Interior Design Professionals Should Go Until “No” This Year
Make 2010 the year that you “fail” more.
Make this the year that you encounter more rejections, lose out on more bids, and fail to close more deals than ever before.
Make this the year you really get to know “No.”
Why? Because only when you put yourself out there more, can you fail more.
And, only when you put yourself out there more, can you SUCCEED more.
Interior design professionals tend to be far too skittish when it comes to presenting themselves and their services in challenging times.
Many are reluctant to pursue higher end clients, bid on bigger projects, enter higher profile design competitions, offer larger contracts, and set higher fees.
That’s because they’re petrified, horrified, and mortified of the word “No.”
They don’t realize that “No” may simply mean: “Not now.” Or “Not yet.” Or, even, “Tell me more.”
The “No” word surfaced often during last year’s economic meltdown. Many design firms responded to rejection by retreating.
They reduced sales and marketing activity at a time when they should have ramped it up.
Problem is, quitting has consequences. When design firms disappear, they die.
Every time you contact a prospect, submit a proposal, offer your services, raise your rates, promote a new product, present a program, or seek financial support, you risk rejection.
But you also increase your odds for success
To reap rewards this year, you’ll have to take risks. And one of the risks you run is that you’ll try something and fail.
So what? Said Tom Watson, former IBM chairman: If you want to succeed, double your failure rate.”
Author Jack Canfield suggests that every time you hear “No,” you should say “Next.” Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on.
Catch yourself saying alot of “Next’s” this year. That means you’re hearing alot of “No’s.”
That means you’re putting yourself out there more.
And that means you’re boosting your chances for success.
Fred Berns is the interior design industry’s foremost sales and marketing trainer.
