|
REPUTATION EVALUATION
Saturday Apr. 21, 2018
When do we make our best decisions?
Is there a best time of day, day of the week, stage of life – or a set of circumstances?
I’ve wondered if I do my best work/make my best choices when running hot – top of the world, when I’ve just closed an important deal, had a great trip/experience or met someone fascinating?
I’ve also wondered where/when I do my best. When I’m down, nearly at bottom – or when coming back from a low slow place?
I’ve looked for a common thread, a common denominator. There might be one but I’m not separated enough from my life to analyze it or observe it objectively.
Deadlines are sometimes instructive – but I wonder if that is the deadline or the adrenalin?
Apparently insolvable problems inspire creative recalculations.
I’ve read lots, listened to lots of ‘experts’, found accidental ah+ha moments, things that don’t work – found failing more helpful than any strokes of genius.
I’ve also tried, unsuccessfully, to pick brains of clients – asking ‘why pick me?’, asking why they team up with me rather than others. They often roll their eyes – not in confusion, but in amazement that I don’t get it. Most often I don’t. I’ve concluded it’s a recipe of being ‘genuine self’ and admitting it.
Think a bit about the relationships, deals, work/play and valuable things you do, who you do them with and why they give you pleasure/satisfaction – and then try to figure out what the secret sauce might be, try to analyze which ingredients mattered most.
The most instructive lesson I ever had in this area – must be about 30 years ago, a client called one day. He wanted to thank me. I asked why? He reminded me, several years before, he’d asked me about investing with a particular company. I told him what I knew about how they did business and why I would exercise extreme caution … or run the other way. He explained that he passed on my thoughts to his brother-in-law who at the time was advocating investing the family’s money heavily. Because of that advice I’d given, my client voted no. His brother-in-law sank a lot of his own money in, and lost most of it. My client called me, not just to thank me profusely, but also to giggle. I guess he didn’t care for his brother-in-law.
My point, is not that it’s funny when someone ‘not so nice’ loses money, but that my experience is that’s the best ‘selling tool’ or ‘marketing program’ is not the grandiose plans we invest time, effort and money buying into – but rather, simply being sincere and open and whole-hearted in what we do, being direct and clear and fair with people. It builds the best ‘branding of all’, a reputation. It may not make you rich, ever, but it always make you proud. That’s important.
Reader feedback:
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
… and about today’s breakfast - Hi Mark....thanks for joining us for breakfast and for your excellent presentation on Calgary's real estate market. Interesting times! Conversely, I hope you enjoyed meeting the attendees too. Cycled for a short while yesterday. Although it was a bit breezy, it was good to get out. Same plan today but I'll use my road bike – I had loaned my mountain bike to a house sitter last Fall and when I used it yesterday, I had the devil of a time getting it to fit comfortably again. Enjoy your weekend! Cheers, TL, Calgary, AB
BEFORE, AFTER OR NEXT TO
Love that thought of looking before, after or next to. Indeed as a schoolchild it was fascinating coming across information that I was not seeking. Sadly, that kind of discovery is likely gone. However, I am intrigued by the thought that I might be missing out by not noticing the person next to the one I am conversing with. Hmmmm.. , CG, Cobourg, ON
|
|
