What You Should Have Learned by Now

The truth hurts, but it will set you free.

Here are some realizations you should be familiar with to help you cope when it happens.

1. Get used to losing

Becoming better in business or career choices means that sometimes you will experience losses.

Losing is simply part of it, but you won't hear this emphasized in the media because it sells more when you talk about results or success.

Isn't that why we see messages like "how easy" or "as fast as 7 days" in courses or products being offered online?

Most of the time, it's just hype.

Completing a course doesn't guarantee your success. You still have to be consistent and apply the discipline learned from it.

Another example is when one doesn't agree with an approach, but that one gets approved instead. Take it as a reflection of what you have been doing or proposing if it's not a match for the overall objectives. It doesn't have to be personal.

The business of business should not just be about money; it should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed." - Anita Roddick

2. Sometimes the people closest to you don't want you to succeed.

Sometimes, the people you expect to support you actually wish you'll fail. Think about it. If you achieve great success and hit it big, how many of your friends or family members will genuinely celebrate with you, and how many will simply pretend it didn't happen?

Here are some other signs

• They might treat your milestone as a joke, as they say, jokes are half-meant.
• They may display an inappropriate level of satisfaction or relief when you encounter setbacks or failures.

This is why I advocate choosing who you surround yourself with. It's okay to be selective if it means it is healthy for your mind, gives you peace, and supports your growth.

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." - Jim Rohn

3. Do not neglect Brand Positioning.

Without it, your business will likely fail to stand out in crowded markets, resonate with its target audience, and maintain consistency in messaging, visual identity, or customer service, affecting how customers trust the brand itself.According to research, this is why many businesses fail.

An article from Forbes suggests that brand positioning should prioritize carving out a distinct space in the minds of consumers, setting you apart from competitors.

What do your customers know you for? What skills or products do they associate with you? We know Apple for its clear and premium design that's meant to simplify use. These are the positions they own in our minds. Basically, how would you live in their mind, rent-free?

The guiding question here is: With a million other service providers similar to you, why should I choose you?

Other strategic ways you can plan brand positioning are through competition, characteristics of your product, benefits offered, and social repositioning.

4. Be consistent or else...

I'll tell you something that may happen. Someone could not communicate their proposal properly because what she was offering was not displayed in her portfolio. It's possible that there were simply no proofs of it online that are easy to find. So, how can anyone believe their capability if there is no proof of it?

Consistency demonstrates professionalism and reliability. It shows that your brand is committed to delivering on its promises and values.

It doesn't mean being stuck in our systems and approaches; we should always be open to innovation. But at the end of the day, what we represent should be consistent with what we stand for.

"Consistency is the true foundation of trust. Either keep your promises or do not make them." - Roy T. Bennett

Here are some questions to reflect from above.

• How do you handle setbacks and losses in your career or business endeavors?
• In what ways can negative influences from friends or family members impact your pursuit of success, and how do you mitigate these effects?
• What steps have you taken to ensure that your brand's messaging, visual identity, and customer service align with your intended positioning?

By facing these realities head-on, we cultivate resilience, build supportive networks, and establish credibility in competitive markets. In doing so, we empower ourselves to face challenges with clarity and purpose.