--- title: Helping Those Who Won’t Help Themselves | The Sales Blog description: You can’t want something for someone who doesn’t want it for themselves. It doesn’t matter that you can see what they could become, that you see talent being wasted, or that a potential financial gain is being lost. Until they want it for themselves, nothing you do will make a difference. Some have too little […] image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_148457381.jpg --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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It doesn’t matter that you can see what they could [become](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/04/30/chip-away-the-parts-that-arent-the-best-you/), that you see talent being wasted, or that a potential financial gain is being lost. Until they want it for themselves, nothing you do will make a difference. Some have too little ambition, even though you see the talent. Others have too small a [vision](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2010/06/01/is-your-vision-of-yourself-big-enough/) for themselves, even though you see what they cannot yet see. Some are lazy, some are fearful, some prefer the role of victim, even though you know they have power they don’t yet recognize. You can make introductions. You can offer advice and help develop plans. You can spend time coaching and mentoring the individual in whom you see something more, something bigger. But your actions won’t result in anything other than your frustration unless the person you are trying to help decides to exercise their own initiative and take action. The challenge here isn’t to offer your help providing opportunities, coaching, mentoring, or even doing the work that might help the person who won’t take action on their own. The challenge is in helping them change their mind about what they should want for themselves, about what they are truly capable of, about who they could become. The only real help you can offer the person in whom you see greater things is to help them change their [beliefs](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2012/10/20/you-are-a-victim-of-your-own-beliefs/), their mindset, their attitude, and their vision. And these are the most difficult areas in which to make a difference. Unless and until they decide to believe something different, and unless they take action on their own, all of your efforts are for naught. ###### Tags: [Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2014](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2014) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on July 23, 2014 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com) [Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino) [![AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/authority) [![ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg?width=318&height=179&name=ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/free-cold-calling-video) ![salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover (1)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(1).jpg?width=768&height=994&name=salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(1).jpg) ### Free Sales eBook: Sales Call Planner Planning your sales call improves the likelihood of making a successful call, and it demonstrates to your dream client your professionalism. 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What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2021-09-17T1:30:05 PM", "datePublished" : "2014-07-23 21:00:56", "description" : "You can’t want something for someone who doesn’t want it for themselves. It doesn’t matter that you can see what they could become, that you see talent being wasted, or that a potential financial gain is being lost. 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