According to the experts, the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to  great success. Warren Buffett, for example, told Fortune Magazine editors that he was "wired at birth to allocate capital."  So, can that be possibly true, according to recent research?

Because you can shape yourself into any number of great professions, why think that there are "natural salespeople" or "born speakers"? The truth is, it takes desire and training to get to be great. So you CAN do it, if you don't feel like you are there, yet. The key words to remember are "talent" and "work".

 

Michael Howe, John Sluboda and Jane Davidson, British researchers have studied those considered great in business and have come up with one main conclusion: That most people learn quickly at first, then more slowly, and then stop developing completely. Yet a few DO continue to learn and migrate into that pinnacle of success--"Greatness". To achieve this level in any field, takes work. And lots of it.

 

Take a look at those who have reached peak performance in their fields. Major league baseball MVP's reach their peak at around age 27. Economists at age 36. Skilled inventors at age 39. And Philosophers at age 64. Just this morning on the news, I watched David Beckham during his soccer practice in California. And how many millions was he just signed for? Just a few miles away from him, Tiger Woods was swinging his eight-iron hundreds of times to achieve the perfect shots. What are YOU doing to perfect your kick, your swing, and your sales skills?

 

Now, what about salespeople? At what age do those in our field really reach their true potential? I can't tell you how many times I hear salespeople tell me, "Oh, I have been selling for a long time and have read every book. Our boss is requiring us to attend this sales training, but I can't imagine what else I can learn." Do you think these are the GREAT sales professionals? What if Warren Buffett suddenly decided to stop reading the financials.  Would he be as successful?

 

My point is that if you want to be great at what you do, (and who doesn't?), you've got to continue to think and to work at it. Want to beat the competition? Outsmart them by figuring out how to develop that customer relationship. Want to get that promotion? Get busy and start reading about leadership. Want to close the biggest deal in the company? Get busy and talk with those who make the most difference.

 

So, what's the age for a "great salesperson"? I'm guessing that it's somewhere between 37 and 97, depending on how much you are willing to work at learning more. For some, it comes a bit earlier, for most, it comes later. The good news is, there is plenty of room to learn, to achieve, and to succeed. So, keep plugging away, try something new each and every week, and watch your success score card grow!