I was waiting for a few people near a large fountain not paying much attention to anyone when I noticed a little boy trip and skin his knee.
It wasn't too bad but he was very upset and started crying. His Dad cleaned it
up with a little water and that's when I remember I had a band-aid in my wallet.
Why? Because I'm about as accident-prone as a four-year old and so I always have a band-aid in my wallet. (Right next to an emergency $20 bill.)
I walked up to the man and said, "Here you go!" The Dad was grateful and excited, "Look!" he said to his son holding up the band-aid. Once he put it on, the tears dried up and they were on their way.
It felt good to help someone. I also felt good to be prepared.
So often we talk about improving confidence and how key that is in facing rejection. (And truth be told, how important it is in reducing rejection.)
Think about this:
"Preparation doesn't assures victory, it assures confidence."
- Amit Kalantri, Wealth of
Words
What can you do to be prepared?
Here are the three most important
things:
Plan your script! The author of "Exactly What to Say" Phil M. Jones says the worst time to find the right words are in the moment when you need them. So, figure out your messaging or your "Go for No" question in advance. Never go in cold and wing it.
Prepare for a No. In our new book, "When They Say No" we cover 41 ideas that you must consider when you get a no. Be prepared on how to handle it. What will you say and do when you get it? How will you stay in the game and keep mentally and emotionally healthy going
forward?
Plan your day. A huge impediment for most people is self-management. That means not scheduling enough time to Go for No, or so much time that procrastination sets in and before you know it, the book shelf in your office is organized alphabetically by topic. Because when
you promise to do something and you do it, you learn to trust yourself.
A big part of confidence is built through self-trust. Therefore, poor confidence can often simply be a reflection of the lack of trust we have in ourselves. Get those band-aids in your wallet and Go for
No!