The Importance of Perseverance
Recently, I was reunited with a very old and dear friend based in LA whom I hadn’t seen in 20 years.
We’d parted under questionable circumstances, and despite my repeated efforts she’d remained distant.
For ages I wondered how I’d erred or how to fix things. Ever hopeful, I’d periodically reach out to make amends, even as she swatted away my advances.
Eventually, I called it a lost cause and gave up.
Last month something triggered me to try one last time, and I remembered poet Sylvia Plath’s philosophy “If you expect nothing from anybody, you’re never disappointed.”
Drafting an invitation to lunch, I nervously muttered “Just 20 seconds of courage,” held my breath, and sent the email.
Within minutes she’d responded positively, leading to last week’s 4-hour catch-up session.
Closing that deal reminded me of the importance of persistence, patience, and a willingness to take risks.
Because ultimately, I had nothing to lose. If she’d not responded or said “SCRAM!”, I’d have been no worse off than when I started the effort.
But by risking rejection, I successfully returned a key person into my life.
Regular readers know I believe everyone is always selling something, either for personal or professional gain. Many times we stop our sales efforts short of triumph because we fear, or are tired of, rejection.
Yet according to Hubspot you need an average of eight touchpoints to make a sale. As my situation proved, it may take more than eight - and a considerable investment of time – to realize desired results.
But my old friend’s return proved there can be victory in even the most challenging of situations.
This is a valuable lesson, regardless of what you’re selling. Assuming you won’t make the sale, but trying for it anyway, mitigates the pain of potential rejection.
In other words, effective selling is all about your attitude. Recognize going in that you have nothing to lose. Then go for it anyway.
Yup! Whether you’re asking for a contract or a date, I’m suggesting you risk rejection one more time – just once more – towards the goal of making the sale. Because as this 20-year study has proven to me, that one last touch before you give up for good COULD be enough to bring you happiness.
With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.
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