Possible TMI alert: I hear other business owners complaining about “not knowing what to write” about their business, on their blogs, or to their list via their newsletter or social media. On mornings like this, I wish I had a LOT LESS to share. =)
Look, I love my business. I love the event / group / mastermind arm of my business equally as much as I love the consultatory arm of my business. Both are profitable and both “feed” me in very different ways. I have MUCH to be grateful for in this arena. So, please don’t hear what I’m not saying.
STILL, whenever you’re truly up to something that’s BIGGER than you, you’ll experience disappointment. If you NEVER experience disappointment, you’re playing WAY too small. Life is too messy to assume anything else.
In the world of Women Who WOW, my office has been battling a few “hard knocks” of disappointment with regards to one specific (but important) initiative. Enthusiastic commitments made, and broken. Excuses made. One-way streets revealed. Blah, blah, blah. The details don’t really matter.
How I as a business owner — and how my team — RESPONDS to such disappointment is what will determine the outcome for our business. THAT is what matters.
So, consider this post your Disappointment Recovery Plan… written by someone who’s been there and is currently IN THE THICK of it. =)
Step One: Respond and Course Correct Early. (The earlier the better!)
As entrepreneurs, we’re as optimistic as they come. But, I’ve long held the belief that we need to have a healthy dose of pessimism — maybe even paranoia — to bring us back into the realm of being REALISTS! =) So, in my case…. I IGNORED tell tale signs for — at least — 2 weeks too long. And I knew better. Fortunately, I DID pull the plug on a few avenues and created additional strategies so my end goals wouldn’t have to be down-sized. UNfortunately, had I done so earlier, it would have created a LOT less stress and ill feelings for myself and my team. So, respond EARLY when you see the seeds of disappointing results. Persistence is WAY overrated in business. AGILITY is what leads to success.
Step Two: Get help from someone who KNOWS better.
Sometimes, the closer we are to the problem (or the people the problem involves), the slower we are to do what needs to be done. An objective view is critical for ultimate success. So, reach out and get real with someone. if you don’t have a coach or mastermind group, FIND an accountability partner of some sort. An objective person will be quick to dismiss any notions you may be holding on to regarding good intentions, last minute rescues or commitments kept. State the problem and then take notes. Hold your tongue on your defense mechanisms. Just listen. And then create a DIFFERENT Action plan.
Step Three: Remember the Cardinal Rule: If You Want DIFFERENT results, you’ll have to do something DIFFERENT.
Staying the course is an exercise in futility when you’re in the land of disappointment. So, you must create alternative plans if you’re still committed to your original goal. (And I hope you are. Atlas, please don’t shrug.)
Step Four: Take Massive Action.
Earlier I said that I had seen disappointing results that I ignored for about 2 weeks too long. Please don’t underestimate how LONG two weeks is in the world of business. It’s HUGE. HUGE HUGE HUGE. For your income, it’s about 4% of your year. For an event, two weeks is likely a full 25% of your marketing time. For a launch, 2 weeks is an eternity. Gulp.
Seriously, I’m RE-kicking myself as I type this. TWO WEEKS, Michelle? You let this go on for TWO WEEKS? lol…
Bottom line: Massive action is required to change the direction of a ship. Because disappointment is a downhill coast. That’s easy, regardless of the exact degree of the angle. To take your “ship” and start heading UPhill again… that’s a daunting but worthy goal. MASSIVE action, energy, and a concerted strategy is what will be required.
Step Five: Learn from it.
Don’t be a fool. Learning hard is nothing to be ashamed of. We’re stubborn people. But, learn hard ONLY ONCE per lesson. Take notes…. so you don’t fall into similar patterns, promises or ideas in the future. =)
I’ll be the first to say that I WISH business was a disappointment-free zone. But, it’s often these disappointing moments that DRIVE us to succeed wildly on the other side. Quick, real world example:
An author and sought after expert in the national media wrote his first book. He sold NOT ONE copy on day one. He had purchased $75K worth of his own book. That’s 25,000 books. When they were gathering dust in a storage facility, he brought them home and surrounded himself with evidence of his disappointment. Today, six years later, that same “disappointing” self-published book provides him with $3000 in income every month. This man is Mike Michalowicz and if you’d like the transcript of my revealing interview with him, email us…. michelle (at) bmichellepippin-dot-com.
