[tweetmeme source=”cbyndas” only_single=false]Yesterday I overheard a great conversation between two entrepreneur friends of mine. The one has just purchased a business in a field where he as no experience. He shared “I know I will be 100% successful” with this new company. Wow, what a statement! Not “I am hoping to be successful”, not “I might be successful”, but instead he says “I know”.
He goes on to explain his position. He shares that he has started other things from scratch, that he is a quick learner and that he knows his attitude is the most important factor to his success. “I believe 200% in what I am doing, and that will attract others to my company and doing business with me.” What a way to look at jumping off the cliff into unchartered waters!
My friend also went on to share a very interesting detail about what else he felt he had working in his favor. He states, “You know I am too dumb to know any better, I will try everything.” I was impressed; very few business owners see this as an advantage when it really can work in their favor. If you don’t know exactly what will work you are likely to try many things, some will work, while others won’t. In the end you are likely to figure out ways to do business that others are not doing. Being too dumb to know any better can be a competitive advantage.
This conversation got me thinking. How often do we all limit the directions we go because of what we think we already know? Does our past experience act as “baggage” that we need to drag around or does that experience become the “keys” that open doors for us?
Best wishes to my friend Ryan as he launches his new company. I am sure he will be 100% successful, he has the right attitude and in the end this is always the critical factor to success.
April 28, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Good post. I agree we talk ourselves out of many opportunities by thinking that we know.