When I first got the call from Georgia Lottery about being a speaker for their sales conference, I admit I did not readily make the connection between the lottery and culture. Not long into the conversation, however, the light bulb went off. GA Lottery sales reps call on retailers from convenience stores, gas stations and small shops inside office buildings. Many of these stores are owned by people from around the world, and the Lottery wanted to provide their sales force with some tools to be highly effective with retailers of all backgrounds – a wise and proactive thought!
From the moment we talked on the phone, the Lottery team welcomed Highroad with an open mind and heart. My associate Todd Shinholster and I had an extraordinary experience this past Thursday co-presenting at their annual sales conference up at Lake Lanier. We set up for the workshop to the beat of Bollywood music and the drums of India got me in the right state of mind. As the session began, the Lottery sales reps actively engaged with us in discussions around cultural communication, honesty, relationship building and protocols from different countries. They embraced the topic, asked thought-provoking questions, and laughed with us as we told our personal stories of cultural challenges.
We played an international etiquette game of “Rude or Not Rude” and brought forward our own joy of making connections with the wisdom in the room. Todd and I brought our personal experiences from Austria, India, Nepal and more to the table, and the sales force brought theirs. Beyond the fun and authentic tone of the workshop, Todd and I were struck by how kind each and every GA Lottery team member was, going above and beyond the call of duty to help us.
This joy is what the Highroad is all about. Todd and I would like to thank GA Lottery Corporation for giving us the opportunity to share our passion and make a difference!
