Roald Dahl wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in 1964. You might have seen “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” the original movie starring Gene Wilder, or “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the darker version (not dark chocolate) with Johnny Depp.

The book and movies focus around a slightly nutty entrepreneur, a chocolate factory, tiny workers and a contest to find one of the five “golden tickets” inside Wonka’s chocolate bars. If you got a golden ticket, the reward was an all-day tour of the secret candy factory with Willy Wonka himself.

Charlie Bucket, the hero and ideal child, was one of the five winners. The other four children were spoiled brats, and as they went on the factory tour, they revealed their greed or misbehaved in such a way as to be punished or banished. Charlie was rewarded with the entire factory and empire. Not a bad day’s work!

There’s much more to this children’s story. There are lessons to be learned, both in sales and in life.

Looking for your golden ticket?

Hoping for it?

Have doubters?

What’s your vision of it?

How strong is your belief in it?

Maybe you already have a golden ticket. Maybe more than one.

Here are several areas to evaluate as you begin the search.

1. Communication that’s transferable. Who is acting on your words?

2. Customers who are loyal and give repeat business without a bid or quote. How many of your customers fit into that category?

3. Customers who give referrals without you asking for them. How many referrals did you earn last month? As many as you wanted? What are you doing about it?

4. Prospective customers who call and want to buy. How many unsolicited referrals did you get last month? Ouch!

5. Followers who re-tweet you. Do you understand the power of Twitter is in the re-tweet?

6. Customers who post positive things on your business Facebook page. Do you even have one?

7. People who watch your videos on YouTube. How many testimonial videos are on your YouTube channel? Not enough!

8. People who ask to connect with you on LinkedIn. Do you have more than 500 connections that you “value message” weekly?

9. People who subscribe to your email magazine. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own e-zine, but you’re not sure where, how or what, go to www.aceofsales.com. Mystery resolved.

10. People who subscribe to your blog. No blog either? Yikes! Blogspot.com and wordpress.com are both free and come with complete instructions. Launch!

11. Your reputation in your business and in your community. What are you known for? What are you known as? What is your image?

12. Your personal assets. Not your material things. Golden tickets are found among your intellect, your health, your personal development, your drive, your dedication, your creativity and other priceless intangibles.

13. Your inner circle of friends and connections. People who encourage you and lift your spirits. People who help you without expectation.

14. Your YES! Attitude. This is the foundation for finding and taking advantage of your ticket.

15. The random acts of kindness you perform. Doing things that make others feel good, make you feel GREAT!

15.5. Your family. Family strength compounds personal strength. Family is both gold and golden. It’s love at its unconditional best.

Hope you find your golden ticket. It might be closer than you think.

Jeffrey Gitomer can be reached by phone at (704) 333-1112 or by email at salesman@gitomer.com. © 2011 Jeffrey H. Gitomer