This is a recurring thought of mine because it is so significant.
What do I have control over?
If I can’t make someone do something, like hire me, or book me, what can I control?
I can control the number of new people I prospect. I set goals of talking to people and having conversations. When I used to do direct mail I could control how many postcards I sent out.
I would learn how many postcards would generate how many leads, and work with that. I couldn’t control who booked me.
This recently came up with my son. He just started high school and like anyone at high school he’s trying to make new friends.
I asked him, if you can’t control the people and make them be your friend, what is it that you can do that might help you?
After a moment, he responded “I could try learning their names better so I could call them by their names properly”.
Such a simple solution that will help him along. I was proud of him that he came up with that.
Now, in a business context I would ask the same thing. What are the steps along the process that you can control?
