance telephone operator. I was told I was their biggest customer outside the company for three months has end, and they wanted to send me a price to express their gratitude.

In recent months I was doing a series of interviews of a time for a new book that I was working on. So, I spent many hours on the phone, racking up minutes and now they wanted me price.

Then I remembered Jack.

He did the work he had set for himself. Me too He loved what he did. I, too, for him to win their contest was a lovely surprise to some, but otherwise irrelevant.

In my case too the wristwatch they sent just went on a shelf. I guess I'll give it to one of my grandchildren next time I see them.

And I still do the job I love.

Meanwhile, when I look around the internet, it is easy to identify people who like Jack, who they are. Their websites have a different meaning, a personality. Their books provide real, solid, usable information. Their e-mail is read, not deleted.

They are one with the crowds of customers, the masses of fans and supporters who thronged their websites.

Public is rewarding, but these students do not dwell too much on the awards. Oh, do not misunderstand. They love the gains and popularity. That's all nice, but their pleasure is the job they do.

They like to write their e-books, the production of their magazines online management of their Internet activities. Give the value.

And you can be sure that if they did not enjoy it, they instantly go do something else.

But not everyone recognizes how important it is to give a value.

EBook product that last: of course most information that comes from you … Surely you do not just drag all bits and pieces that you removed from here and there through the Web?

And your ezine – I'm sure you have not finished the hours passed around and take up whatever Article is on hand five minutes before the closing date. (Or two hours after?)

And your website? We have all read the article after article warning that a page with nothing but banners, links and buttons – a flea market site – is a total waste of time.

Why Have we all still see them?

Two things I can guarantee you: first, the visitors of this website Leave almost immediately because they feel no personality, on the other hand, these sites are made by people who feel they do not have anything of their own to give.

This situation is tragic. Everyone has something valuable to give. Most people have not always done a personal inventory, so they do not know what they have to offer.

In future articles, I can talk about how you do this kind of inventory, but for now, just remember.

If you enjoy what you do and you give everything you have, you'll win the competition – even those you do not know you are in.

About the Author

Charles Burke says that “luck” doesn’t work the way you’ve always been told. Not even close. Read “The Synchronicity Report” – a free PDF download –
http://www.2-be.com/synchro