Get hungry!

An ex-business partner of mine would declare in an ominous tone, “Keep them hungry!” He would achieve that by paying staff late or reneging on owed commissions.

Dripping with resentment because of that treatment, many staff resigned, while others low in self-esteem and desperate would accept reduced commission to simply pay bills and survive.

Harry played dirty and as a consequence our business partnership dissolved. I believe people can be more motivated when they’re hungry. However, what I refuse to support is forcing hunger upon others.

I remember a story from my old mentor Big Kev. He told me about a period in his life when he didn’t even have enough money to put food on his family’s table. Needing to eat, he approached a local butcher with a business proposition: To spruik outside the store (as only Big Kev could) in exchange for meat. Talk about bringing home the bacon! And he did.

Kev’s story is one of desperation, but also imagination. Sometimes all you need to do is buy time, which means thinking outside the box and putting food on your table.

I can safely assure, if you can’t get hungry for your success, no one will do it for you. Business is tough out there and competition fierce. Hunger drives progress and innovation and it also gets things done. Hunger is what’s needed today more than ever.

I revel in taking on more established competitors because I know for many, the hunger is gone. The larger a company is, usually the more bloated and complacent – leaving the door ajar for hungry people like you and me.

Don’t wait for those around you to get an appetite, even if they’re not remotely peckish, that shouldn’t stop you. Eat, drink and be merry, but not before the hard yards and goals are achieved – then feast!

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Trent Leyshan is the founder and CEO of BOOM Sales! a leading sales training and sales development specialist. He is also the creator of The NAKED Salesman, BOOMOLOGY! RetroService, and the Empathy Selling Process.