Being “my own boss” for over thirty-five years has taught me quite a bit about persistence, resilience, and discipline.
Now that I think about it, words like focus, collaboration, creativity, and boldness also fit. I’ve learned a lot through the years. Although, it seems the more experience I’ve gained the more I don’t understand.
Here are five areas that still leave me scratching my head:
1: I don’t understand… why self-employed individuals are so scared of “failure”
Failure is a good thing.
Missing your target is the fastest way to determine whether you are on the right track or not. Activity is the influencing factor. (I’m not suggesting that you fail foolishly.)
If you learn a better way to approach the problem by making the correct mid-course corrections, you will soon be doing your personal “happy dance.”
My advice: Fail faster.
2: I don’t understand… why many self-employed individuals are so scared of “success”
This is “BIG” and more common than you might think.
What if what you are doing actually works? That would mean more work, more responsibility, more…
If and when you do actually succeed, you may be thinking, “What if people find out that I am not as good (or as smart) as they think I am?” What if they find out I’m a fake?
It took me years to come to terms with this fear.
Do yourself a favor and get over it. Let me help you. “You are not as smart, or as good, as you are pretending to be—or as you are going to be.” Your clients do business with you for what you can do for ‘them.’ Be you. Flaws and all. Win or lose. Get on with your business.
My advice: Bask in your success stories.
3: I don’t understand… why many self-employed individuals refrain from speaking in public
A self-employed individual who does not feel comfortable speaking in front of groups, is like an airplane pilot being frightened of heights. Some responsibilities just come with the territory.
This is a textbook study. Say things once, and have multiple audiences benefit from your message. Is this a lesson in time management? You bet it is. It is also an example of “leverage.” It is also an example of “swimming with the tide.”
You are not researching and preparing to write a best-selling novel. You are simply sharing your excitement of what you already know with a room full of interested people who came to hear what you have to say.
Talking comes naturally. (Most of you have been doing it for years.)
My advice: Share your knowledge with others.
4: I don’t understand… why most salespeople fail to “follow-up”
If you have no intention of doing something, don’t say you are going to do it. If you say it, do it.
Don’t confuse your job with one that involves running for political office. You can’t hide behind bureaucracy. You don’t have to candy-coat your capabilities. Shoot from the hip. Tell me the truth. I can take it.
I want to believe you. I want to trust you. Just do what you say you are going to do.
My advice: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Clean your plate.
5: I don’t understand… why many travel professionals blame their lack of success on “everything and anything” but their own decisions and actions
The late Michael Jackson said it best in his song titled The Man in the Mirror: “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look in the mirror and make a change.”
Forget the economy. Forget the weather. Forget the stock exchange. Forget your next-door neighbor, your grade schoolteachers, your parents, your priest, or your rabbi.
The only tool you need to build a future you can be proud of is staring back at you when you look into the “glass.”
My advice: Remember you did not get this far by accident. Choose “you.”
I suppose, if I stop to think about it, there are many other areas that I find confusing and difficult to come to terms with.
But these five are enough for now. I think I have given myself a headache. I plan to take a good long look in the nearest mirror before getting up, going out, and find another person I can help.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club. mike@mikemarchev.com.
*** You want more to think about? Check out my weekly podcast (Mike’d Up Marchev). Also listed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and iHeartRadio.
