[quote=jmar]I had a couple questions for the veterans out there about there first few weeks - months at their firm.  Any tips or suggestions for me concerning getting to know people around the office?  I’m not really sure what to expect since I’ve been getting my certifications the past couple months.  I plan on just keeping an open mind and taking in as much information as I can.  If you guys can provide any advice for me, it’d be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks!

- jmar

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My advice would be to spend your time and effort getting to know people who might have some money to invest with you.  This may sound harsh, but in general getting to know people around your office is a big waste of time.

[quote=jmar] I had a couple questions for the veterans out there about there first few weeks - months at their firm. Any tips or suggestions for me concerning getting to know people around the office? I’m not really sure what to expect since I’ve been getting my certifications the past couple months. I plan on just keeping an open mind and taking in as much information as I can. If you guys can provide any advice for me, it’d be greatly appreciated! Thanks!- jmar

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Go out and meet new people. Talk to prospects. The ones in your office (OK, maybe other than the BOM) want to see you fail.

Think of it this way: you are a lone wolf, who happens to share a den with other wolves.  But never delude yourself into thinking you are going to be best friends with any of them. 

It’s dog eat dog, and wolf eat wolf.  Only the strong survive.

Have a nice day.

First off you HAVE to read the Judge’s 500 day War post.  

[quote=Morphius]Think of it this way: you are a lone wolf, who happens to share a den with other wolves.  But never delude yourself into thinking you are going to be best friends with any of them. 

It’s dog eat dog, and wolf eat wolf.  Only the strong survive.

Have a nice day.

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It’s not just that, nor perhaps quite that bleak.  It’s just that the successful guys are usually too busy making money to really give you any good information, plus they’ve become cynical over the years seeing too many rookies come and go.  But, if you’re lucky, over time you’ll be able to make friends with one or two good ones who can give you some useful tips.

OTOH, most of the newer guys  are NOT going to give you any useful information.  Many of them, too, are ‘negative nellies’ who will be happy to waste your time and bring you down with their bellyaching.

NONE of those people are going to become your client.  That’s why you should spend MOST of your time talking to people OUTSIDE your office.

Joe is correct, your focus should be on prospecting and over time you will earn respect based on your ability to due what is required of a trainee.  As for those around you, DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT spend time with negative people! They will suck your energy and any positive attitude right out of you in order to quench there sad lives… 

I just don’t really know what to expect right now.  I just passed my Series 7 and 66 and that’s pretty much it for me so far.  No training as of yet and I’m really unsure of what to expect.  Did anyone else start off like this with no real idea of how things should go?  

[quote=jmar]I just don’t really know what to expect right now.  I just passed my Series 7 and 66 and that’s pretty much it for me so far.  No training as of yet and I’m really unsure of what to expect.  Did anyone else start off like this with no real idea of how things should go?  
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Yeah…pretty much everyone!

Find the link in this thread for Judge’s 500 day war post.  Read it until you have it memorized, then read it again.

If you don’t already have one, buy a really nice blue or gray pinstripe suit, some solid conservative shoes, and 2-3 white shirts.  Splurge on some nice quality ties.  If it doesn’t hurt a little, you’re probably not spending enough unless you’re already living off a trust fund.  This is your ‘battle dress’ that you’ll wear for your most important meetings(with prospects…screw what people in the office think).

If you don’t have a good exercise routine, start one NOW.  It’s good to relieve stress, keep you sharp and keep you looking good.

Get your financial house in order.  Make sure you have your credit cards paid down and your monthly ‘nut’ as low as possible.  As soon as you can afford it, start putting some money away in one or two of the products you recommend to clients.  It will give you greater conviction in selling those products.

Get up early and read the Wall Street Journal for 30 minutes every morning.  But no longer, and not during market hours.  Learn to focus so you get through it quickly.

If you get a chance, talk to some of the veterans or ‘rising stars’ in your office, and learn about the products they use.  Pick one or two that have broad appeal and learn as much about them as you can.

Get your hands on several good books about sales skills and positive thinking…   Anything by Tom Hopkins or Tony Robbins will do.  Jeffery Gitomer is a modern day version.  There are some classics by Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill.  Devour them.  Keep them in the bathroom to read a few pages when you ‘rest’.  Others may have suggestions.

Hopefully those are at least a few useful ideas to fill your time.

[quote=jmar] I just don’t really know what to expect right now. I just passed my Series 7 and 66 and that’s pretty much it for me so far. No training as of yet and I’m really unsure of what to expect. Did anyone else start off like this with no real idea of how things should go?

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Where the hell are you working? No training? They haven’t explained the process yet? I’d be more than a little nervous. Either something is seriously wrong with your BOM or you are at the wrong firm.

I’m going to start training next week and then I’m gonna have a mentor type person to help me along the way.  

[quote=jmar]I’m going to start training next week and then I’m gonna have a mentor type person to help me along the way.  
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Presumably, then, you will have a chance to ASK YOUR QUESTIONS next week.  Don’t sit there meekly waiting for someone to read your mind and offer answers to questions un-asked.  If it’s important to you, ASK!

BTW, what exactly IS a “mentor type person?”  Is that anything like a mentor?  Or not?  Stop passively accepting  non-specific  answers and information.   What EXACTLY can you expect this person to do for you?  What SHOULDN’T you expect of him? 

Either you are working for an incompetent BOM, or you are suffering from an appalling lack of curiosity and/or the nads to insist on answers to your questions.  No one is going to care about your success more than you, so you better be willing to stand up for yourself and show you care. 

Ask. If you’re still not sure, ask again.  Rinse and repeat until done.

I was going to ask the questions, I was just seeing if you guys had any input before my first day.  My first day is next week and then I hope to have a better grasp of everything that I am unfamiliar with.  

Someone spoke about avoiding negative people but don’t stop there. Avoid everyone in your office period. Negative or not, no one wants nor will help you even the ones that appear “happy” (can be known sometimes as phony ass pinstrip salesman).

Try one or more of these. My fiance is a top notch plastic surgeon but had probs “fitting in”. This is what I did to make him "popular " & "more likeable"

1) Bring home made cookies etc to work to wow pple & get them talking to u

2) Bring a lil cutesy dog. He was too shy to do so but I would just pop in & “drop the dog”…while pretending I was running errands. Every one was all over the fancy dressed shihtzu. Works like a charm

3) Smile…& invest in danvinci veneers. Without them u are a toothless bulldog.

4) Hang out with sorority girls. They have good social skills!

[quote=mrsobama]Try one or more of these. My fiance is a top notch plastic surgeon but had probs “fitting in”. This is what I did to make him "popular " & "more likeable"

1) Bring home made cookies etc to work to wow pple & get them talking to u

2) Bring a lil cutesy dog. He was too shy to do so but I would just pop in & “drop the dog”…while pretending I was running errands. Every one was all over the fancy dressed shihtzu. Works like a charm

3) Smile…& invest in danvinci veneers. Without them u are a toothless bulldog.

4) Hang out with sorority girls. They have good social skills![/quote]

Thank goodness we now have BJQ/mrsobama to offer popularity tips.  Exactly what this board was created for. 

Jmar, how did things go at your firm? 

Things are going okay for now.  I’m still getting a feel for everything and all the terminology is overloading my brain.  Hopefully within the next month I will have everything down to a science.  Did anyoneelse feel overwhelmed when they first started?  

Things are going okay for now.  I’m still getting a feel for everything and all the terminology is overloading my brain.  Hopefully within the next month I will have everything down to a science.  Did anyoneelse feel overwhelmed when they first started?