By Michael Beck
The beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on the past and look to the future, a time to review past successes and missteps and take stock of unfinished projects and unachieved goals.
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People only fail when they stop trying and give up on their dreams. |
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As you do this, realize that it’s OK to have unmet expectations and failures. I use the word failures because many people confuse a failed outcome with being a failed person. It’s quite common for an effort to yield results below our expectations. What some people consider a failure, others would simply regard as an undesired outcome. People only fail when they stop trying and give up on their dreams. Not getting the desired results is not failing; it’s just not getting the desired results.
Virtually every successful person has tried things that don’t work. Sometimes they start out having the success they want and then try things that flop, or they try one thing after another without success until they land on the formula that works for them. In spite of countless setbacks, they persevered and found a way to succeed.
Let me share a bit of my personal experience with you. Even though I am successful, I endured many fruitless efforts on my way to success. There have been marketing campaigns that produced almost nothing, training programs that attracted almost no one and products that almost no one purchased. And yet, I never viewed myself as a failure. I knew that somehow, I would succeed.
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If you keep doing the same things in the same way, you’ll keep getting the same results and end up in the same place. |
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Lessons learned
Along the way to success, I have learned some important lessons:
- Reinvent yourself. New goals and desires are good to have, but if you keep doing the same things in the same way, you’ll keep getting the same results and end up in the same place. It’s important to reinvent yourself and your business at least annually to keep things fresh and moving forward. If you want to reach new heights, you need to offer more and offer it in new ways.
- Have a positive attitude. Yes, here it is again. Attitude matters. The more positive your attitude, the easier it is to succeed and the greater your success will be. And remember that nothing worthwhile was ever accomplished by someone who was realistic. I’m not encouraging unrealistic thinking; I am simply encouraging possibility thinking. Possibility thinking goes beyond reasonable and borders on improbable. A positive attitude will help you see the possibilities rather than the obstacles. People who succeed found a way to succeed; people who don’t succeed found a way not to.
- Be curious. I’m amazed at the vast number of people who aren’t curious. They’re not curious about people, they’re not curious about the world, and they’re not curious about how to do things better. One thing I’ve observed about successful people is that they’re always looking for ways to improve. They may strive to become a better leader or communicator or to understand themselves better. They read about how others are succeeding to gain new insights and ideas. They invest in themselves because they know that just one new idea can make the difference. And they know that one new technique, insight or perspective can trigger a cascade of creative ideas that can help their business rocket to new levels of success.
The bottom line is that if you truly want this year to be different, do yourself a favor. Do something more than just setting new goals and getting excited about reaching those goals. Spend time reinventing yourself and your business. Work on your attitude. If you don’t determine what goes into your head, someone else will. Become curious and stay curious. Become a perpetual student—a student of your profession, of people and of marketing.
Reprinted with permission, 2008. All rights reserved.
Michael Beck, “the insurance and advisor coach,” is an executive coach, speaker and trainer. You can reach him at 866-385-8751 or at mbeck@theinsurancecoach.com. Visit www.TheInsuranceCoach.com to learn more.
January 2008
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