Frank Somma

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#957 Frankie From Staten Island

TODAY’S POST IS DEDICATED TO TWO OUTSTANDING SALES PROFESSIONALS FROM EXIT REALTY EC

JOHN SCOTTO AND MATT HUGHES

This week a business associate treated me with disrespect. I don’t even think he realized it.

I believe I was getting hit with the shrapnel from an explosion he had with a close associate of mine.

There was a time when this would have brought out “Frankie from Staten Island” blustering, roaring, threatening, and swearing. But other than the occasional caricature I put out there for fun, “Frankie from SI” is dead and buried.

RIP Frankie

There was not a single time in my business career that good things happened when Frankie showed up.  In fact, I often found myself apologizing for his behavior.

It used to be that no slight was too small to address, that I had to call people out if they insulted or attempted to marginalize me.  Aggression was the tool that sat on the top of my toolbox, and I grabbed it too often and too quickly.

The insulter from last week didn’t hear from Frankie, and by the way, he didn’t hear from me either.  I ran through the possible conversations we could have and saw no upside for me.  Yes, it may have felt good to “get it off my chest.” Still, the outcome of a confrontation did not offer me any good and measurable result, and I am no longer in the business of indulging my emotions for a hit of adrenaline or an ego boost. 

To be sure, I will defend myself from time to time but only when the insulter is of consequence or the relationship meaningful.  Beyond that, I’m finally OK with letting someone think he got one past me while I continue to succeed in the ways that matter to me.

And there’s a bonus.  I (not he) will remember this incident and know a little bit about his character should we have to interact in the future and, because of that, I will have the upper hand.

Own Your Sales Gene...