“Two plus two equals four. Mike you’re a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?”
After over 25 years of speaking and attempting to motivate every size, shape and category of travel professional group, I have come to the point where I find myself questioning whether my efforts are being received as designed.
Am I connecting with enough people? Do they understand what I am trying to tell them? Are they hearing enough new, state-of-the-art, cutting-edge stuff? Are they saying to their fellow audience members later in the rest rooms, “Duh! That guy told us the same thing last year.”
Okay smart people. After 25 years you have finally pissed the guy from New Jersey off. Get ready for an ear full. I am hoping the organizations who choose to print this will not edit it to the point where I won’t recognize the author … me.
I’ll type slowly so you can really hear today’s message. 2 plus 2 equals 4. It has always equaled four and it will always equal four. Some things don’t change with the birth of iphones, Big Macs, Internets and WIFI networks.
Regardless of how hard I try to introduce some new, exciting and fascinating trends to the world of sales, customer service and marketing, I continually find myself resorting back to the proven equation that 2 + 2 = 4.
Some guy smarter than me (probably a Harvard graduate or some lawyer type) feels that there is a reason for complicating our lives to the degree where only some high-priced “shrink” can promise us relief.
I say, “^&(^-^&*%. Growing your business doesn’t have to be complicated. It does not have to involve sleepless nights. There is no need to argue with your spouse or kick the dog. You can stop being your own worse enemy now … right now.
Begin by thinking about the following tips.
1. Understand that there are only two types of people you will ever come in contact with. These two types consist of people you can help, and the other kind. HINT: Focus on type 1 and disregard type 2.
2. You act like a magnet. You have the power to either attract or repel other people. The choice is all yours.
3. Stop telling people how smart you are and how experienced you are, and start asking more questions. Lots more questions.
4. Start doing what you say you are going to do. Without exception and “sans” excuses. (“Sans” means without in some other language.)
5. Start looking people in the eye and become interested in what they have to say. Really interested.
6. Realize that your biggest problem (spelled BIGGEST) is that not enough people know you are alive. Introduce yourself to more people.
7. If you are not a crook, stop acting like one by failing to ask people if you can help them. If you can’t honestly look yourself in the mirror and feel good about your intentions, perhaps it is time to turn yourself into the police.
8. There are only three things that can happen when you meet somebody for the first time: (1) They can feel better having met you; (2) They can feel worse having met you; (3) They can feel neutral having met you. Go ahead, challenge me on this one. These are the ONLY three outcomes. The choice is yours going into the introduction. Choose wisely.
9. One year from now, you will be the same person you are today except for the people you hang out with and the books you read. Losers hang with losers. Winners hang with winners. Winners read. Are you feeling me?
Okay. That is enough common sense for one sit-down. If you think that I have just reinstated the obvious, you can give yourself an “A” and move to the head of the class. If you insist on making this thing more complicated than it has to be, than I wish you luck and hope that one day I don’t bump into you on some soup line.
Starting today, simplify your life. Stick with the facts. Focus on the basics. And always remember that 2 + 2 will always = 4 whether you are texting, podcasting, emailing, video-conferencing or writing old-fashion “thank-you” notes.
Introduce yourself. Become interested in me. Look me in the eye. State your solution in terms I can identify with. Say thank you. Be enthused.