Julie Nill

I attribute my success in part, to my mentor Sherry Clark, who was my sales manager and later area director. Her mentorship was amazing - she helped me see blind spots to my growth and understand how to move forward in situations involving different personas. The management style I've evolved really stemmed from her support of not giving up and continual self-growth, putting goals out there, stating them out loud, and taking that first step of action. Sherry as a mentor and a book I read called The Wisdom of Oz, are my biggest influences for the leader, salesperson, coach, and mentor that I am now. The mantra from that book - see it, own it, solve it, do it - has been my guiding force. If there's a problem, I need to see it, take accountability for what I own, solve it by determining the next step, and then take action.

The most important thing I have ever learned is that every struggle is a gift. It is an opportunity to build character and experience growth. Change, even when forced upon me, can be the best thing that could happen if accepted in a positive way. I continue to develop my skill sets and build character by allowing myself to be a part of difficult projects or making the best of situations that I have little control over. I keep reading books by people smarter than me who can help me get through situations, more efficiently and glean the best of the opportunity. I am always open to and even seeking out conversations with others about things I know something or nothing about. I embrace learning and keep a glass half full mentality. I have faith that God puts me where I need to be and gives me the tools to do good. I am responsible for the choices I make that influence the outcomes.

Stop talking and listen.

If a young woman came to me wanting to go into sales, I would ask her: What makes you strong? We would talk about that, because in sales there's a lot of doors closed on you, a lot of no's, a lot of things that can take hold of you and bring you down. You must find ways to continue to build yourself up and learn to lean on the wins. Your strength needs to come from within and you need to embrace gratitude. One philosophy I live by is that every opportunity is a WIN or LEARN - every time you learn, you get closer to another win. So there's no losses, or no's, just not yet and realize, there is more work to do. We would talk about self-confidence and positivity, because that's critical in sales. You need strong self-confidence to receive rejection and keep pushing forward. I would also encourage them to reflect on their educational and professional background, any certifications, specialized training, and life experiences that have helped shape who they are. All experience can contribute to building the resilience you need to succeed in sales and in business. Consider waking up every day with the goal to build up, lift up, or positively influence everyone you encounter. That can define your purpose.

Sales is hard. Industries are evolving and you have to want to change with the world around you.

In both my work and personal life, I value adaptability, accountability, gratitude, and a growth mindset. Multiple career transitions due to company restructurings, industry changes and personal hardships have taught me to embrace change as an opportunity for learning and personal development. I credit much of my success to the observance and guidance of my mentors, co-workers and leaders. I model my mindset after concepts from The OZ Principle: “see it, own it, solve it, do it”. It has shaped the way I approach challenges, take ownership of outcomes, and consistently deliver results while growing both professionally and personally. I am never done learning and I deeply value the gift of struggles. I truly believe that EVERYTHING COUNTS. Every thing you do, or don't do. It will shape you. Every action or inaction is a choice. Some are easy, some are hard, but they all count. They all matter.