How My Failure Became a Big Win!
Pamela DeNeuve
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There are no guarantees.?
Everything is a risk when you take on a new case, a new matter, a new client, or a project.
Many times your biggest failure can lead to your most significant win.
MY FAILURE
???? It was the early 1990s, and I had an opportunity to have a daily segment on the largest radio station in Santa Barbara, California.?
????I called it "Your Daily Success Challenge."
????The radio station slotted it as the 8 am drive-time slot.?
????This was well before podcasts.
????The only catch was I had to get my first sponsor.?
Equipped with a portable cassette player and a sample of the show, I set out to find a sponsor.
MY APPOINTMENT
?????My first appointment was with the ad agency that represented the major hospital in Santa Barbara.
???? I walked in and saw a young woman who immediately scowled and looked down her nose at me.
???? I shared enthusiastically about the show and played the cassette for her.
???? She frowned and said, "Who do you think would want to hear you? ... Do you actually believe the biggest hospital in Santa Barbara would represent you? I'M SORRY BUT, we are not interested."
???? She shuffled the papers on her desk to dismiss me.
???? I felt crushed and picked up my cassette player, humiliated, and forced my legs to move as I felt like I was two feet tall, slinking out of the door.
I wanted to go home.
But I brushed back the tears.
The woman treated me as if I was the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.
I FORCED MYSELF TO GO ON
Although I wanted to go home as the thoughts flooded my brain, "What were you thinking? No one will sponsor your stupid show."
My mother's words rang loud and clear that I had heard thousands of times,
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
I had a back-to-back appointment with the largest and most influential bank in Santa Barbara, and I dreaded going.?
But, I made myself go on.
MY 2ND APPOINTMENT
I forced myself to be as cheery and enthusiastic as I met with a Vice President of the bank.
???? I tried my best to hide that I felt crushed, small, and like a loser.
???? "I'd like to play the sample of the show if you would like to hear?"
???? "Of course, let me hear it," the Vice President said with a smile.
???? After I played the short segment, she said,?
???? "We have been looking for something like this to uplift the community. We would be happy to sponsor your show."
???? I was shocked.
I almost skipped out of the door.
The bank sponsored "The Success Challenge."
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AN EVEN BIGGER SURPRISE
???????????? After completing the bank's sponsorship, a direct hospital representative bypassed the agency that insulted me and was my longest-running sponsor.
DON'T LET FAILURE DEFINE YOU.
DON'T LET FAILURE DEFINE YOU
?? Fear causes procrastination because of being risk-averse.
?? I didn't want to make my second appointment, but I would have missed the opportunity to have my most successful radio segment.
?? Discouragement is a road to distraction. The day is gone before you know it, and not much has been accomplished.?
?? It is such freedom to play full out without being burdened by the fear of losing.
HERE IS WHAT WINNERS LEARN
?? To give it your best
?? Prepare
?? Push past fear
?? Be willing to work hard
?? Don't be afraid of humiliation
?? Abstain from distractions (email, social media, socializing)
?? Make the sacrifice to get the job done
HERE IS WHAT WE LEARN WHEN WE LOSE
? Resilience
? How to become stronger
? How strong we are
? How to bounce back after adversity
? All winners have losses too?
? Accept your losses and move on
? How to keep a good attitude despite adversity
? Never give up on yourself
? Don't let others define your value
But, no matter whether you win or fail, in actuality, you win.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
When there is a loss, I always ask my clients to review and ask themselves:
?? What worked?
?? What didn't work?
?? What should I change in the future?
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2 年We control the ability to choose how we respond to a situation. Having the control to choose to react with positivity will set the trajectory of our actions and emotions going forward.
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2 年Such an amazing example of resilience and winning mindset Pamela DeNeuve ??
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2 年Love this Pamela and thanks for sharing your personal story. Fear of failure impacts most of us and your perseverance and determination to move forward for your sponsorship is awesome and shows how we CAN do what we need to do. Good for you to force yourself to go on!
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2 年This is such an inspiring post Pamela DeNeuve and love how you were able to use your mother's words as fuel to move on. "But, no matter whether you win or fail, in actuality, you win." This is such an important message. Thank you!