Refusing to LOSE

That's me - far left, middle row

Winning in business often times comes down what my parents called “staying hungry”.  I’m not sure where they got that analogy from, but as I type it I can hear the Rocky theme song in my head, “Staying tough, staying hungry”….

I want to share some strategies that will help you WIN in business…. help you take hold of YOUR market share without apology…. and help you make more money.  Many times, it comes down not to WINNING, but to a defiant, refusal to lose.

To be sure, there are many metaphysical gurus who don’t like my writing / coaching / thoughts in general… it is too black and white for them… a bit more focused on my competitive streak than a win / win / win mentality.  That’s okay.  Because the truth is that there are times when we have to compete … and a REFUSAL to LOSE will serve us well.

When I was a kid, I decided to make the cheering team….. Because SO much has changed since then, I want to set the stage for you.  I was in a very competitive school…. When trying out for the Junior Varsity team, over 100 girls would try out – in front of a live (fully packed) audience and several hired judges who knew none of us.  The 14 girls  with the top scores made the team.  It was as blissfully simple as that.  No creative gifts for judges…. No points for being on the team the year before…. No extra points for being academically successful…Just this:  compete for your spot on the team.  14 will win.  The rest will walk away.

Here are some truths you should probably understand…. and I promise I have a point.

1. I was probably NOT one of the most talented 14 “cheerleaders” that tried out.
2. Each year, I was required to do a “gymnastics run” and, um… was NO gymnast.  Even a roundoff would have been a risk, so in a competition filled with back handsprings and other fancy flips I don’t know the names of, a clean cartwheel would have to do.  =)

I hope you’re getting the picture.  I am a realist, so bottom line …  I was outmatched.  (Ever felt that way in business?  Competing with those with bigger names, best selling books, bigger budgets, or super websites?  Yeah… me too.) So I did a few things, that I’ve done over and over and over again to WIN in almost every aspect of my life.  (Today, we talk cheering. How I snagged my husband… well – I’ve never revealed those details…**wink** but that’s a blog post for another day!!! )  =)

• First, I PRACTICED.  I practiced like mad.  My cousin Serena and my Mom sweated it out with me every day leading up to tryouts. I sharpened every skill in my possession to be as prepared as possible on my big day.  I focused on what I did reasonably well to make it fantastic… and ignored the rest.  In business, we should always do the same.  WHAT can you sharpen… that is uniquely yours… that will allow you to stand out from the pack? Do you PRACTICE your sales presentations?  Do you PRACTICE your core expertise?
• Next, I DECIDED to make the team.  I didn’t simply decide to “try out”… or decide to “compete” or decide to give it my best shot.  I decided – ahead of time – to make it.  What if you approached your next big client or opportunity with that “anything less is not an option” mentality?
• Next, I used any and every thing available to me to reach my goal.  As an example…. I have always been a student of people.  So, I know how powerful eye contact is… I knew for example, that I could sit in church as a kid and MAKE the pastor look at me ….  SIMPLY by making sustained and purposeful eye contact with him.  (Yeah, I was a weird kid, I know….)       Anyway, so before I started performing at the try -out I would WAIT until the eyes of every judge were on me.  Not 5 out of 6 or 3 out of 4, but ALL.  Then, throughout the try-out, I would keep that eye-contact.  If I saw the eyes of the judges glancing at other competitors, I would do something to re-gain their attention.  Every time.  I KNEW that if I could command most of their attention, I would be the one they remembered.  I needed whatever competitive advantage I could get, and since God saw fit not to bless me with any NATURAL talent, =)  I had to CREATE that advantage. In your business, do you examine your opportunities from every possible angle?  Do you spend time creating ways to stand out and command attention from your target market? Are you strategic about this? ** More on using all that is available to you here:  http://wp.me/ph5D8-5M **

The bottom line for me is that I had REFUSED to LOSE that cheering gig. Failure was no option. I had neither the  time nor the inclination to concern myself or prepare myself for plan B.  A silly story?  Maybe.  But,  the same was true when I decided that my kids would not be raised in a day care environment – making it necessary for me to replace my income from home and around their schedule.  The same was true when I decided that my kids would be born without medical intervention.  The same was true when I decided that making ends meet in business was not enough.  The same is true for EACH OF US.  When we DECIDE to win, create  or do something… if we will practice, use every resource available to us, and REFUSE to lose, we will WIN. But only every time.

They say the only failure is surrender. I have to agree.  What have you decided you would REFUSE to LOSE this week? What opportunity?  What sale?  What possible WIN?  How can I help?