Interview With Glenn D. Porter

A veteran in professional sales and sales management experience, Invisible Mentor Glenn Porter shares his wisdom with us. He talks about how mentors influenced his life, life lessons learned, his biggest failure and how it contributed to a greater  success, desert island books and so much more!

Avil Beckford: Describe a business challenge you had and how you resolved it.

 Glenn Porter: I have faced many challenges in my life and the important thing in resolving them is persistence. My mantra is that if you want to get something done you have to be persistent.

Avil Beckford:  What lessons did you learn in the process?

Glenn Porter: I have learned from my many challenges that you are only as good as your network – the friends that you have. You don’t know everything so it’s important to be able to find people with the expertise you need.

Avil Beckford: Tell me about your big break and who gave you

 Glenn Porter: The biggest break I ever got was getting into Villa Nova University on a full scholarship from the Navy for my undergraduate degree and I went to the University of Hawaii for my graduate degree under the GI Bill.

 Avil Beckford: Describe one of your biggest failures. What lessons did you learn, and how did it contribute to a greater success?

 Glenn Porter: Early on I wanted to be a Navy pilot and I didn’t get into aviation but I ended up in electronics and technology, which I think worked out better for me because all my friends who are pilots are going through a difficult time with all that the airlines are going through. I have had a very fulfilling career and my education got me into sales.

 Avil Beckford: What’s one of the toughest decisions you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life?

 Glenn Porter: Many decisions have been made for me as things change in life and you have to adjust. There is no consistency or corporate loyalty. Information technology changed and companies came in and out of favour and normally that meant that you had to change companies

 Avil Beckford: How did mentors influence your life?

 Glenn Porter: I have been very fortunate to have great mentors and they have been very helpful to me over the years.

 Avil Beckford: What’s one core message you received from your mentors?

 Glenn Porter: You have to always lead from the front and not ask others to do what you wouldn’t do.

 Avil Beckford: How do you integrate your personal and professional life?

 Glenn Porter: You always have to have fun and my family is very important to me. I work hard but do not think of myself as a workaholic. I am not a Type A personality and I recognize that life is short and your family and friends add value to your life.

 Avil Beckford: What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?

 Glenn Porter: I always wanted to work for a company that had offices overseas especially in exotic areas where they would send me to work there for a period of time. I have never had that opportunity.

 Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?

 Glenn Porter: Get up in the morning and go to work, when you make decisions, make them based on facts, take time out to laugh every day, take care of your health, and don’t be afraid to try new things.

 Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?

 Glenn Porter: I garden, fish, and attend events at my son’s school, and my church.

 Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?

 Glenn Porter: My wife calls me a very clever bear. I seem to come up with very clever ideas intuitively. And, I have been able to execute my ideas.

 Avil Beckford: How do you define success?

 Glenn Porter: Having a level of freedom from anxiety and clearly it isn’t all about money. It’s about having the time to enjoy the things that are important to you.

 Avil Beckford: What does it take to succeed in your field?

 Glenn Porter: Persistence, common sense, hard work, and an element of good fortune.

 Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life?

 King James Version of the Bible

 Avil Beckford: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you?

 Glenn Porter: I would rather take books by specific authors with me – Agatha Christie, Barbara Tuchman, Thomas Cahill, C. S. Lewis, and William Shakespeare.

 Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for?

 Glenn Porter: Good health and a long, happy family relationship.

 Avil Beckford: Complete the following, I am happy when…..

  Glenn Porter: I am with my wife and family.

About Glenn Porter: Glenn is a veteran in professional sales and sales management experience with over 25 years under his belt. Glenn Porter writes for Forbes Online.

See also May/June 2008 Ambeck Edge

Articles by Glenn Porter