Failure is a natural part of any sales experience. Professor Sweet touched on this in class on March 3 and I think it’s a very important thing to address in sales. Failure is inevitable first and foremost because humans are not perfect beings. Things aren’t going go go as planned, mistakes will be made. the important thing though is how to response to those failures.
The wrong response to failure is giving up. This is a common tendency that prohibits the fruits that will flourish out of one’s failure. Taking failure emotionally is not beneficial whatsoever because then you are allowing it to effect you long term. Mattson discussed the concept of the “real you” (one’s identity) and the “role you” (performance in a role). He clearly distinguishes these two concepts to show that failing functionally does not diminish you as a person. Separating this difference early on will result in effective selling. The correct response is to use that failure as motivation to learn, improve and go forward. Failures give good information to help not make the same mistakes and overall improve you as a salesperson.
BoweryJE22
I think it is important to fail and to not shy away from it as we walk through life. Failure is a wonderful teacher and can often make greater achievements in the future. I also think to many people have been too sheltered from failure; not being allowed to fail is detrimental to many kids as they are growing up. Failure has been a wonderful teacher, whether it be academics, athletics, or relationships, failure has taught me much. It is important to allow failure to happen but not to make a habit of it.
I don’t think anybody particularly LOVES to fail, but everybody should fall in love with taking steps towards a better outcome, which certainly involves failing. I appreciate how you commented on the “real you” versus the “role you,” because until Dr. Sweet’s class, I had never even distinguished failure in association with the “role you” until it was mentioned. I think there’s so much value in distinguishing between the two, though.