“It has been proven time and again, the more you do things right the more the guarantee of somehow annoying someone.”
It was 1986 and Dave (a coworker) came up to me right before our sales meeting started and privately asked me to no longer go out and make sales calls before the sales meetings. Confused, I had to ask Dave why. His answer was funny. Dave looked me right in the eye and said “That makes the rest of us look bad”.
I have never forgotten that comment or the look on Dave’s face when I clearly told him that blowing out my candle will never make his burn any brighter.
It seems that we typically upset more people when we do things right, have success or just stay on the right path than when we don’t. In fact, the old adage, “misery loves company” is very appropriate. If not producing what we have the ability to accomplish makes us miserable, then restated “unproductive people love company”.
“It has been proven time and again, the more you do things right the more the guarantee of somehow annoying someone.”
Based on this, I want to share with you what I have determined in my life as the 5 most powerful ways to annoy others.
A.N.N.O.Y.
A: Announce your goals
Studies have shown that by simply announcing your goals to others you are significantly more likely to accomplish them. In fact, it has also been proven that by keeping goals a secret that only you know is almost a guarantee of not even coming close to accomplishing them.
Why is this the case? We typically are significantly less likely to let down others than we are to let ourselves down. This is why it pays so much to hire and follow the plan of a business coach. When we tell others our goals, we become accountable to our spoken word. It is that accountability that drastically increases the likelihood that we will actually do something about accomplishing whatever we verbally committed to.
N: Navigate beyond obstacles
Fact: We don’t bump into anything if we are not moving forward!
In other words, why are we so surprised when we run into obstacles? Obstacles are required for achievement. It is those very obstacles that cause the average or typical person to stop. So it goes without saying that when you get past them you are always guaranteed of someone (who was stopped by them) getting seriously annoyed. You should expect obstacles and stop being surprised when they come up. If you are moving they will appear!
N: Negate a plan B
Too often we think it is wise planning to establish a plan B. Don’t get me wrong, if you are a sky diver it is a great idea. However, if you really want to succeed at some very serious goals, then a plan B just might be the most significant element of sabotage yet.
Why? A plan B is a subconscious escape route from your goal!
A plan B is only engaged when things get tough. Nobody ever engages a plan B when great results are coming easy, but the other way around. Here is a thought. Think of the last great accomplishment you had that was easy. The truth is that all great things get tough and then to think that a plan B is only engaged when things get tough makes this a combination that you and I want to do everything to avoid.
O: Oppose negative people
Opposition is sometimes the best reality check.
I seem to be the negative person magnet. It seems that if they are around, they will surely find me. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t tolerate it. Here is a rule, “What We Tolerate Will Dominate”! I definitely don’t want any part of negativity dominating me.
Fact: I have never, ever, not once, met a negative happy person!
Based on this fact, I now not only don’t tolerate negativity I actually have a little fun and oppose them. Why? I want them to recognize the silliness of their subconscious strategy that is ruining their happiness.
The next time you encounter a negative person whose sole goal is to not be alone in their unhappiness, do what I sometimes do and ask them or both of these questions:
1: How long have you been like this?
Or…
2: Who did this to you?
Other than the funny look on their face, it typically causes them to understand what they are doing. In fact, it almost always does.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to be mean. I am actually the nicest guy they will likely meet that day because my goal is to actually help snap them out of it.
Y: Yield or produce results everyday
Have you ever gotten in your car and driven to the grocery store, grabbed a cart and walked into the store only to have the revelation that you have completely forgotten why you were there?
Too often we handle our work the same way. We start each in the morning the same time we always do, shower, brush our teeth with the same hand as we always use, grab a quick bite, drive the same roads as yesterday, walk into our office, open up our outlook and then it hits us…we have no real proactive plan for the day!
When it comes to producing results, I am not referring to being so driven that you lose all your friends, I am just strongly suggesting that you accomplish each day what is reasonable for that day. Plan that day the night before and then execute that plan the next day.
Studies show that the average person with a written plan for the day gets out of bed 15 minutes earlier than normal and gets to work typically at least 10 minutes earlier. Why? They know the reason they are doing it.
I encourage you to really think about the things you do each day and then ask yourself…”Can I be more On-Purpose?
Being On-Purpose and following these five steps will not only improve your life personally, but it certainly will help you identify those who just might not actually have the same plan.
Be blessed.
Darryl Turner
Darryl Turner is the CEO of the Darryl Turner Corporation based in California. DTC organizations specialize in the advancement of companies in any economy. Darryl is also an international motivational, business, sales, management and leadership speaker delivering more than 200 live events annually.
You can follow Darryl on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DarrylTurner.
For more information about Darryl Turner, visit www.DarrylTurner.com or call 209-548-9000
For information on Darryl’s full length DVD of the same title visit www.DarrylTurner.com
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