This true warrior wants you to stop guessing. Instead, start observing.
Stop assuming. Instead, start asking questions.
Stop reacting. Instead, start acting.
Stop emoting, and instead, start thinking. We have all heard the following saying: engage brain before opening mouth.
This idea has much merit. True warriors should expand upon the premise—engaging their brains before doing anything—and embrace it as a personal philosophy!
The true warrior knows that we all want a shortcut. It almost seems as if we want to rush through our lives, being first to the finish line so that we can be declared the winner—in spite of the fact that, in this case, that finish line is death.
TGIF!
Is that you? Are you thanking God that another week is over?
STOP!
The moment you are moved to act, to think, or to feel, check it out. This true warrior wants you to remember an evolutionary fact. We are programmed to survive the harsh elements and dangers of the savannah. News Flash! That programming is no longer compatible, or relevant, with the world in which we live!
The very next time you believe that you know what another person has said, stop and clarify. In sales, we do not rush off with only our own view of the call or interaction. No, before we leave the prospect, we ask them to summarize the key points and outcomes of the meeting so that we can look for alignment between what we thought we heard, or communicated, and what the prospect heard or communicated. We then paraphrase the prospect’s words back to them and ask for confirmation that we have it right and haven’t missed anything or left anything out. We then establish a clear game plan and gain agreement on the next steps, and the roles and actions required by both parties—us and them. We do not leave the prospect until both parties have a clear and unambiguous vision of the future.
True warriors think, measure, confirm, prove, verify, and learn from their community, by asking, watching, testing, analyzing, documenting, and concluding what is actually happening based on empirical evidence—not on their gut or visceral responses. When asked why this is the case, true warriors point to objective data that supports their actions. They don’t ever claim that it just seemed like the right thing to do.
The next time you hear that from someone, please smile knowingly, silently bless them, and forgive them their insanity.
You are warriors. If you study psychology, economics, and marketing, you will fill your arsenal with tools and techniques that will allow you to objectively win, as you will have created a winning mindset! As such, you shall succeed.