Sales research indicates:

• 50% of all sales leads are left to wither on the vine to die
• 80% of all salespeople stop after the 3rd contact
• 30%-70% of all sales targets are not achieved

What this suggests to me is there is just a lot of plain laziness out there in the marketplace. However, very few people are talking about this using this word. To do so would be judgmental and unkind, even though profits are being drained away.

When Laziness Takes Over

Laziness is so prevalent in our society (U.S.), I am surprised that anything gets done. The majority of people are born both mentally and physically fit. However, due to a variety of reasons, laziness takes over.

With the prevalent entitlement mentality, productivity suffers while other costs, from health care to the price of retail goods, continue to spiral upward.

Just look at the parking lot of any grocery or retail store. How many carts are left stranded in parking places because someone was just too darn lazy to return the cart to one of those cart holding stands?

This laziness also has a much deeper meaning. It is 100% disrespectful to all those other shoppers who have to weave around those unintended shopping carts (think ethics and beliefs).

Heaven forbid if it is a windy day and a sudden gust takes the cart and slams it into your vehicle or worse yet, your child!

My sense is many of those lazy people would be the first to complain if their car was damaged, or their child was harmed by a stray unattended shopping cart.

The Impact of Laziness

When people are lazy in sales, in business, and in life, their behaviors affect everyone else because of their poor business ethics.

This is why it is important to focus on what you can control and have an action plan.

Additionally, it is critical to have a unified and shared positive core values throughout your organization.

The Ball Is In Your Court

As one final observation if you choose to be lazy, then do not expect others to pick up your slack. You have 100% control of the actions you take, including picking up that phone to call a potential customer.

Personal responsibility and accountability are key attributes or talents not only for professional salespeople but for everyone else as well.