Want to Be More Genuine? Here’s Your Expression Revolution
Replace Empty Apologies with Genuine Accountability
For over three of my six-plus decades on this planet, I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have cringed hearing people cop out with these three disingenuous phrases:
- My bad
- Everything happens for a reason, and
- It is what it is.
Yes, a genuine cop out.
Let’s start with “My bad.” And make sure to shrug your shoulders while saying it, further emphasizing what everyone already knew. You screwed the pooch.
Whatever this involved, there was someone—or a team of someones—working hard to ensure that your directions were followed with precision. In the case of the customer whose sales order arrived incorrectly due to your lack of attention to detail, you have now dented your company’s reputation as well.
I hate to burst your bubble, but saying “My bad” does not make it all go away as if it never happened. Instead of shrugging your shoulders after saying it and being an instant outcast, gain back respectability by adding “I fucked up. I am sorry as I know you all busted your butts on this, and I wasted your time.”
Or, even better, don’t even say it. Try, “I own this and will fix it” instead. Then, do just that.
Show ownership and humble yourself that one time, and it’s doubtful you will ever need to say, “My bad,” ever again. And, trust me, everyone will thank you for it.
Why ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’ is the Opposite of Genuine
Then there’s “Everything happens for a reason,” and “It is what it is,” both avoidances of responsibility, as if you had no say in the outcomes. I have never heard anyone say that after a win, rather than taking credit for it.
You know what else falls under Everything Happens for a Reason and It is What it is? A coin flip.
I was the same way, and then decided to force the outcome, pro or con. I just added three words to that saying, which became, Everything Happens for a Reason: Be that reason!
The same goes for “It is what it is.” Yep, it is what is alright, until I got involved, that is. Make the difference; be the difference. And have that person on the other side of the desk see you as the differentiator. Talk about gaining genuine respect while you own an account!
Stand Out by Being the Reason Things Genuinely Change
In either case, you can sway the outcome in your favor more often than not. It’s all about adding value, and not necessarily monetarily. It’s separating yourself from the herd.
It could even make you the obvious choice, especially on a standard customer Request For Information (RFI). These are generally black and white boilerplate bid specifications. You can win the bid, or lose it, especially with every competitor bidding the same black and white bid request.
After all, Everything Happens for a Reason, and It Is What It Is, Right? Wrong!
Add the technicolor of YOU into the mix. Bring in what makes you unique and walk that person on the other side of the “why.” What you are bringing into the deal is important. To him, not to you, of course.
Be creative and genuine; there is always something that sets you apart from the herd.
In many cases, I offered extended warranties, a free sixth year on a five-year warranty request. It cost me nothing for those first five years. Who knew if I would still be at that company in six years? In the case of my own company, I was always able to negotiate something with either HP or Dell four years into the deal.
We had the sales volume to back the play.
Everything truly did happen for a reason, and it was what it was because we made it that way.
So can you.
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To learn about this entire journey, pick up a copy of 𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today!
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