How A Positive Outlook Turned Me Into A Great Pitcher

It was easy. When I was a kid about 6, I would toss up a baseball and hit it all day long. One day, I remember, I was at the local sandlot and said to myself, “I am the greatest hitter in Cleveland”. I tossed the ball, took a mighty swing…and missed. Again I tossed the ball, said to myself, “I am the best hitter in Ohio!” A second swing and a second miss. I tossed the bill one more time and told myself I was the best hitter in the US. A huge swing…and strike three…I was out. I told myself now that  I was the greatest pitcher ever.

A fable for the glass business. If you strike out selling one job, go on to the next with a positive attitude. Don’t sit there feeling sorry for yourself. No one else will anyway. A strike out is just the start of another at bat.

Make sure your company sells a variety of products. Do you sell replacement windows and window tinting? Do you sell heavy glass tops? Is your showroom so appealing that when Mrs. Smith comes in looking to fix for her picture frame, she  ends up inquiring about a shower door? Speak with your vendors and fabricators to help you set up your showroom.  If they don’t offer you advice, displays and product, shop for a new vendor.

Every time you contact a customer, it is either a strike out or a hit, or even occasionally, a home run.  Just like the boys on the Mets, you won’t get a homer, or even a hit every time. Don’t let those times get to you or your team.  Practice your swings, study the opposition, and you will get hits.  You have the home field advantage with a great showroom, intelligent and personable sales folks, and a strong line-up of products.

By the way, Friday night Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in the NY Mets 50-year history.  He had surgery two years ago, missed all of last year, and at spring training this year, it wasn’t even known if he would be able to pitch again.  He promised to work as hard as anyone getting back in shape.  He did.  It was his attitude that threw the no hitter, equally as much as his arm.