Friday night at our home follows a typical routine. The kids return from school either with plans for the evening or a plan to set up the evening. This was certainly the case last Friday as my oldest daughter and her friends had set a date for the movies, while my younger daughter jumped on the phone and began calling her buddies.

Unfortunately, my younger daughter’s plans never materialized. But being the loving parents that we are, my wife and I agreed to accompany her to the movie "Uptown Girls" - a typical teeny-bopper movie that covers every possible psychological aspect that a budding adolescent could want or imagine. Plus, one surprising element that motivated me to write this story.

The plot of the movie involves an undisciplined "twenty something" young lady who, due to the embezzlement of her inheritance, finds herself working as a nanny to a serious little 8 year old. This girl doesn’t understand the meaning of the word "fun!" Her life is defined by a rigid, sterile environment that also includes the intense study of ballet.

During one scene, the young girl begins to practice some routine ballet moves. The nanny interrupts the practice and says, "Let’s do something fun", to which the girl replies, "This is fun!" The nanny then says that practicing basic ballet moves couldn’t possibly be fun, but the girl retorts with this powerful thought:

"Mikhail Baryshnikov (likely the finest male ballet dancer in history) says that ‘fundamentals are the foundation of fun!' "

Too many of us consider repetitive practice of basic selling skills to be boring or a waste of time. We neglect role-playing, rehearsing or practice because we’re bent on the idea that every minute of our life should be spent having "fun". But attaining that reality requires a shift in your thinking. To become a top performer you must make fundamentals the foundation of your life.

Face it, drinking buttermilk for the first time may cause you to gag. But continue to drink it long enough and your tastes will change and it may become your preferred beverage. The same is true with the practice of fundamentals.

For the best fundamental training in the industry, sign up to attend one of our regional workshops today!