Written By: Jackie Friedman, President -Nexion Travel Group
Jackie Friedman recently gave a TW Talks at CruiseWorld in Fort Lauderdale on removing the word “Can’t” from your vocabulary. Here are excerpts …
Can’t is a short word, but it packs a lot of negative power. Usually when you say, “I can’t,” it doesn’t really mean that, but instead it’s “I won’t” or “I don’t want to.” True, accomplishing anything worthwhile takes time, practice and experience. What about concert pianists, for example? They practice their skills morning and night, over and over.
You, as professional travel professionals, take training to brush up on your skills and knowledge. You attend conferences like CruiseWorld to network with each other and supplier partners. And, you understand the value of experiencing the destinations and specialties that you sell most. Don’t let the word “can’t” fill you with doubt, because it really will. The word “can’t” admits defeat before you start, and I promise you, it will be a barrier to success.
I’ve been in the travel industry for more than 35 years. For most of my career, I’ve spent working with advisors and agencies helping them operate more profitably. Here are things I hear often from them:
“I can’t quit my day job and do this fulltime.”
“I can’t compete with the Internet.”
“I can’t charge service fees.”
“I can’t find new clients.”
“I can’t find groups.”
“I can’t make money.”
You can’t let the word “can’t” get in the way. What you need to do is identify those things that you’ve convinced yourself you couldn’t do and look through it with a different lens – a CAN DO lens.
Remember, you’ve overcome a lot of can’ts already. We were all babies, once, right? We didn’t know how to walk or how to talk. We grabbed onto the coffee table to pull ourselves up.
Do not let the word “can’t” become a barrier. The only thing holding you back from achieving your goal is YOU! With the right confidence, attitude, determination and patience, you will be successful.
Any bad habit takes the desire to change and a willingness to look at things differently. Here’s what I want you to do. Take a moment now to think of something either personal or professional that up until now you have convinced yourself you couldn’t do. Now close your eyes and visualize how it makes you feel. Visualize what it takes to achieve that goal. That positive visualization is so important as you shift from a “can’t do” to a “can do.”
It comes down to this. You truly must believe you CAN!
Someone with a can-do attitude is positive and ready to take on anything. True, there will be times when you’ll face huge challenges with obstacles that seem insurmountable. Maybe you’ve been working on a group for months and months, and you’re so excited about it, and then it falls through at the last minute. It’s how you react to adversity that will determine how long you stay down. You’ve got to be confident and resourceful in the face of challenges. The choice is up to you. You can choose to look through it with a positive lens.
So, here’s “Dr. Jackie’s” prescription to cure CAN’T. There are four steps:
1. Have a positive outlook.
- Be optimistic – see the glass as half full and not half empty.
- Engage in positive self-talk.
- Make the best of all situations.
- Respond well to adversity.
- Expect to succeed.
- Turn failures into lessons.
2. Stay away from negative energy.
Find those people who are positive and fun to be around – the ones who encourage and support you. Find the people who will help you find solutions and not focus on problems.
3. Visualize success.
Have a clear vision, and once you have it, establish goals. Make sure they are achievable and measurable, and write them down. Then re-visit them from time to time to hold yourself accountable. Come up with a tactical plan with specific steps you’re going to do to achieve that goal. And, break down your goals into smaller milestones that you can celebrate once you’ve achieved them along the way.
4. Don’t be afraid to fail.
You’ve got to put yourself out there. You have to take chances. Failing why trying is not failing at all.
Remember, it’s up to you. Are you ready? YES, YOU CAN!