How many times have you heard the phrase, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" And, yet, even though we've heard that often and even though we know it to be true we still often fall for the hype found is so many promises, especially those connected with "opportunities" to make money!
What about the promises and claims that YOU make? Are you still trying to convince YOURSELF that these "too-good-to-be-true" promises are actually valid by repeating those empty claims to yourself? How's that workin' out for ya'?
We've all heard them, right? "Become a millionaire by devoting only 20 minutes a day!" "Make money overnight WHILE YOU SLEEP!" And on and on it goes.
I'll be honest in telling you that I - yes, that's right...me - have fallen for some of these in the past but, hopefully, I've learned better along the way. I have actually come across a few - VERY few- that will tell it like it is and make sure that you understand that it is a HARD and LONG process that will take TIME and a LOT of effort!
Why don't more just go ahead and tell the truth? Because, usually, the TRUTH IS HARD! Who wants hard? Go back to yesterday's podcast about how too many of us are looking for what is EASY instead of what will help us to grow and apply that to today's thoughts.
Listen to what Jim Rohn had to say on this type of thought:
"Better understated than overstated. Let people be surprised that it was more than you promised and easier than you said."- Jim Rohn
Too many in this world OVER promise and UNDER deliver while people like Mr. Rohn emphasize the opposite... the need to UNDER promise and then OVER deliver.
Businesses that catch on to this philosophy thrive. Why? Because they let their customers know that they will go ABOVE and BEYOND anything that they have said and/or promised along the way. Those that want to "cut people short" may exist but, in my opinion, they will never thrive. Remember, it's always easier and far less expensive to keep a REPEAT customer than to have to always be finding new ones.
This applies to how we present ourselves as well. If you have to TELL people how smart, wise, good-looking, humorous, caring, etc. that you are then, well, there's a bit of a problem there! I couldn't think of the name of the song when I was recording the podcast for this topic but I remember it now..."I'm Sexy and I Know It". I'm around a group of teens right now that seem to like to sing this song...especially the guys (it's a male that sings the song, too). I've told them several times, "If you have to tell someone you are - YOU AIN'T!"
Wouldn't you agree?
Let people be surprised instead of disappointed. Don't brag. Show by doing.
I remember watching a television show when I was a kid entitled, "The Guns of Will Sonnett" and Walter Brennan was one of the stars. If I remember right he had something he would say quite often on the episodes of this show. "No brag. Just fact." In other words, what he was saying was NOT bragging, it was just a fact.
Facts are proven to be facts by evidence. Fools fear proof.
Now for the diving board scenario that I've been using all week long. Which would be better - to tell everyone how you can do a 2 1/2 gainer when you don't even know how to dog padde OR to get on the high dive and not make any claims at all. Let me help you out here - MAKE NO CLAIMS and surprise the heck out of everyone! Remember, the fool fears proof and, in this scenario, the fool is going to make all kinds of excuses as to why they won't even JUMP!
So, as you live your life and perhaps even work at expanding your business opportunity OR even just as you live your life...always try to remember to deliver MORE than promised. What a nice surprise for those around you.
Be sure to join me tomorrow for another great quote by the late Jim Rohn. Until then, whatever you do, be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Mike
