Who Cares About Stromatolites?
28 October 2005

Stromatolites probably don't mean much to you. But they should.

It�s thanks to these blob-like �corals� that we exist. The only trick a Stromatolite has is to produce tiny bubbles of oxygen.

Bubbles are produced by primitive algae-like micro-organisms called cyanobacteria, which live on the surface of the rocks � about three billion of them to the square yard � each of them capturing a molecule of carbon dioxide and a tiny beat of energy from the sun.

The by-product of this simple process is the faintest puff of oxygen. For two billion years this is all the life there was on earth. But in that time Stromatolites raised the oxygen level in the atmosphere to 20 percent � enough to allow the development of other, more complex life forms: like us, for instance.

What�s this got to do with sales? Everything. The lesson I�ve taken out of this is that even the smallest thing we do has an effect.

Energy is neither created nor is it lost.

So, no matter what you do: prospecting, telephoning, making sure your proposal is 100% correct, networking, setting goals, seeing people, educating yourself, spending time with your children, being gentle on yourself � it all has an effect.

Sometimes it seems as if our efforts aren't having an effect. But they do, no matter how small.

So, in the words of Winston Churchill, �Never, never, never, never give up.�

Happy selling.

I got the information on Stromatolites from Bill Bryson�s enchanting book about Australia, Down Under (pg 387). This book finally puts to bed that Australia is just like South Africa (its not and Australians aren't like us). If you haven�t already discovered Bill Bryson, you should. One of the most entertaining travel writers I know.

 Copyright 2005 by Jacques de Villiers 

This article may be copied or republished with the following credit:

"By Jacques de Villiers, Inspirational Speaker, Johannesburg, South Africa.
+27 (0) 82 906 3693   www.jacquesdevilliers.com "