Solving Problems
Acta non verba.
(Deeds not words.)
In this newsletter:
Praxis Work
Reading: Shoe Dog
Art of the Week: Commissions Open
Co-worker chats: Shawn
What’s in the Works?
Praxis Work
There are two ways you can differentiate yourself: 1) Solve the same problem in a different way or 2) Solve a different problem. If you become a person who is known for solving a specific type of problem, you will gain a lot of social capital, and more doors will open. How do you find your problem? By helping the people who come to you with their problems, and then finding more people with the same problem.
You can build your skills through that thing–sales, marketing, interacting with clients–it’s all important. All of them are skills needed to succeed in business, and even in life. The point isn’t the thing you’re doing or the problem you’re solving, it’s the skills that you’re learning.
Saying yes and figuring it out as you go, doing hard things, and jumping in over your head are all ways you can grow faster and more effectively. We are surrounded by opportunities, but we aren’t trained to see them.
Praxis Reading
Shoe Dog. Still not sure where his inspiration for that name came from, but the book has not disappointed. In the last couple of chapters, Phil is still trying to figure out where he should be, and who he is. He fights to be the exclusive seller of the Japanese running shoes and works with many difficult people to do this. His banker, the Japanese businessmen, and even his salesman present hurdles that he has to push past alone.
Until he isn’t alone anymore. Because of a teaching opportunity he took, he met his wife, Penny. She is a great support to him and understood his business intuitively. Even though her mom had trouble approving the marriage, they worked it out and became partners, both in business and in life..
Art of the Week
This week I worked on creating a commissions board for my Instagram that I will post tomorrow. I have three slots available, so if you are interested in buying a piece, hit reply and let me know!
Check out my Instagram page, Lucid Ace Art, to see more of what I’m up to.
Co-Worker Chat
Today I had the pleasure of talking with one of the salesmen, Shawn, over the lunch hour. Shawn is a man of many talents who helps with the building and computer maintenance, as well as coming up with different tricks and tools to fix appearances on cars.
He’s been working as a salesman for quite a few years, selling both phones and cars. He doesn’t like when scammy salesmen try to trick people, even if they work at a different dealership, because their reputation rubs off on his work. He said it’s different from working retail because people usually know what they want when they come in.
As a car salesman, he has to help people tease out the things that they want from their car, and match them with the best option. It’s more problem-solving than trying to force people into buying something that they’re not interested in.
What’s in the Works?
Besides opening commissions, I put my resume and cover letter writing skills to the test this week and applied for another job. The opportunity popped up unexpectedly, but I’m excited to pursue it. The work would be part-time for the Alliance of Reformed churches, helping with communications, marketing, and administration. It would be awesome to get this role and work for something I believe in.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading!