SHINE ON

“ I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise nor wealth to the brilliant nor favor to the learned, but time and chance happen to them all.” – Ecclesiastes

SIRCA 1980. No mobile phones. No Internet. So excited to land a job. Ever dreaming of a bright future. Wishing that someday I’m gonna reach the star. Aye the fire kept burning in my heart.

MY FIRST JOB SEARCH journey. I got the chance to submit my job search package to a company that advertised the vacant position in Classified Ads of a leading newspaper. Hiring Sales Agents.

I walked silently to the company’s building and there I went up alone to the third floor. When I showed up in the lobby, I was stunned of what I saw – lots of entrants more or less 200 individuals waiting for turns that day. At first, I thought only a few were interested of the opportunity. Yet, I was wrong.

I proceeded to the front desk and showed my document (a one page resume and a cover letter) to a lady in charged of applicants. Immediately, she browsed my job campaign canvas, and looked at me in the eyes.

“Hi, my name is Mia Rose. Please fill up this form and submit to me when done so I can give you your turn number”, she said softly with a smile. Then she stacked my paperwork on the rack.

I began to drench the Applicant Form together with the other aspirants ahead of me. After completion I handed over the paper to Miss Mia Rose saying, “A million thanks. Have nice day.”

After a while, ten minutes must had passed and my name was called.

“Matthew, please get inside the room for the IQ and psychological examinations.” Other names followed from a roll call. A total of 25 individuals including me who went through the process in a rate of 10 minutes. And new batches followed, and thereafter another group as well who got the accommodations until the  last quarter of the day.

Almost five in the afternoon, and the upshot was released. “The following names will report tomorrow for the interview, and it would start at eight sharp in the morning.”

Wow! My name was one of the Top 20. I felt footloose of the outcome. The fire kept burning in my heart.

” I am the captain of my flagship. Life is what I make of it. My destination may be reached in a few or longer hours, but all depends on my determination to wield all obstacles for my goal. I should value the hardships on account of a better tomorrow. I should be proud that for once in my life, I had cried and persevered during the mournful nights of my fall. And strove hard to rise up and move on.”

– Anonymous

THE NEXT DAY while on his way, Matthew offered a little prayer,  “Oh Lord my God, I know today is a blessing for me. Please walk with me, and grant me the wisdom to excel. Help me, Lord. “

I came all the way to the milieu exactly 7:00 in the morning. My colleagues at the foyer were at hand, all in simple straight-forward business suit. I put myself comfortably and bonded to some personages. The fire kept burning in my heart.

And the office door was half opened and Miss Mia Rose came out. “Hello everybody, please get inside.”

The session started with one on One interview. We were all grilled. Baked with questions. Until our spirits were peeled off, our true personality came out. For sure it was done to find out how qualified we were for the vacancy.

After lunch, a committee interview was staged. Each one faced several members of the company who have a say in whether we are hired. We were asked to demonstrate our problem solving skills. As such, they outlined a situation and asked us to formulate a plan that deals with the problem.

The selection process was concluded that day. And the outturn was made known afterward. Miss Mia Rose officially read, “The following names will come back tomorrow for the training. A 21-Day Lessons with pay and free meals. Time like always kick off at eight sharp in the morning, and wind up eight in the evening. As learning course is progressing there would have eliminations. In short, only the best will survive. “

Ten individuals were preferred and my name was in the list. Now I felt off on the hook. The fire kept burning in my heart.

” Thank you Lord”, Matthew praised God.

THE TRAINING ROOM was cool by the next day. A new challenge awaiting us all in a 21-Day Lessons.

A MAN DRESSED in business came in. “Hello everyone, welcome to the world of selling profession. My name is Rudyard Viuz. I’m your trainor. Before we move to the major topics, I encourage all of you to sing with me with passion and feelings”, he narrated.

Rudyard pasted on the wall the lyrics written on a large cartolina in front of us, then he motioned his hand to get ready and played the VCR connected to the TV set. And he said, “Here we gooo?!”

Lyrics (Source: LyricFind)

Eachday I live, I want to be.               A day to give, The best of me.  I’m only one, But not alone, My finest day Is yet unknow. / I broke my heart, Fought every gain, To taste the sweet I face the pain, I rise and fall, Yet through it all, This much remains

I want one moment in time, When I’m more than I thought I could be, When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away, And the answers are all up to me, Give me one moment in time, When I’m racing with destiny, Then in that one moment of time, I will feel I will feel eternity.

I’ve lived to be, The very best, I want it all, No time for less, I’ve laid the plans, Now lay the chance, Here in my hands.

Give me one moment in time, When I’m more than I thought I could be, When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away, And the answers are all up to me, Give me one moment in time, When I’m racing with destiny Then in that one moment of time I will feel I will feel eternity.

You’re a winner for a lifetime, If you seize that one moment in time, Make it shine.

Give me one moment in time, When I’m more than I thought I could be, When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away, And the answers are all up to me, Give me one moment in time, When I’m racing with destiny, Then in that one moment of time, I will be, I will be, I will be free. I will be, I will be free.

FURTHERMORE, the training session procedded. Mr Rudyard started the session outlining the topics for learning such as The Company Profile, The Products, The Selling Process, Product Presentation, Role Playing, How to Handle Objections, Closing Techniques and Time Management.

Our classroom performance was appraised through written and oral daily activities. A week before the final validations, some of my peers had lost their path. They’re not around. To be specific, only five survive. The executive panel showed up in the last day of the event to welcome us the new member of the institution. They named our group “The Magic 5”.

Before we were deployed to our respective assignments, Rudyard our trainor gave us this great message,

“If you want to be a star in the selling game, you’ve got to have your fundamentals. Keep practicing your fundamentals, and keep it up, until these various fundamentals become as natural and subconscious as breathing. Keep this firmly in your mind, that they are part of you. Know them so well that no matter at what point a prospect breaks away from the path to closing, you can get him back on the tracking again without either of you consciously realizing what has taken place. You can’t develop that perfection by looking in the mirror and congratulating your company for taking you on. You’ve got to drill and drill and drill!

Rudyard Viuz last bid, “You will be measured with numbers. Do your best. We expect you to walk on the red carpet someday. You’re a winner for a lifetime. If you seize that one moment in time, MAKE IT SHINE.”