Mirrow view

I learnt something about myself last night. In fact, I saw myself in someone else, and then learned. We were due to do our presentations and while nervously gazing at the spectators, a particular lady interested me. She had the usual intellectual look in her face and nodded with deep understanding at our every word as I spoke. I was only too happy to feel understood, that is, until question time. The criticism came, from this once so understanding candidate, and yes, we answered all questions with relative skill, but I felt attacked. I felt like our presentation had been pulled apart and that any meaning was lost.

Next to present, was this particularly intellectual lady. She had authority when she spoke, but I read it as pride. I immediately took out my check board to take note of the fundamental flaws in her presentation. And then it dawned on me, I was attacking her because I felt attacked. I smirked, only because I was insecure of the soundness of my presentation. I had in fact, stopped learning. My ears didn’t want to make any sense of what she was saying because that would surely mean that I was wrong.

The key to being good in business, is acting contrary to what is natural. To build people up, to compliment people, and yes, take a few punches if you are wrong. To move our pride out the way, and to be passionate about great business. You learn when you are willing to listen. You learn from your mistakes only if you recognize them as such.

Marketing is a team effort. Your ideas may be good, but they could be great when you allow others to fine tune it. Who knows, they may ask for your input the next time they are willing to be vulnerable.

I left the presentations having learnt something and very happy at the new discovery I made about myself, I want to change.