Why Nobody Wants You to Get to the Top ... E-Book

Martin Limbeck

• Herausgeber: REDLINE
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 294

Beschreibung

In this book, bestselling author Martin Limbeck offers us abehind-the-scenes glimpse: Through numerous biographical episodes he chronicles his rise from an average guy to anexceptional sales professional, from a loser to a millionaire, from a nobody on the campground in coal country to a star on the international speaking scene. Candid like no other, he tells of the envy, conflicts, competition, self-sabotage, selfishness, false friends and challenges he had to overcome. A tenacious approach to obstacles in his path is his success formula for a fulfilling life—a heartening example urging readers to forge their own path and never give in.

Leseprobe

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword

Preface: You Live, You Learn

1. Red Cards

2. Sidle Up, Seduce, Slip Out

Bull by the Horns

Respect

Bull’s-Eye!

Back to Scratch

In the Thick of It

“Go Ahead and Fire Me!”

The Gray Area

“You Passed”

Godsend

3. Winners Are Not Born

What Is Success?

“You’re Never Going to Make It!”

The Lighter

Notching up

“You Asked for a Decision”

A Kernel of Truth

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Welcome to the Club

The Enemy Within

4. Coal Country Meets the Tailor-Made Suit

To Have Is to Be

Premium Class

What Is It Really About?

On Top of the Hill

Turning the Page

With a Little Help From My Friends

Tick Removal

5. Diligence Trumps Talent

The Way to the Top

Four Reasons to Be Diligent

The Big What for

Now That Is Diligence

Fight

6. Shovel First, Collect Second

There’s the Door!

Congratulations

Everything’s Taken Care of

Rock Bottom

Eyes Light up

Welcome to Reality

You Can’t Buy Friendship

7. Once a Janitor, Always a Janitor

How Cool Is That

Surfing the Waves

Keeping at It

Relax

My Friend

Ambushed

About to Bite the Dust

Onward and Upward

About the Author

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Bibliographical Information:

The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie. Detailed bibliographical information is available online at http://d-nb.de.

Questions and comments to:

[email protected]

1st Edition 2016

© 2016 by Redline-Verlag, Münchner Verlagsgruppe GmbH, Munich,

Nymphenburger Straße 86

D-80636 Munich

Tel.: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

© of the original edition 2014 by Redline Verlag, Münchner Verlagsgruppe GmbH, Munich

All rights reserved, in particular the rights to copying, distribution and translation. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form (by photocopying, microfilming or any other process) or stored, copied or distributed by means of electronic systems without the written consent of the publisher.

Editorial: in cooperation with Esther Lenssen, Aachen

Translation: Christian Villano Malaga, Spain, and Esther Lenssen, Aachen, Germany

Cover Illustrations: Melanie Melzer, München

Photograph: Nils Schwarz

Typesetting: Georg Stadler, München

SBN Print 978-3-86881-611-2

ISBN E-Book (PDF) 978-3-86414-893-4

ISBN E-Book (EPUB, Mobi) 978-3-86414-892-7

Foreword

You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can always control how you respond.

That principle enables some to create remarkable success despite difficult circumstances. It also explains why setbacks are inevitable, but defeat is chosen.

Martin Limbeck knows this and has demonstrated the power of personal responsibility to go from difficult beginnings to great success as a world-class sales trainer and consultant. And he’s brave enough to pull back the curtain, so you can see what it really takes to triumph despite the lucky breaks and fortunate circumstances we’d all love but don’t usually get.

I’ve know Martin for many years as a colleague in the Global Speakers Federation. I respect his work, admire his work ethic and appreciate his friendship. Not only have I seen him present and become familiar with his story, but I’ve also seen him in the gym during our association meetings where I was working out. The last time he was with his son demonstrating the discipline and effort that has made him successful in his business and life.

In this book, Martin will challenge your thinking. You might not agree with everything he says, but what you need to do is carefully consider if his ideas might better serve you than the ideas you’ve been acting upon. Take action. Try what he suggests. You’ll learn from what Martin has learned.

One big benefit you’ll receive is the gift of encouragement. There is a myth that successful people lead charmed lives, that they’ve been given a handout or a hand up to get where they are. While there are those who will help us in our journey, in the end success is a do-it-yourself project.

I’ve had the great opportunity and fun of working with some of the world’s best companies and top performers. Almost without exception, those who achieve much are those who learn continually. They seek out books, seminars and experiences that are a source of their intellectual fuel. By choosing this book, you’ve joined the ranks of those who aim higher, work harder and live fuller lives. I commend you for your decision.

Here is some of what you’ll learn in the pages ahead:

Martin works long hours and works hard because he enjoys it. I hope you do as well. I believe you’ll finish this book with a renewed sense of personal responsibility. You’ll learn that ultimately nobody can stop you but you, that struggles are inevitable, and that when you meet challenges head-on, they make you stronger and better.

Martin is a winner not by birthright or chance but by hard work, smart thinking and persistence. You and I have the same tools available to us. All we need to do is learn them from successful people like Martin and apply them. That is the challenge.

Martin Limbeck is a great guy with an inspiring story and a wealth of ideas. Read this book and profit from his story.

Mark Sanborn, author of The Encore Effect and You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader

Preface: You Live, You Learn

You live you learn You love you learn You cry you learn You lose you learn You bleed you learn You scream you learn

(Alanis Morissette)

There was a time when Limbeck would stuff a trout full of sinkers  . . . Wait, I’ll come back to that story in detail later. For the moment, suffice it to say this: You wouldn’t believe the trouble I used to get myself into. How stupid was that? Today, though, I can only laugh about it.

And all the things that I put up with! I was everybody’s fool. The doormat from the industrial city of Essen, Germany. The redheaded dope from coal country who didn’t miss a single chance to put his foot in it.

I was constantly taking beatings. And yes, I was giving them, too. Even without wanting to. To this day, time and again I find myself unintentionally treading on people’s toes. I’ll say something rash while on stage or throw out a comment on Facebook, simply out of sheer exuberance—and before I know it, there’s a glorious shit storm raining down on me so intensely that I don’t think I’ll ever drag my name out of it again.

There was so much in my life that went off the rails, and today I know why: I myself was off the rails, jagged, rough. If you are like that, you’re going to rub people the wrong way. You can’t avoid it. You constantly trigger resistance. Am I right?

And you know what? That’s a good thing. Everything was just as it should be. Don’t believe that you can be an original and get everyone’s blessings along the way. That’s not how it works. If you’re looking to get to the top, there are a million people out there who will want to get in your way.

Perhaps this is why today you are not yet where you want to be: Your life is bitterly resisting your efforts. It sends people your way who cause problems, and you find yourself tangled in countless turf wars. Maybe it’s the money that just won’t flow your way or won’t stay there when it does. Or maybe you simply can’t find a profession that fulfills you. Perhaps you’re always arguing with your partner. Or you’ve damaged your health. I can’t say. But I do know one thing, namely that every person on this earth wants five things: a happy relationship, good friends, good health, the right job, and enough money. I always ask people in my audience to raise their hands if all five of these areas are running smoothly, and I can tell you that I have never, ever seen a single hand raised.

Actually, there was one exception. It was in Potsdam, at a presentation for an insurance company. When I had posed the question no one had raised their hand, but afterward a woman of around 60 approached me and addressed me in a very friendly manner. She said she didn’t want to ruin my presentation, and that’s why she hadn’t raised her hand. She told me that three years ago she had been diagnosed with cancer, and she had only just survived chemotherapy. Since that moment she was completely fulfilled in all five areas. She was beaming as she said it. It was wonderful! She had a fantastic attitude, so much so that I could have hugged her then and there. That, however, has been the single exception.

Some people aspire to financial freedom and ruin their relationship or their health in the process. Others invest everything in their relationship and end up losing all their friends. Still others are healthy as horses but poor as church mice.

I have yet to see someone who is at the very top.

Why? Because nobody wants you to get there.

And no, I’m not paranoid. And I’m not whining either. On the contrary, today I’m simply happy for every single one of the thousand struggles that I have waged. Today I know that every defeat yielded a benefit. There are sure to be more defeats along the way, and they, too, will serve as a lesson. In life, what goes around comes around, be it good or bad. Just remember one thing: Everything is fine just as it is. Even if sometimes it may take a while for it all to make sense.

Because every time things came crashing down around me, every time life gave me a kick in the ribs, or every time I screwed up royally, I drew a lesson from it. Each struggle shaped me that little bit more. Sure, today I’m still Limbeck—but at the same time I have become a completely different person. Do you know what I mean? I’ve never been easy on myself or on others. That is why my learning curve was so steep.

As far as the five areas of life are concerned, I’ve been at rock bottom. Bodywise I was fat and ugly, with no strength or vigor to speak of. In terms of women, I can only say good heavens! On the friendship front, it was nothing but disappointments. With regard to money, everyone rode a cool Zündapp motorcycle while I drove a pathetic Honda Camino because that’s all my folks could afford. And as for my job, I probably endured the worst apprenticeship of all time.

And today? Today I’m fit enough to win a boxing match, and that’s not something you can pluck out of thin air, let me tell you. Today I have a dream woman in my arms. Today I have friends whom I can count on. Today I live in a villa, and right outside my front door sits a  . . . Right, I know, nowadays that no longer counts as a status symbol; a Tesla would be cooler. But hey, I’ve wanted a Porsche my entire life and now I have two. Be happy for me!

Nowadays I work eight hours a day—most days twice that, just because it’s so enjoyable. On weekends too. Not because I have to, and not because I’m a crazed go-getter, as some people have branded me. No, I do it of my own free will. Because today I have my dream job. Today things are happening to me that are beyond my wildest dreams.

For example, I always wanted to speak with my favorite soccer coach. It meant the world to me. His name is Armin Veh and at the time he was still coaching the Eintracht Frankfurt regional soccer team. I just found it impressive how he led the team: relaxed, with humor, but extremely professional too. And he made sure that the players did their job on the field. Of course, he’s in the limelight, so it’s not easy to get access to him. So what happens? I go to my favorite Italian restaurant, and there he is, sitting with his assistant coach Reiner Geyer. Aha, I think, life is throwing this moment my way. I say thank you very much, sidle up to both of them and engage them in conversation. They turn out to be very friendly, both great guys; I’m still in touch with them. Reiner Geyer managed to arrange for my son to escort the players through the tunnel at a home game—a wonderful experience! Granted, this may seem like a detail to you. And it was certainly a chance occurrence; it just fell into my lap. Things like this keep happening to me. But whether you believe me or not, my good fortune was not completely a matter of luck but due to the fact that, through the years, I have drastically changed my perspective on life. In life, you get back whatever you project. I can never preach this point often enough.

In the past, I saw myself as the victim. Consequently, life used to treat me as one. In the past, I saw myself as ugly, thus I saw the ugly sides of life. Today I see myself as a winner. As a result, life rewards me generously. Before, such wonderful things would not have happened out of the blue as they do nearly every week nowadays. Today I can walk into a room and notice that people feel my presence. You know what I’m talking about, right? Sometimes a room will light up when someone walks in; other times, it gets brighter when someone leaves. I can still remember a time when nobody noticed me, unless it was to poke fun. Whether I was in the room or not, no one cared. Today, I attract attention regardless of where I go. Seriously, when I go somewhere, it’s as if a spotlight is turned on. That’s what people tell me time and time again. Why is that so? Because of what I project. And where does that come from? From within, from my mindset. And what is the source of that mindset? It lies in the fact that when nobody wanted me to get to the top, I went and made it anyway. Every person is that which they have experienced. If you want to know how I got to the top, my life story will tell you.

I will tell you that story in this book.

You will no doubt recognize yourself in various places along the way. This book has a very specific goal. It is to embolden you.

I want you to pursue your own path, regardless of who would stand in your way.

Martin Limbeck

1. Red Cards

First off, let me say this: I didn’t have a bad childhood. I cannot find fault with my parents in any way. If I tell you about my early life, what I’m referring to is what it felt like for me, not whether my folks did a good job or not. That is not what this is about. I love my parents more than anything else and spend as much time as possible with them. Family is after all one of the most important things to me.