Yet, of all this content that I consume, do you suppose that somewhere along the line I run into conflicting opinions? All of the time. What do I do then? How can I learn when my teachers are in disagreement? With so many voices saying different things, who should I listen to?
Not too long ago, a discussion was raised on Paul Castain's Sales Playbook LinkedIn Group, one of my favorite online communities, regarding the validity of "cold calling" today. Most of the people offering their opinions viewed cold calling as an out-dated practice that only amateur sales people still use. This advice flies in the face of advice from Anthony Iannarino, possibly the most profound blogger on the web, who insists that cold calling is not just a good idea but rather something that we are ethically obligated to do as sales people. Both sources are valid. Both of them I highly respect. Who should I listen to?
Last month, I wrote a post on cold calling. Which side did I take? Did I follow the Uncle Paul entourage or did I side with Anthony Iannarino? Neither. I took my own side. I argued that, while initiating relationships is just as important today as it always has been, creating a personal brand prior to a cold call in something we should be constantly striving for. My view is somewhat of a hybrid of both sides of the argument. But, it isn't either side's view; it is my view. Whose voice did I listen to? I listened to my own.
Look outward for advice, but inward for permission. I would encourage everyone to learn everything they can from as many sources as possible. The bigger the pool of insight you have to draw from, the better decision you will be able to make. Yet, when all is said and done, you and only you will be responsible for the behavior you engage in. You can't say, "I'm only doing what so and so said" or "I can't do that because so and so said that I couldn't." You are the end of the line. You can get all the advice in the world but none of those advisors can set you on a course of action. Others can give you advice, but only you can give yourself permission.
What will you give yourself permission to do today? What advice will you follow? More importantly, what advice will you contradict? There are so many voices out there. By all means, listen to what they're saying. But when the time comes to take action, there is but one voice that matters: your own. What is the voice inside telling you today? Will you listen?