Here's
what Jeffrey Gitomer, The Business Sales Guru and Best-selling Author of The Sales Bible, Has to Say In His Foreword for Kick Your Excuses Goodbye About Rene Godefroy
"Look at Rene as a lifelong lesson of persistence and determination, of attitude and work ethic, of self-belief and personal dedication to excellence. ...don't you think for one moment that this young man
has not inspired me and thousands of others who have had the privilege of listening to his eloquently told story." - Jeffrey Gitomer,Best-selling author of
The Little Red Book of Selling
Jeffrey Gitomer interviews Rene Godefroy for Selling
Power Audio Magazine
HE’S NOT A VILLAGE HERO.
HE’S AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.
by Jeffrey Gitomer
“Welcome to the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Can I help you
with your bags?” Those are the first words spoken to me
by Rene Godefroy. As he put my bags onto the luggage cart he noticed
my book, The Sales Bible.
“Did you write that book?”
“Yes I did.” I smiled puffing out my chest a bit.
“How can I get a copy?” he asked without hesitating.
“I’ll tell you what, you can get one tonight. Would
you rather have a book or a tip?”
“I’ll take the book!” he responded with a big
smile.
“Are you a member of the National Speakers Association?”
Rene asked.
“Yes, I am. How do you know about that organization?”
I was a bit taken aback by his question. How does a bellman know
about the NSA?
“I’m a member of the Georgia Speakers Association
myself, and I plan to join the National this year.”
“Cool. Are you a speaker?”
“Yes, I am,” he said with the self-assurance of a
twenty-year veteran.
We then played the “name-game” for a few minutes.
Do you know this guy, do you know that guy. Turns out he knew
all the people that mattered, at least all the ones I knew.
“What are you doing working as a bellman?” I wanted
to know. “I’m not making a full-time living as a speaker,
so I do this for extra money,” he said as he smiled.
This guy sure smiles a lot, I thought.
I wondered how many other speakers in the vaunted National Speakers
Association began their careers as bellmen. I think the answer
is somewhere between “not many” and “none”.
Anyway, this guy was kind of cool. He had a sort of a foreign
accent.
“Where are you from?”
“Haiti.”
“How’d you get to America?”
“Long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you
sometime.”
As it turns out, I gave him the book AND a tip. I also invited
him to e-mail me if he needed any help in growing his speaking business.
I often make that offer to new speakers, but usually no one takes
me up on it. The next morning, I got an e-mail from Rene asking
my advice about Speaker’s Bureaus and bookings.
That told me that he was serious and on top of his ambition.
I love helping people who “want it.”
Two months later, I was at the National Speakers Association
winter workshop in Norfolk at some big Marriott; and there was
Rene. He was wearing a suit, and he looked as dapper and as professional
as he possibly could. We were happy to see one another.
“Did you give the bellman a big tip?” I asked. Rene
smiled. I’m always happy when I see someone trying to “make
it” and the first thing they do is become a student. We
became better friends that weekend.
Then the national convention came to Washington, DC. There was
Rene. He seemed more excited this time.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I’m telling my story.”
“When’s that going to happen?”
“Monday morning on the main platform. They only gave me
30 minutes.” “That’s incredible. Do you need
any help?”
Rene just smiled and said, “Just pray that I don’t
mess it up!”
“I think you’ll be fine,” I said. “I
think you’ll be just fine.” I got to hear the Rene
Godefroy story: how he came to America overcoming every obstacle
in his path using sheer determination, risking everything (including
his life), and having an attitude of never quit.
I was, to say the least, touched by his message and inspired
by his unwavering desire to achieve the American dream.
He crushed the audience. Standing ovation.
As you read this book, please understand that there’s more
to it than Rene’s story. Between the lines are the lessons
that seem to elude us as adults.
As Americans, even after 911, we tend to take everything we have
for granted. Rene takes nothing for granted, and is willing to
drag other people’s bags in the evening while he builds
his business during the day so that he can make his mark in the
land of the free and the home of the brave.
To the people in his home village, Rene is a hero. He broke away,
he came to America, and he is succeeding. Does he send money home
to his family? What do you think? He probably sends home too much.
But don’t look at Rene simply as a village hero. Look at
Rene as a lifelong lesson of persistence and determination, of
attitude and work ethic, of self-belief and personal dedication
to excellence.
Yes, over the last few years I have inspired Rene, helped him
build his business, and encouraged him to succeed; but don’t
you think for one moment that this young man has not inspired
me and thousands of others who have had the privilege of listening
to his eloquently told story.
It is my hope that after you have finished reading this book
you will become a hero in your village, and you will go out and
buy several more copies to give to your friends so that they may
catch the inspiration of Rene Godefroy.
--Jeffrey Gitomer
If
you are looking for a business motivational speaker or sales motivational
speaker who will keep your audience riveted and entertained, look
no further. Rene Godefroy will have them on the edge of their
seats while sharing powerful strategies on how to deal with change,
overcome challenges & manage stresses. A step beyond motivation...It
is totally transformational! Everyone walks away with a new attitude!