Hear the story of how Shelley Winner overcame drug addiction and incarceration to become a number one B2B sales executive for Microsoft. She found strength in relationships and took every opportunity to turn her life around. In this episode, you’ll hear how Shelley pushed past her insecurities and achieved success she had never imagined possible. Learn from Shelley’s story and choose which action will help you move forward in your journey.

Action Principles 

Pick one to do this week: 

1. Look for potential. Instead of seeing someone for their past, focus on their potential for growth. ACTION: Help someone reach their potential by offering guidance or mentorship.
2. Don’t allow emotions to rule you. Especially fear, which will create doubt and insecurities in your mind. ACTION: Try something new, even if you’re afraid of failure.
3. Embrace the power of storytelling. When you tell a story, you create a connection and emotion around whatever you’re selling. ACTION: Ask yourself how to turn something into a story. 
4. Consider hiring ex-cons. If you’re in a position to hire others, give those with a criminal background a chance. Don’t lower the bar, but if everything else is a good fit, don’t turn them away solely on their past.  ACTION: Change your HR policy to consider those with a criminal past without lowering your standards for talent and values.

Guest Resources

You can continue learning from Shelley Winner on LinkedIn or by visiting ShelleyWinner.com

Suggested LinkedIn Learning Courses

DaveCrenshaw.com/Time

Dave Crenshaw develops productive leaders in Fortune 500 companies, universities, and organizations of every size. He has appeared in Time magazine, USA Today, FastCompany, and the BBC News. His courses on LinkedIn Learning have been viewed tens of millions of times. His five books have been published in eight languages, the most popular of which is The Myth of Multitasking—a time management bestseller. As an author, speaker, and online instructor, Dave has transformed the lives and careers of hundreds of thousands around the world. DaveCrenshaw.com