We Should Be More Like Kids
At this time of year we often hear “Christmas is for the kids.” That’s just one more reason I try to be more like a kid. You should too. We all should. We’d be happier, and would achieve more. Here’s why.
1. No’s don’t bother them. My kids react to no’s as if they were hearing-impaired, relentlessly firing off their next salvo of requests. Certainly they’re not always successful, but they achieve more than if they’d buckled in to the initial “no.” And, most kids aren’t afraid to go to different levels within the decision-making hierarchy to get what they want.
2. Kids take risks. I about had a calf when I saw my son, Eric, roller-blading up and off a plywood ramp! “Oh, that’s nothing, Dad,” was the response when I asked if he wasn’t just the slightest bit scared of crashing. In retrospect, most grown-ups are too risk-averse, traveling the warm, safe, beaten path. What’s the last risk you took? If you’re reluctant to live on the edge, consider one thing: Do you regret more of the risks in life that you took, or those that you didn’t take? So why not throw caution to the wind once and awhile?
3. Their imaginations run wild. I remember a few years ago when my daughter handed me an abstract explosion-of-colors-on-paper. I sheepishly asked, “What exactly do you call this?” “Well, of course it’s a city, Daddy,” she stated matter-of-factly. Oh. Many of us fence in our imaginations by saying (and therefore believing) “I’m just not creative.” Bull. Unharness your imagination, and let your ideas run wild. You’ll be surprised.
4. Kids have high ambitions. The neighbor kid, six years old, is facing a tough decision right now. He isn’t sure whether he’s going to play in the American League, or the National League when he becomes a Major League Baseball player. Ask any kid, and they’ll also tell you they aspire to be something great. Sadly, many adults lose this desire, and are content if they can cover this month’s checks. Have you set your goals yet for 2000? If you haven’t, do so today. And regardless of where you are right now, aim higher. You can get there.
5. They have great attitudes. A trivia question on the radio the other day asked, “What do kids do about 400 times a day, that adults do less than 20 on average?” The answer: laugh. (I’ve seen some adults who have really contributed to pulling that number down to 20!) We should lighten up more.
6. Kids are constantly active. The word “walk” isn’t in the vocabulary of most kids. They dart wherever they go. Yet, it’s sad that the sedentary lifestyle and attitudes of a lot of people contributes to a poor self-image, and lack of ambition.You can spot the people in your organization with the poor attitudes . . . normally the ones who shuffle from place to place. Put a spring in your step, move more quickly like a kid, and that really does translate into a better attitude.
7. They’re curious. I’m often exasperated trying to explain things that I’ve always taken for granted, like, “Why is there frost on the grass when you wake up in the morning?” In sales, we need to have that child-like curiosity because it helps us to understand everything we should know before we make a presentation.
So, don’t grow up. Think young. And if you’ll excuse me, I need to go strap on my roller blades. Where is that plywood ramp…
Art Sobczak helps sales pros use the phone to prospect, service and sell more effectively, while eliminating morale-killing “rejection. To get FREE weekly emailed TelE-Sales Tips visit: http://ww.BusinessByPhone.com
