What You Think About Me is None of My Business!

This is a very profound statement. I don't mean the above statement in an obnoxious way. I learnt this statement in the Entrepreneur Action Program (EAP) I attended. Basically, what they are saying and what I have mentioned in some of my previous articles is that you should not be "SHY". No matter how good or bad you are somebody is always going to have an opinion about you and you can't change that. Even if you know what they think about you most of the time you can't change their views.You can only change the way you feel about the situation and hence you can say this to yourself silently- "What You Think About Me is None of My Business!"

Many a time, we are caught in a situation where we are worried about our "FACE", i.e., how people view us. It is ingrained in the eastern culture especially where we are concerned about what others would say about us even if they are strangers and you will not see them again. This "FACE" thing limits our potential and our chances for greater success.

I have been in "SALES" for more than 15 years and I started with from ground zero. I was shy, timid and atypical of a Sales guy. But as you practice meeting more people and talking to them you become better at it. Now I will force myself to to do things I am not comfortable with. I worry less about what other people think. You don't have to be a Sales person to be brave.

I have met many wonderful people. But I also had to talk to strangers,  people who just did what they were paid to do and did not care who I was. I had to still meet them and share my products and service. I was sensitive or timid I would not be able to do my job effectively.

Here are somethings you can do train yourself to apply this "advice":
1) Practice what you want to ask a few times.
2) Treat the person you are about to talk to as someone you know or as a friend.
3) Be sincere and be honest. As long as you do that people may want to listen to what you have to say.
4) Just Ask.....what is the worse that can happen is you.....you get a "NO". So What? What if the person thinks you are "CRAZY"? So What? (Don't be obnoxious and say anything nasty. You will regret it.). Say this to yourself silently- "What You Think About Me is None of My Business!"
5) Just say "Thank You" and move to the next person.

If you want a real life example, just look at Susan Boyle. Nobody gave her a chance when she first went on stage "Britain's Got Talent" contest. Now,everybody is mesmerized by her voice. Who is laughing all the way to the bank? Was she worried about what people thought of her. Maybe. She just went on stage and gave her best effort and she won over her harshest & shallow critics, some of whom thought she was not pretty enough to sing.

"What You Think About Me is None of My Business!" - I wish I had learnt this when I first started my Sales Job. I had to learn it the hard way. Now I would like to share this with you so that you can save yourself some heartache and also achieve greater success in your work and in your personal life.

Have a Wonderful Day!

Cheers,
Mark