Tag Archives: yes and

Sometimes you need to change your Altitude!

Change your Altitude

Change your Altitude

I think I am a fairly decent runner.  I can run a 5k with little to no pain, and at this point in my running career I don’t ever worry about running a 5k.  Living in Florida, I definitely am not faced with much altitude and for the most part I run on flat roads.  When I go for a 3.5 mile run it’s a good cardio run but definitely nothing I feel overly challenged on.  So it’s interesting how much of a difference it can make when I decide to go for a hike that is half the distance of my normal run.  I have a harder time breathing my muscles are stretched differently and it takes me much longer.  Of course it’s different going uphill as opposed to running on flat services but I’m thinking to myself I am used to running twice this and in 30 degrees warmer temperature I should be able to do it.  It’s not the case at all though.  Even though you may be a strong runner your body is accustomed to certain conditions.

So this is a blog about business and sales what does my altitude running challenge have to do with business?  In business like running you become accustomed to certain styles and ways of doing things.  Even if you think you have mastered your skill and you have a working system be open to take a road that might be an uphill battle at first.  Maybe extending yourself will help you to learn something new or experience something that will enlighten you as a business person.  It’s good to hear how others achieve their goals and incorporate some of their methods into your business.  The business world is a busy place and it’s good to have systems and paths to follow but it’s also good to sometimes look outside of the way you do things and accept some challenges to help you develop even better methods.  At first you may be uncomfortable and feel unsuccessful but if you try you may also find you get different results that helped your business.

My 3.5 miles used to be my challenge but then it became much easier, and now that I have pushed myself to another challenge I found new muscles and I was able to get more out of my workout.  The same is in business I know I can do a certain amount of cold calls a day and get results, and maybe tomorrow I can try a new way of marketing and see what kind of results I will get!

The Silver Lining in Favors

bank_error_in_your_favor

Lately, I have been really confused about the difference between favors and opportunities.  In the past year I have presented and been presented with multiple opportunities by multiple people. Some of these “opportunities” have been viewed as favors by others.  My theory is if you have to ask yourself when presented with an opportunity “what’s in it for me”, it’s one of two things. Possibly you do not trust the other person or you are blocking yourself from opening many unknown doors.

Why is it that sometimes an opportunity is perceived as a favor? Are some opportunities so far stretched that it’s hard to see the long term potential, or are we really close minded about new opportunities?  Are we conditioned to believe that all people have an ulterior motive?

So this really came to a head for me a few months back when I mentioned (what I thought ) was an enticing opportunity to an individual and they responded that they might be able to “help” me.  I was not looking for help.  I was not asking them to do something for nothing.  I was offering an opportunity to potentially open up a new door for them and their future.

So I took a step back and had to ask myself, when I was offering a  new opportunity to someone and they acted as if they would be doing me a favor, was I acting so excited and grateful that they only saw me as the beneficiary?  I am an excited person and opportunities get me pumped!  Did I need to start telling people that I had choices and wanted to give them a chance to “ask” for the opportunity?  Some of the best opportunities in my life have come from me saying “yes, and” to a favor and owning that opportunity.  Most of the opportunities did not pay well or did not pay anything, they were not glamorous, they were not fun, and they were chances to prove myself and most importantly LEARN and GROW!

I decided that I have made the mistake of presenting opportunities to people as “favors”.  In actuality I did not need a favor I was looking to run with an opportunity and potentially bring along others on the way.  I was starting  to think my opportunities were crazy or far fetched and then I reexamined the message I was giving.

First, I needed to define “favor”

“Something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act: to ask a favor.”  When I need a favor such as help moving, a ride, someone to get my mail, etc I will present this clearly as a favor.

Second, define” Opportunity”

“A good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.”  When I have an opportunity I will describe my position and watch for the reaction and questions.  Defining an opportunity does not mean it’s a guarantee.   If they want to be a part of it, then they will tell me and show me.

Third, Run from people that think the world is “asking for favors”

I know it sounds cliche, and here it goes “the world is your oyster”.  Everyone has different opportunities, obstacles, and challenges.  Be open to building on what comes your way.  Learn from every experience, the good and the bad.  If someone cannot see the opportunities in front of them it is not your job to show them.

Lastly, look for people that say “yes and” to opportunities

In Improv, there is an exercise that has changed my view on many things in life.  It’s called “Yes, And”.  The basic concept of this exercise is that you take something that is given to you and instead of rejecting the idea you build on it by saying “yes, and”.  Of course this does not mean that you eliminate no from your vocabulary it means that you open your mind to thinking before saying no or thinking things are far fetched or impossible.

I have learned and I am still learning how to present my opportunities as opportunities.  If I am asking for a favor I will clearly define it as a favor.  However, I will allow others to seize their opportunities and champion them as they find their own “silver lining”.