Your Attitude Determines Your Future
In my earlier post, I talked about my addiction to winning. Someone asked what happens when I lose? I am a bad loser. I cannot stop kicking myself. I vow to come back stronger. Occasionally, I develop conspiracy theories that someone is out to get me. I have lose sleep more than I can count over trivial losses. I admit that I am not above anyone else.
My mentor told me that it is my attitude that will determine whether I win or lose. My psychology warfare, pricing strategy, networking and more gives me a small edge. When I go up against larger competitors, none of my strategies will work. She told me that sometimes the sole winning factor is not the superficial stuffs but what's hidden inside me.
She further breakdown the attitude that will determine my long-term success.
- How I treat my customers?
- How I treat my suppliers?
- How I treat my colleagues?
- How efficient I run the business operations?
- How I view the competitors?
- When I draw my last breath, how I see this life?
She told me: "If I treat everyone including my competitors with respect and professionalism. Customers and suppliers will come by themselves. I will not see it immediately, but it will come.
Professionalism means knowing all I need to know to serve my customers and team. Train and set up a good team to make sure the team can be successful. Train the team until they do not need my guidance anymore. If my team is only to serve my success, I have failed.
Obsessing winning deals is short term thinking. In the long term, I will run out of gas and burnout. Instead of thinking of winning, think how can I contribute to my team, suppliers and customers. All these actions are boring and not obvious. Nevertheless, my action will compound and soon will evolve into something that's beyond my wildest imagination.
By focusing on serving my customers, and team. Even if I lose a deal, it is less painful because I know I have done my best. There are factors that are outside of my control.
My focus has to be relentless. I will have many opportunities that are outside of my vision. I have to say no to all of it. I felt like a loser in my twenties and thirties was because I got distracted by opportunities and got nothing done.
When I draw my last breath, I should not be thinking what I owned but what I have created."