About the Author
Dirk Zeller started his entrepreneurial business career more than 40 years ago through lemonade stands. He has been recognized as an efficient time manager and top sales performer in every field he's entered, from professional racquetball to business sales of advertising, marketing, and event sponsorship to consumer-direct sales fields such as real estate. His time management skills were legendary in the real estate field, where he sold over 150 homes a year while working Monday through Thursday, taking Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
Dirk has been teaching, coaching, and training success, sales, and time management strategies to executives, managers, and salespeople since 1998, when he founded Sales Champions and Real Estate Champions. He is one of the most sought-after speakers in time management, peak performance, and sales. He has spoken on five different continents to hundreds of thousands of people.
Dirk is one of the world's most published authors on success, time management, productivity, sales, and life balance. He is the author of ten top-selling books, including Telephone Sales For Dummies and Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies. He has more than 500 published articles to his credit, and over 250,000 people read his weekly newsletter.
The time that's most valuable to Dirk is the time enjoyed with his wife of 25 years, Joan, his 13-year-old son, Wesley, and his 9-year-old daughter, Annabelle. He and his family reside in Bend, Oregon. You can reach Dirk at
Sales Champions
5 NW Hawthorne Ave., Suite 100
Bend, OR 97701
Phone 541-383-0505
Email [email protected]
Email [email protected]
Website www.saleschampions.com
Dedication
Nothing reflects the passing of time more than growth and changes in our children. It seems like just yesterday that Joan and I received the call that changed our lives as we exited my 96-year-old grandmother's funeral. The call was from our pastor's wife, Linda Johnson. She said a baby boy had been born that morning in Hood River, Oregon, and asked if we wanted him. The next day, Joan and I walked out of the Hood River Memorial Hospital with our son, Wesley.
In the last 13 years since that moment, the time has passed like a blink of an eye. We have added another blessing in Annabelle, who also has a divine and miraculous story. In those years, which seem like mere moments in time, it feels like seconds ago we got our first smile, giggle, crawl, and walk out of each of them.
I dedicate this book to my two precious time clocks of life, Annabelle and Wesley. The time with you two moves too quickly. I, as all parents, fight to stay in the moment, enjoy every moment, and relive those moments before they are gone. You two have taught me more about time's value, joy, and its ever-marching-on characteristics than anyone else in my years on Earth. I love you both deeply and praise God for the honor he bestowed on me to be your dad.
Author's Acknowledgments
I always have to thank my team at Sales Champions and Real Estate Champions. It is truly an honor to be surrounded by so many talented people. I must especially thank my senior management team: Wende Fletcher, my office manager, and Julie Porfirio, senior vice president of operations. You both have worked hard to insulate me so I could take on another For Dummies book.
To Julie Porfirio, who labored over my handwritten words to type, organize, revise, and edit the whole manuscript — thanks. This book would not have existed without your fine work.
To Stacy Kennedy, my acquisitions editor at Wiley; and Susan Hobbs, project editor.
To my wife, Joan, my son, Wesley, and my daughter, Annabelle. Thank you for your patience and grace. There is a sacrifice of time that we all make when I am writing a book!
Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Kennedy
Project Editor: Susan Hobbs
Copy Editor: Susan Hobbs
Technical Editors: Angela Jorden
Art Coordinator: Alicia B. South
Production Editor: Vinitha Vikraman
Project Manager: Jennifer Ehrlich
Cover Image: ©iStock.com/Greyfebruary