If you’ve ever found yourself in a position of unrequited love, you know it’s true that you can’t make someone love you. No matter how hard you try to change them, or yourself, to get them to love you, it doesn’t work. So why do you suppose we pursue these relationships for so long when we know they will not work?
We do this because we avoid asking tough questions that lead us to the truth. It’s the same in personal relationships and in business. In my business we have a saying: “Get to the truth quick.” This means qualifying, qualifying, qualifying through asking the tough questions. The truth may hurt, but knowing the truth puts you in a much better position in the long run.
An oft-quoted line from the Bible states that “the truth will set you free.” It’s been quoted so much that it borders on cliché, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t correct. It is always better to know the truth, and the sooner you know it, the better.
Stop putting off the inevitable. The longer you put off getting to the truth, the more difficult it becomes. As time wears on you will become frustrated with yourself for not stepping up and asking the tough questions. You may even find that you are wasting your time on a losing proposition, which you might have avoided had you been willing to ask for and face the truth early on.
What is the worst case scenario if you ask the tough questions? It’s almost always that the other person will say, “No.” “No, I don’t love you”; “No, we’ve decided to hire someone else”; “No, you’re not getting the promotion.” It may sting at the time, but “no” is not really a bad answer. “No” doesn’t mean you failed; it means that there is no opportunity for you with that person or business right now. It frees you up to focus your time and efforts on other people or clients with whom there might be an opportunity for you today.
It is important to note that when receiving a “no,” you should always handle it with class and politely thank them for the opportunity and ask them to please keep you in mind if things should change. In business, more so than in personal relationships, these situations might be very fluid and could change quickly. Don’t get mad about the “no” and say or do something that will eliminate you from future consideration. Even if this deal doesn’t pan out, the client could come back to you in the future.
So whether it’s business or love, always remember you can’t make them love you and it’s better to find out the truth sooner than later!
Have a great weekend,
Ro
Good stuff… I always say… Knowing is half the battle.