For a few years of my childhood I lived on my grandfather's farm. He used to have me help him plant trees.

I said to him, "Grampa, I can't wait for all the vegetables to grow so we can eat them, but I especially can't wait for the apples from this dwarf tree."

My grandpa replied, "This tree isn't even in the ground yet. First we have to plant it. Then it has to mature, and then apples will appear, but you won't be able to eat those apples. This tree won't have apples you can eat for several years."

In business, we don't necessarily have to wait years before the fruits of our labor are available to us. We do have to plant the seeds, nurture and tend to our businesses as they grow.

I spend a lot of money on education each year and I put in my time working, studying, reading, because I know that hard work and putting in the time is ultimately growing more fruit.

What carries us through the growth periods, when maybe we don't have exactly what we want?

Watching my students over the years as they bear the fruits of their labor as a result of persuasion training is an amazing process. We all grow together, learn from each other, and thrive on the richness of our diverse backgrounds.

Sir Isaac Newton said, "If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent."

The concept of 'patient attention' is important, especially when we're faced with a huge amount of information (like a beginning piano student, or even a beginning persuasion student).

We're not always going to get it right the first time. I caution new students not to be hard on themselves. Even if your conscious mind doesn't think it's getting all the information, if you're paying attention and putting in the time, your other than conscious mind is absorbing.

In order to "get it" you need to be present. You have to have the "attention" part in play for it to begin to bear fruit.

About the Author

Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to earn the business of affluent clients using persuasion. He runs public and private seminars and offers home study courses and coaching programs in persuasion techniques.