Mistakes happen. Nobody’s perfect. Not even leaders!
When mistakes occur it can be especially difficult for individuals, especially the leaders of a business, to admit they were wrong, or made a mistake. It’s tough because it plays on people’s vulnerabilities.
Yet, by admitting fault, you lay the groundwork for others to know that mistakes are okay, and can, in fact, lead to bigger growth and massive changes within an organization.
When I started FITzee Foods I never in a million years intended to run the company for almost 10 or so years, and then have to end it, the way that I did. I honestly don’t believe any of us plan to start a company, raise money and then say, “Alright, I’m just going to go ahead and lose it all.”
That’s never the intention when we begin a new business.
However, it is often those massive mistakes that occur along the way, that end up generating our biggest successes in business and in our sales.
I closed FITzee Foods in March of 2017, just over a year ago. And, this past year has been amazing, rewarding, and a blessing!
I’ve been able to help each and every person who’s read my blog, watches my Facebook Lives, and who has listens to my podcast. I’ve been able to make an impact and difference in their lives and teach them from my own personal experiences.
To me, this SCREAMS success!
I think each and every one of you has it in you to take take responsibility for yourself, the things you do and the choices you make for you and your business.
Placing the blame on others, even if it feels like someone else is at fault for a mistake will get you nowhere. Like my guest on Success Unfiltered, Donald Kelly said, “Life doesn’t care.”
It doesn’t matter who made the mistake, but if you start taking ownership for yourself and the actions you take, you can conquer anything that you put your mind to.
Mistakes aren’t the end of the world. Learning from those mistakes is how we experience growth!
Lessons Learned Can Help Others
Many entrepreneurs are afraid to admit to mistakes. They prefer brushing mistakes under the proverbial rug and forgetting it happened, but I am all for sharing my biggest NO’s and my biggest mistakes. In fact, I have a feature I post each Monday on Instagram, where I share one of my biggest NO stories and ask for others to do the same.
I’ve had numerous people let me know how incredible my stories are, not because I’m perfect or without failures, but because I SO OPENLY share my stories.
I don’t hold back. I share the nitty gritty, so that future salespeople can actually benefit from my mistakes and learn from me. I am a big time believer in sharing your mistakes as lessons learned to help others.
Donald Kelly, a guest of Success Unfiltered, learned a huge lesson right out of college. In college, they tell you that the biggest way to success is to be consistent in your work, to not jump around from job to job. However, within just a year of work, Donald had gone through 2 jobs, and was on his way to a 3rd.
Initially he was devastated, and he admits that his confidence was shaken. He didn’t know what he was doing wrong, not only as an individual, but as a sales professional, too. He wasn’t sure if he was in the wrong sector or if he should be doing something completely different.
Instead of letting himself fall prey to these negative thoughts, he picked himself back up and decided that he didn’t want anyone to ever tell him that he couldn’t work for them again. He never wanted to be fired again. He wanted to have control over his income and future.
Donald also learned that if you have a desire and a plan, you will work that plan!
He knew, even before he was in college, that he wanted to create his own organization. Which he eventually did, you may have heard of it? The Sales Evangelist!
Three major failures for Donald led to some incredible insight and lessons learned, which eventually led to the drive for success that he now has.
You’re Out of Options
Donald Kelly believes that when you’ve hit rock bottom, or you’re left with no other options, the time to act is right then. There is no way to go but UP!
A lot of times when we’re working a job, or starting a business, we rely upon mentors and others to show us the way. Now, I’m not saying you should ask for help, or look to mentors, but sometimes failing on your own, actually turns into failing forward.
If you don’t have someone willing to give you all the answers, you’re forced to try new things. Test different possibilities. Put yourself out there in a way you might not normally do. Which in turn makes you get creative with possibilities.
Those possibilities make you crafty, which will usually lead to success because you’re working so hard to forge your own path.
In Conclusion
Stop fearing mistakes and failures.
Instead take massive, giant leaps into the unknown. Be willing to fall and make those huge mistakes that others are afraid of.
If you’ve been living in your comfort zone for too long, use today as a way to take responsibility for an area where you were told NO, or where you got rejected. Think about how you can turn that into a positive. What are your lessons learned?
Be sure to share with me in the comments!
