What are You Reading These Days?

Do you read regularly? What do you read? For years, I have scoured the world of personal development. My dad was a salesman, and he was proud of it. He was an avid reader of sales and personal growth and introduced me to some of the greats of his time. By the way, for all of you in orthopedics, he pioneered joint replacement sales from 1970 to 2000 and began his career with Richards MFG, now, yep, Smith & Nephew.

Some people in sales don't like the word today. We can put whatever spin on it you want, but remember, Sales is an incredible profession.

Back to the books, I was a sponge early in my sales career and still am. Charlie Tremendous Jones, who wrote Life is Tremendous, said, "You will be the same person you are today five years from now, except for the people you meet and the books you read.

 As Ron Willingham said in his book Integrity Selling, which he initially presented to Chevrolet Motor Division, 'Sales is something you do for and with someone, not to someone." What a concept "for and with." 

So now let's have a little fun: Here is a passage from a book written in 1968 by the author pictured below and still in print, along with some trivia: 

"Today, I begin a new life.

 Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered

the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity.

Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard with fruit for all.

Today I will pluck grapes of wisdom from the tallest and fullest vines in the vineyard, for these were planted by the wisest of my profession who have come before me, generation upon generation."

Trivia Questions

1. What is the title of the book?

2. What is the passage part of specifically?

3. Who Wrote it?

4. Can you name one of the other 22 books he wrote? If so, which ones have you read?

Please post your answers in the comments. If your answers are correct, I will gift you a signed copy of the Four Pillars of Sales between now and July 31st if you are one of the first twenty-five to respond to this blog with the correct answers.