Top Performer: A Proven Way to Dramatically Boost Your Sales and Yourself [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

STEPHEN C. LUNDIN (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2006

We all sell something for a living -- whether it's a brand, a vision, an education, a direction, or a service.We might even be selling a set of numbers to a board meeting, learning to a student, or cereal to an infant.This eye-opening parable is about harnessing natural energy -- yours and that of those around you -- in order to take your sales, and your satisfaction to the next level of success. In Top Performer, you'll meet Jim, a disciplined but uninspired sales manager.In London on vacation -- his first in years -- he meets a gentleman named Top Hat.In an engrossing conversation, Top Hat tells him about a legendary Dublin busker/street performer called the Rat Catcher, who engages his audience and effortlessly charms them into parting easily with their change.Top Hat then gives Jim an envelope to bring to the Rat Catcher as a form of introduction. Jim is incredulous, and even a bit suspicious.But after a trip back home, he's willing to do anything to break out of his rut of good-to-average sales and dogged but unfulfilling perseverance. Jim travels to Dublin, where the Rat Catcher tells -- and shows -- him some surprising secrets of his work ethic and his selling style.Jim ultimately realizes that he needs to Claim the Pitch, Mine the Mess, Choose the Close, and, most importantly, Juice the Jam.When Jim returns home, he's re-energized, having learned how to Build a Circle and Pass the Hat where it really counts -- in his life, his relationships, and his workplace.Full of action-packed and sometimes hilarious descriptions of the real like adventures of street performer, this engaging metaphor will appeal to anyone in any position -- and in any field, from banking to baking to busking.In the tradition of the bestselling Fish! series this is a deceptively simple story that contains profound advice -- advice that will help make readers into Top Performer themselves.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen C. Lundin, Ph.D., is a writer, filmmaker, and educator who has inspired audiences on five continents to discover a way of being at work that honors the life energy spent there. As a former national marketing director, business school dean, and serial entrepreneur, Steve's writing and speaking is a mixture of powerful concepts and practical ideas. He lives with his wife, Janell, and dog, Bo, in Maplewood, Minnesota. Carr Hagerman has been a professional street performer since 1974. He has toured and performed at fairs and festivals nationally and is an experience and leadership consultant and a sought-after speaker who travels and speaks internationally. He lives with his wife Marian, and two dogs in Minnestrista, Minnesota. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

The co-author of an employee motivational book (FISH!) and a street performer/consultant offer a wake-up lesson on keeping ones energy high in a sales or service job. The parable involves a London street performers advice to a visiting stateside salesperson whose enthusiasm for his work has tanked. The salesman is drawn to the performers entrepreneurial spirit, boundless energy, and crafty strategies for energizing and serving his audiences. The timeless convention of a sincere and hardworking performer drawing people into his circle works well to illustrate whats missing in sales today. Carr Hagerman keeps the story going with his own energy, enthusiasm for the message, and consummate skill in handling the American and British sides of the dialogue. T.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hyperion; Abridged edition (December 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401384846
• ISBN-13: 978-1401384845
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,893,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wake Up Call, July 7, 2009

By 

Belinda K. Ellsworth (Pinckney, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Top Performer: A Bold Approach to Sales and Service (Hardcover)

It's a book designed to provide a wake-up call for those who work in sales and service. If you've been conducting business for a while, have experienced some success, and are wondering, "What's next?" - or "How can I shake things up?" - this book could be very helpful for you.

The premise is unique: those in sales can learn a lot from the experiences of street performers. At first that may sound like it's a stretch, but the authors make their case very well. It's written as a parable, with a street performer named the Rat Catcher providing surprising advice to a salesperson whose enthusiasm for his business has waned.

The story draws parallels between a street performer's talent for engaging the audience, getting them involved and drawing them in, and the most effective approach for sales. A performer has to always be on his game. He must be prepared to improvise, accommodate surprises, and reach higher and higher if he senses he's losing the attention of the audience. The performer must be able to deftly convert a heckler into an invested member of the audience - or at least a surprising or amusing element of the show!

The book teaches the reader all about the value of harnessing energy - your own, as well as that of those surrounding you - to establish instant rapport, a feeling of group participation, and a shared experience. Through that shift, you can increase your sales and even your personal enjoyment of your "show."

The chapters are broken into different show biz techniques for improving performance - Claim the Pitch, Mine the Mess, Choose the Close, and Juice the Jam. The story is fun and engaging and the lessons translate beautifully for those of us working in sales. I found the simple story a good way to communicate some powerful techniques.

You know, my whole life I've enjoyed street performers. I always stop. I always watch. And I always give money. I've observed and appreciated the energy they put into the shows, but never before had I made the connection between what they do and what we do. I found the premise of this book so thought provoking and unique; it is a great new approach to a very familiar subject. I thought the book was good and that the lessons were clear and meaningful to our industry.

It really just boils down to recognizing that life is about relationships and living in the moment. It's about embracing change, dealing gracefully with mistakes, and rolling with the punches. In the end, those lessons and qualities serve us well in business, too.

Stephen C. Lundin is also the co-author of Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, which is a fantastic business book that tells the story of the fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Market, and how they developed into the most popular "street performance" in the country. This is also a great read, which I reviewed on December 7, 2006.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Read for Any Sales or Service Professional, July 30, 2007

By 

Brendan C. Dowd (Kansas City, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top Performer: A Bold Approach to Sales and Service (Hardcover)

Anyone who works in sales or customer service industries should definately read this book. It tells the story of a successful salesperson who finds that the extra hours and discipline which have worked well early in his career are no longer enough. His home life is strained, his motivation is low, and he no longer can sustain himself on the challenge of just meeting his targets. He finds the answers he needs from discussions with street performers and learns tools and strategies to excel and rekindle the excitement in his job and life. A quick and fun read full of great ideas that stick with you!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Energizing, January 4, 2007

By 

J. A. Fesser - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top Performer: A Bold Approach to Sales and Service (Hardcover)

A wonderful journey in the land of intuitive reasoning and inner potential mining. For those of us struggling in the pursuit of new business ideas or suffocating in unattainable bottom lines. Top Performer will help you tap your natural energy, awaken your curiosity and leverage your unique abilities. A truly sustainable new year's resolution!