Dan Pittman joined Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Today, he serves as the company’s business sales manager. BIC Magazine recently sat down with Pittman to learn more about the importance of continually improving yourself, creating trust with customers and maintaining a healthy work/home life.
Q: What led to your position at LGH?
A: Having spent several years working for Beta Max and selling hoists to LGH, I had seen the company’s structure from the outside. I always thought LGH would be a great company to work with and begin a long-term career. Then, an opportunity presented itself while I was working a trade show in the early 2000s. LGH is a family-oriented company and treats its people and customers with respect and compassion, which were also big factors in why I joined the team.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
A: I stay motivated because of the mindset I established for myself to never settle for less than my best or become complacent in my daily life. Both my personal and career goals have always been focused on being better today than I was yesterday and continuing to improve myself and my knowledge. Continually educating myself on becoming a better manager and expanding my product and territory knowledge also greatly influence my drive to maintain motivation.
Q: What is your favorite sales approach/marketing tool?
A: My favorite sales approach has always been to give my customers the greatest experience they can possibly find, developing true business relationships beyond what would be expected between a salesman and client. I have always viewed a customer relationship as a true partnership between them and myself. Working together, we can accomplish far greater things and better one another, providing the tools needed to make the other successful. In my experience, people generally feel better doing business with someone they connect and create a bond with. Making a conscious effort to ask questions and show an interest in each prospective customer helps to breed that relationship. All prospects and customers have to trust we will be there for them, do what’s best for their needs, and always be honest and forthcoming with them.
Q: What is your biggest lesson learned?
A: The only person who has the power to limit your potential is yourself. If you fully believe you can achieve something, there is nothing that will stop you from achieving it. The possibilities and opportunities that present themselves in our lives are endless. It’s up to each of us to take advantage of and maximize those opportunities and approach life with a positive and optimistic attitude to attain the successes we desire.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: Achieving success in one has an important correlation to the success of the other. The first step to maintaining a healthy work/home life balance is to establish priorities and goals for each area individually and then follow through to ensure those guidelines are executed on a consistent basis. My family is what drives me in life, and my work is the vehicle that brings us to where we want to be, each one being dependent upon the other. In addition, it is important to know when to press the “off ” button. With today’s technological advantages, it has become easy to find yourself amid constant distractions virtually 24 hours a day. In order to maintain a healthy balance of work and family life, it’s important to create that separation by taking a step away from those distractions, dedicating your time and effort on spending quality time with family on a regular basis.