Say the “F” Word This Week
“F”ail Into Success
The third episode of LinkedUp on LinkedIn is in the books. Matt O’Neil, CEO of Ichi Go sports marketing and former VP of Brand & Media for the Dallas Cowboys, graced me with his good looks and insight into what it takes to grow, both professionally and personally.
I’ve been talking a lot about the “F” word lately — Failure — and the reality that experiencing failure is an unavoidable aspect of finding success. Failure is also where Matt’s story begins. To summarize: He got let go from a job because he wasn’t meshing with the company’s culture. Jobless, he traveled to the Superbowl to network and see what business he could drum up. He made his way into the Dallas Cowboys franchise thanks to that Superbowl experience, and the rest is history.
Failure really can lead to success. Matt’s story is a pretty textbook example, right? Matt reminded me that we shouldn’t be afraid of being afraid — and that we need to embrace uncertainty. Work is often going to feel insecure, so you may as well enjoy the sensation. If you want to grow professionally, you’re going to have to get uncomfortable. That’s just how it works.
Failing Opportunities
I love JD Gagnon’s recent post called “We Lost a Bid!” Besides the amusing funny title, JD really does dish out great advice about failing. He runs a media agency called Scotch & Ramen, where bidding, and losing, is all part of its standard operating procedure. In fact, JD warns that if you’re not losing at least 30% of all bids, you’re either not bidding enough, or you’re priced too low. Basically, failure is baked right into the process as a quality control measure. Love that!
And, JD says, the very best part about failing is the opportunities it presents (something I’ve been saying for a while, too). After every rejection, follow up and ask why you weren’t awarded the project. Your willingness to learn will establish the beginnings of a relationship where there likely wasn’t one before.
I bet that anyone brave enough to confront their failures in the way JD recommends will likely end up receiving work from these very same connections at a future point in time. Some people aren’t worth following up with, but when they are, put yourself out there and don’t accept “no” for an answer the first time.
Fail-to-Win
Stop taking your business so seriously! I’ve failed at businesses before, and I’m still standing. It’s good to recognize when things are tough. Talk about why you lost a client — Share the stuff you fear will make you appear weak. Admitting vulnerabilities when it comes to work will only strengthen your professional relationships. It’s a funny thing — When you’re just yourself, failings and all, you will attract real people who respect you and will be even more likely to want to work with you.
Now get back out there and let me hear you use the “F” word real soon.
