My 2 Secret Mantras (you’ll LOVE them!)
Have you ever FLOPPED?
As in….”I tried something and it didn’t work and I want to hide under a rock for a few years” kind of a FLOP?
One of the myths that people believe about successful salespeople is that they’ve NEVER FLOPPED.
People have actually come up to me and said …
“Well Kim -you ALWAYS know what you’re doing – you always land on your feet.”
Oh my. You can’t believe that lady.
Successful people FLOP A LOT.
In fact, I’ve flopped so many times in my sales career and business that honestly I had to
SCRAPE THE MUD off my face. (Doesn’t THAT sound attractive??)
I’ve lost clients, almost fallen off a stage, been burned by customers, and had huge shipments of product stuck in customs for so long it grew leg hair.
But there’s a method behind the madness.
So why so many flops?
And why didn’t it stop me?
FLOPS if they are managed correctly – have a brilliant way of turning into FABULOUS! (I definitely wouldn’t be the international success I am today if I’d held too tight to my flops.)
Want To Know My 2 Secret Mantras?
Are you ready? Secret Mantra #1:
“Failure isn’t an option.”
Remember – a flop doesn’t necessarily mean it was a failure.
It means it flopped.
One or more conditions that were needed for success….were missing or lined up wrong.
So revise and try, try again.
My Second Secret Mantra?
There is a wonderful Japanese phrase about what success is.
“Fall down 7 times. Get up 8 times.”
So whatever you think you flopped at….or whatever is holding you back from GOING FOR IT (because you’re terrified of flopping) – enough is enough.
Remember – ONLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE actually take a chance on something new, something that scares them or something that challenges them.
Use my 2 secret mantras and you’ll see how you’ll never stay down in the mud again.
So there.
I’d love to hear about how you turned a flop into a fabulous opportunity! Fire me a comment on my blog!
Love from Your Sales Diva,
Kim
P.S. I’m devoted to helping as many women entrepreneurs and women in sales as I can. If you know of someone who would love to learn HOW TO SELL THE RIGHT WAY, then please encourage them to sign up at www.salesdivas.com and we’ll get them on the track to success!
Hi Kim,
Thank you for the particularly inspiring words about flopping. Especially “Fall down 7 times. Get up 8 times. Sometimes I feel like I have flopped so many times, I am beginning to grow a tail fin. Some of the biggest ones, though, have been the greatest gifts. Most of my learning with flops came from years of performing the classical guitar. Learning from flops in my business is pretty small compared to flopping on stage in front of the whole (or what seems like) world.
One unusual one came from a recital I performed at university. Instead of a final exam, we had to perform a full recital. There was a panel of professors who gave the event a mark and that was the mark for the entire year’s work. Talk about pressure! One of the pieces in the recital was 20 minutes long. As I was getting to the end of the piece, I noticed that my leg had fallen completely asleep! It took all the concentration I could muster to keep from getting distracted from the music. At the end of the piece, I managed to stumble up, give a bow and limp off stage. Thank God for long dresses! The limp wasn’t too noticeable. This piece was the last one on the program and I ended up returning to the stage for another bow. This time trying to cover the grimace from all the pins and needles in the leg with the biggest smile I could muster.
The good thing about wiping the mud off is the opportunity to get up and get going again.
Thanks again for the inspiration.
Sharon Carne
Comment by Sharon Carne — January 13, 2010 @ 6:39 am
Thank you Kim for this blog post. I have a really challenging client that I am dealing with and we are 4 months in, she’s impossible to meet with and I have finally been able to get an appointment with her on Thursday after 4 weeks of trying! I’m feeling like this project has been a flop for multiple reasons (mis-communication, budget changes, doing something very new, lack of time from both parties), . Lots of learnings however have come out of it and I’m searching in my brain to figure out how to turn this into a true success story for both of us! I am holding on to the thought that “things happen for a reason at the right times”. I appreciate the reminder that a flop is only a flop and nothing more.
Have a fabulous day!
Angela.
Comment by Angela — January 13, 2010 @ 10:33 am
Hello KIM — My Super Sales Diva… I truly enjoy reading all of your Newsletters. Your advice/suggestions/stories are simply amazing and lots of fun!
I would like to suggest that you ‘re-write’ one of your Mantras… Instead of “Failure isn’t an option” — why don’t you say… “SUCCESS is ‘My’ option!” That way, you are focussing on the ‘Positive’!
Enjoy!
E L L I E
elliegeorge67@hotmail.com
Canada’s #1 Handwriting Analyst
Comment by Ellie — January 13, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Love this…I used to work in a sewing store and we called flops
Flopportunties!!!
Enjoy your work and blog and insights – keep it up!
Comment by lorese harper — January 13, 2010 @ 5:29 pm
should of used spell check!
Flopportunities
Comment by lorese harper — January 13, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
I have flopped many times and my biggest one was when I failed my MSc Maths dissertation. To then flop again by my tutor telling me settle for a post grad diploma. Oh no, after a few tears I got back on my feet did some more sums, got some more ticks and passed 7YEARS LATER! A very long flop indeed!
Comment by Rakiya — January 14, 2010 @ 4:36 am
Love the FLOPPORTUNITIES LINE Lorese!
Comment by kimduke — January 20, 2010 @ 10:46 am
Hi Ellie –
Great suggestion! I still like mine too as sometimes we’re dealt something BIG that feels like a FAILURE
and not success….and I believe to just suck it up and move forward!
Thanks for your comment!
Comment by kimduke — January 20, 2010 @ 10:48 am
Hi Rakiya,
Thanks for sharing and congrats for sticking with your dream! (May that tutor have itchy underwear for the rest of their life!)
Comment by kimduke — January 20, 2010 @ 10:50 am
Great post and also something more for you to think about.
Part of learning from failure is also knowing when to redirect.
Ask them directly what they want, when they want it and if you’re the best fit for each other. Learning from failure
is also knowing when you need to try a new route.
Good luck lady!
Comment by kimduke — January 20, 2010 @ 10:54 am
Your poor leg! Eesh – hey you did it and the thing is…. people probably didn’t even notice!
(and it certainly made for a good story you can tell forever!)
Comment by kimduke — January 20, 2010 @ 10:56 am
Hi Kim and all the excellent commentators. Great reminder for me as we go into a very challenging (for me) 2010. My confidence has been shaken badly by the challenges of 2009, and I was starting to dumb down my plans for this year. So thanks everybody for the jolt of encouragement! And best wishes to you all too!
Comment by Paul McMenamy — January 20, 2010 @ 11:05 am