Fail Forward

Greetings!

We need to be able to take potentially negative experiences and view them so we are not negatively affected by them.

One of the best books I've ever seen on this subject is "Failing Forward, Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success," by John C. Maxwell. 

Let me oversimply this powerful book: Maxwell says that everyone fails all the time. Your destiny is determined by how you allow yourself to be affected by it, and what you do about it. 

In sales, we expose ourselves to failure many times per day. The highest achievers "fail forward," using Maxwell's term.

Author William Marston said, "If there is any single factor that makes for success in living, it is the ability to draw dividends from defeat. Every success I know has been reached because the person was able to analyze and actually profit from it in the next undertaking." 

I'll keep this week's Tip simple. Do the following exercise.

LEARNING FROM A BAD EXPERIENCE AND MAKING IT A GOOD EXPERIENCE

Analyze a recent failure using these questions. Your answers really help put things in perspective.

1. What caused the failure: the situation, someone else, or myself?
2. Was what happened truly a failure, or did I just fall short? 
3. What successes are contained in the failure?
4. What can I learn from what happened?
5. Am I grateful for the experience?
6. How can I turn this into a success?
7. Who can help me with this issue?
8. Where do I go from here?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior,
the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior."
Henry C. Link

Go and have your best week ever!

Art

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Contact: Art Sobczak
President, Business By Phone Inc.
Editor and Publisher, TELEPHONE SELLING REPORT newsletter
13254 Stevens St.
Omaha, NE 68137
(402)895-9399
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Or, e-mail to arts@businessbyphone.com