Adrian's Story: Adrian Miller Sales Training

Adrian learned some critical lessons from her mother; some that she didn't fully absorb until it was time to start her own business. With all the "mompreneur" action that's been happening on this blog lately, I thought it might be nice to post a story today from the flip-side of the coin!

To the small business moms who read this blog: have you thought about what kinds of lessons your kids are learning by watching you run a small business?

"My mom wasn’t exactly a business woman. Sure, she worked as a bookkeeper for a number of years. Yet, I’m not certain that she ever considered it a career. And, I can’t say that I thought of her as a role model when I carved out the beginnings of my company.

Still, as I reflect upon her now, I realize there are several characteristics she embodied that I see in myself. And, these very same characteristics are those that I include in much of my consulting and training. Here’s what I learned from Mom:

Sweat the Small Stuff

My mom was always a stickler for details, and she was sometimes a real pain in the butt as she nagged to get things done correctly. Now, I preach to folks that sometimes the dollars are in the details. Whether it’s how you follow up, or your attention to returning calls and emails, these seemingly small things can make all the difference.

Work Hard

Energy was my mom’s middle name. Up early, she multi-tasked her way through each and every day, tending to the myriad of details that tend to fall into a working woman’s universe. And although she didn’t view her 'job' as a career, she was dedicated to completing everything that had to get done, even if it meant working harder or staying later. While I never consciously thought about my mom’s energy and diligence, it sure as heck rubbed off on me, evidenced each day by the amazing amount of things that I somehow get done.

First Impressions Count

My mom was hyper-vigilant about how she looked. Her makeup was always applied correctly and never a hair was out of place. I used to consider these superficial concerns.

Yes, she was on me constantly about grooming, and, for a while, I rebelled and pushed back by concertedly not embracing her values. However, once I started my public speaking and training career, spending my days in front of an audience that was focused on me for hours at a time, I realized just how critical my appearance actually was.

Don’t get me wrong, I was never a total slob. But that first impression when you stand in front of a room is a hard one to dispel if you don’t nail it from the beginning. And lately, when I get dressed for a speaking engagement, I think back to my mother paying such very strict attention to every aspect of her clothes and makeup.

Mom is elderly now, and she’s not as able to demonstrate these qualities herself. However, when I go to visit her, she’s still on me about my appearance, and she’ll always ask about what I’m doing and how it’s going. And, I take it as a compliment that she even tells me to slow down a bit.

So, thanks Mom for all that you have taught me through the years. I never told you when I was younger, and I thought it was time to tell you now."

Connect with Adrian at adrianmiller.com, adriansnetwork.com, adrianmiller.wordpress.com, and adriansnetwork.wordpress.com. Also be sure to check out her book, 'The Blatant Truth: 50 Ways to Sales Success' at theblatanttruth.com.