Most videos, articles, blogs, consultants, coaches and supposed experts are constantly telling us how to succeed because that is what we really want to hear. The problem is we have probably heard all these solutions many times and most people still fail. I believe this is because we don’t look at what is causing the failure first. The fact is it is difficult to fix anything unless you understand why it doesn’t work and accept that you may be doing it wrong or at least some things wrong. It is my guess that when you visit the doctor he doesn’t start writing a prescription or telling you what you need to do until he finds out what the problem is. If he or she does this you need to find another doctor! Why is your success any different? Not everyone makes the same mistakes the same way so it is important that you speak with a consultant that understands that you are unique and that not every solution will be the same for everyone. If you would like a free consultation to discover your specific business challenges and how to correct them you may contact me directly at: info@SuccessBuilders-Tampabay.com .

There are some common mistakes that cause financial failure. Below are just some of those that I have discovered in consultations over the last 16+ years.

Wrong Product or Service

One sure way to fail is to pick a product or service that will not sell. I constantly hear “I have a great product/service and I don’t understand why it isn’t selling”. News flash: Just because you feel it is great doesn’t mean everyone feels that way. In fact, unless you have found a cure for cancer or something so unique that the majority of the world needs you may need to find something else to sell. If you think selling beepers is a good idea, you might find out that that technology is old and may not be the best business to start. Before selecting any product, service or carreer do your homework! With Google you can research anything to find out if what you want to sell is wanted or needed.

What Business Are You Really In?

Believe it or not to become financially successful in business you are in the same business as everyone else. SALES & MARKETING! I don’t care if you are selling candles or cars everyone is in sales and marketing. If you think people will buy your product or service because you have “the best possible product or service” you better think again! The “build it and they will come” philosophy does not apply! You better be the best marketer and salesperson around if you want to become financially successful. If you are not good at sales and marketing you will either need to learn how to become good or hire others that are good. There just isn’t any other solution!

Another way I see people fail is they don’t utilize all the tools available to them. There are many free and low cost marketing tools like “The Money Tree” that if used can increase their chances of success two to three times. I am not a big social media fan but even this can be used as a great branding tool if done properly. This being said if you are only using free marketing solutions you need to understand that you usually get what you pay for and you can waste a lot of time wasting time. Analyze your time value vs what you are getting out of your marketing solutions and constantly look for new ways to market your business.

Passion Alone Doesn’t Work

How many times have you heard “If you are passionate about what you do the money will follow”. I am sorry but this is B.S.! Passion alone will not make you financially successful! Why? Just because you are passionate about your product or service doesn’t mean others will feel the same way. It will take hard work, many hours, risk, investment, sacrifice, education plus passion for what you are doing. If you want to choose a career that is all about passion join the military, peace corps, or volunteer at your favoritenon-profit.

Shiny Object Syndrome

Have you ever known someone that everytime you run into them they are selling something different? “Direct marketers” (MLM) are famous for this. Everytime they hear of a new way to slice bread they jump on it hoping to become successful. The next time you meet them you hear,”That was a scam, didn’t work, or is so diluted you can’t sell it”. That is not the problem! The problem is these type products and services are designed to make the people at the top successful not the distributor. The distributer is actually their product and that is how the few at the top become successful. Only those who can afford to stick with it for the long hall and have realistic expectations for results have a chance of surviving. The developers of these type businesses know the statistics and also know that there are many people who have “shiny object syndrome” and they pick another “wonder product or service” and do it again. This syndrome is not exclusive to MLM! many people jump from one thing to another and always fail because they don’t stick with it, discover how to sell it, or research to find out if people really want or need it.

“You Can’t Fix Stupid”

I don’t know how many times I have heard,”I have tried that and it doesn’t work”, “I already know how to do that”, “I have been in business for years and don’t need help”, “It’s everyone else’s fault”, and other stupid statements that people who fail use to justify their failure or lack of true success. Don’t waste your time trying to fix stupid. The only thing these people will ever succeed at is failure! When you are close-minded or think you know everything you are guaranteed to fail. I have been in business for over 35 years and I am still learning. Remember, your mind is like a parachute, It works best when it is open.

Why Savers Fail at Financial Success

People who constantly fail are people who are constantly trying to save every penny. A penny saved is just a penny, a penny invested in one’s self or business can create a lot of pennies! People who fail are always saying “I can’t afford that”. They should be saying “I will figure out a way to afford that”. People who fail are always looking at “cost” vs “investment”. It only costs if it has no potential return. Many people have the potential to double or triple their income by investing in valuable information but would rather have a guaranteed loss by saving instead of investing. They will constantly think they are getting ahead by saving when in reality they are destined to fail. The question is why don’t they invest? It’s because they have made bad investments that cost them and they are afraid to make another bad investment. before investing you should always research and verify before making the investment. Will you always make a good investment. No, but overall you will usually discover tools, tips and techniques to make a profit from all your combined self improvement. The only guarantee in life is a guaranteed loss by not doing anything to learn and grow to become successful.

Work For Others If You Want To Fail

People who rely on others or sell something for someone else usually fail at financial success. Why? Because the success formula is “Those who do the work never become financially successful, those who have the work done become successful. Example: If you own a MacDonalds franchise and wait on the customers, flip the burgers, do the accounting you might make a few bucks. And because you didn’t hire people to do the work for you you might even “save” a few bucks. The question is, does this make sinces. It surely won’t make cents! What if you invest in the franchise, hire employees to do the work and become a business owner instead of a worker? What if you then buy a second, third or fourth franchise? Now you have people doing the work and you are making the money to become financially successful. Thank goodness not everyone knows this or will do this. We need those who are satisfied with just making enough to get by or do not have the will or burn to truely become financially successful.

Follow Conventional Wisdom

Unfortunately most people will either fail at business or will just get by. One of the biggest reasons is they follow “Conventional Wisdom” which is the first discussion in the Success Builders blog. If you do the math over 90% never become financially successful and over 90% follow conventional wisdom. If Christopher Columbus followed the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat who know how long it would have taken to discover that it is round. if you want to fail you should never question anything you are told, never try things that are outside the norm, don’t take any chances, and listen to those who tell you you can’t become successful. FYI: You will notice that those who tell you you must follow conventional wisdom are not financially successful in their business. Misery loves company!

There are many other ways to fail that are better explained in a workshop or personal consultation. Many people just don’t know if they are doing what it takes to become financially. As I always say “You don’t know what you don’t know” until you ask. If you would like a free personal consultation or would like to attend a “Irefuse2Fail” workshop in the Tampa Bay area contact me:
info@SuccessBuilders-Tampabay.com or go to our Irefuse2Fail Workshops website.

• If you have a product or service that a customer or client needs do you feel you have a moral obligation to sell them?. . . You should!
• If you have a lousy product or service you need get another product or service or get a job!

Let’s discuss a fact that we don’t like to admit

• Most prospects lie – they will make excuses for not making a buying decision and most don’t want to say no to you. Instead they will come up with something like “I want to think about it, I want to talk it over with my spouse, I’m not sure if I’m ready but I will call you”
  • These are usually lies!
  • What they are saying is “they don’t have the money”, or “they don’t see the value” or “they don’t see the urgency to buy right now”

Why does this happen?

• You haven’t presented the value of the service or product in your presentation
• You haven’t instilled the urgency to buy right now

Remember in any sales situation either you are in control or they are in control. Who do you want to have the control?

What should you be doing and saying? Establish the reason for the meeting before you start!

Example #1: “The reason for this meeting is to see if what I have is a fit for what you want or need.” “By the end of our conversation there are 3 things you can say to me”

“The first is “YES” and we will move forward and do business”

“The second is “NO” and I want you to understand that it is perfectly ok to say “No”

“The third is that you want to think about it but I don’t want you to say that! I have been in sales a long time and I know that when someone says they want to think about it what they are really saying is “NO”.

“So before we get started I would like for you to do me a favor and just tell me “Yes” or “No” when we are done. It is perfectly ok if this is not for you. . . Is that fair?”

What have you done when you establish the ground rules for the presentation

#1: You have established control

#2: You have made it difficult for them to say no…Why?…Because they don’t want to hurt your feelings with “NO

#3: You have taken all the pressure away by giving the prospect the ability to say “NO” by saying “It is perfectly ok if it isn’t right for you”.

Example #2: Another way you can handle it is when you get to the end of the presentation you handle it honestly by asking them to be honest. When they say “I want to think about it” you say Mr. or Mrs prospect, “I have been doing this a long time and I have found when a prospect says “they want to think about it” what they are really saying is NO. “You just don’t want to hurt my feelings!” ” Isn’t this the case here?” “So let’s be honest. . it is the money isn’t it?” ITS ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY! If money wasn’t the issue they would have already said yes if you know they want or need it! Right?

If they are honest and say yes then you can do something like….

“If money wasn’t the issue could we do business today?” Wait for an answer!

“What did you think the value of the (the service or product) should be? Wait for an answer!

“What if I could show you a way to make it affordable for you would that make a difference?” Wait for an answer! Maybe a payment plan or some other creative financing.

Remember! In any sales situation either you have control or the customer has control!

The bottom line is prospects will lie to you and when they do they control the sale.

Who do you want to have control?

If you need sales or marketing experience you may want to sign up to receive notifications about our affordable “Irefuse2Fail” workshops or you can contact me directly with your business issues info@SuccessBuilders-TampaBay.com ph:727.458.7683.

The definition of conventional wisdom refers to something that is widely accepted as true, correct or proper. Unfortunately, conventional wisdom  is often wrong. This is no different when it comes to business and your success. Statistics say that most businesses don’t last more than five years. I believe the reason is most businesses follow conventional wisdom. 

When is Conventional Wisdom Correct?

There are some undeniable facts that still hold true.

• “You can’t fix a problem until you know what caused the problem”

• “Insanity is doing the same things the same way and expecting different results”

• “What you know can make you successful, what you don’t know can cost you a fortune”

• Most every successful person you have read about never used conventional wisdom to become successful: Examples: The Wright Brothers, Henry Ford , Domino’s Pizza , KFC, Mother Theresa, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Ghande and many others became successful and well known because they did not conform to conventional wisdom.

The Problem with Conventional Wisdom 

I was once told “If you wear a suit you will make more money”. Yea, right! Tell this to Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. The fact is business is always changing and you can’t rely on everything staying the same or relying on conventional wisdom. Not unlike life, business is constantly changing and we need to be able to adjust and change with it. In business what was accepted as conventional wisdom last year may not apply to your business today. I suggest you always research what others tell you and verify everything before accepting as true or the best approach. If you want and example of accepting conventional wisdom that hurt a lot of people just Google search “Bernard  Madoff”

Business Consultants & Conventional Wisdom

The biggest problem I find with business consultants and coaches that continually promote accepted practices, conventional wisdom, is that not every solution is right for every business. They do this because they have failed to change with the times or  it is easier than looking at the specific business and working with the client to develop something to make that client stand out or succeed.  When I work with a client I always recommend they “Become distinct in their business or they will become extinct”. If you follow conventional wisdom you will be just like everyone else and that is not good for you or your business. If not done by the time of this blog check back to see my blog on “Become Distinct or Become Extinct” to better understand why this is so important.

If you have questions or would like a FREE consultation you may contact me directly at info@SuccessBuilders-TampaBay.com 

Short video explaining why you should question conventional wisdom