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5 Common Phrases That Guarantee Failure
Sometimes, without realizing it, the things we say out loud that we think are helping us are doing the exact opposite. Just as important as “inner dialogue” can be to our sense of achievement, the phrases we use when speaking to others can carry just as much weight. Learn 5 common phrases we business owners tend to say that actually make people run the other way.
1. I’m looking for someone/something to help me for free. – This phrase and it’s derivatives is something I see on message boards and hear every day. Business owners are looking for expert (and often time-consuming) help that they don’t want to pay for, but think that because they’re starting a business, everyone should rush to their aid and for free. Let me ask you this. Would you work for free? If the answer is an honest “no”, then why ask others to do so? At least offering to pay for expertise or time is a show of respect that may get you way more in service than you actually pay for.
2. I’ve only been in business for X amount of months. – I think there’s something psychological in saying we’ve only been in business or a certain career for so many months. Also known as speaking in deficits. It strikes me as a mental crutch that either invokes pity from the person we’re speaking to, or pre-makes an excuse for a major screw-up. What it doesn’t do is instill confidence in our abilities. Take charge of your life and your career and tell someone you’ve been doing this for x amount of months and are loving every minutes of it!
3. No salary is involved but profit sharing is part of the package for the right person. – See item number 1 above. However, this one needs to be a different kind of wake-up call. I think we all want to believe our business will be the next million dollar money-maker, but let’s get real. Offering someone part or half of nothing is still nothing. I’m sure there are those that are willing to take such risks, but very rarely do they work out. Instead, try to find a way to repay the person with your particular talent or skill, just as they are doing for you.
4. Our product/service is the leading source of brand focus combined with convergent technologies that provide cohesive synergy for astounding value in this particular market space. – Remind me to tell you of the holiday party I went to one year, and some guy who was part of a local start up described his company to me this way. I was like, what? Would you speak English, please? If you can’t describe your product or service in simple terms, and really touch on how your product or service will improve the lives of it’s users, many might see that as a cover-up and that you really don’t know what you’re doing. Ditch the jargon, and go for real value-laden benefits that are just dripping with warm and fuzzy possibilities for your clients.
5. I’m not trying to sell anything, I’m just branding right now. – See also “I just want to get my name out there.” This is something that I also see as a way to shy away from selling your product or service. No one will buy your product if they don’t know it’s for sale. Stop tip-toeing through the tulips and make it your mission to get your product noticed. Of course, I never advocate hitting someone over the head with a sale, but that doesn’t mean you burrow into a hole and declare you’re just “branding” in order to avoid someone rejecting your business. Go for it. Tell people what you do, and how well you do it, and why others have raved about you. The person you’re sharing with might just jump on board as your next client right then and there!
This might seem a little more stern than my usual tone in my articles. But hey, tough times call for tough measures. And as a former Sergeant in the U.S. Army, I used to tell my Soldiers, “I owe it to you to train you right. I may not always tell you what you want to hear, but I will tell you what you need to hear!” And let’s face it, you wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t looking for new ways to grab your business by the horns.
So, in this case, let’s ditch the phrases that guarantee failure, and start saying things that create success!
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Thanks for reading and for doing something positive today!
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Jay Medina
As your Helpful Advisor, Jay Medina has over 20 years experience as an Information Technology professional and over 10 years of successful business writing. Jay Medina has 48 post(s) at Helpful Advisor
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Live Life – Thank you so much for the high praise! I hope you continue to find value and let others know about the site. I wish you all the best as well, and keep up the great work at lifetofullest.com.
This is a fantastic article. Definitely one of your best. Great stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I think that when you ask for freebies you often get what you pay for. You get someone providing a service that is absolutely worthless and being new to your venture, you may not even know it.
And as for point number two, being in business for a short amount of time takes away from your credibility except in the rare cases when you actually spin it to brag about your amazing product or skills. For example, “I’ve only been running this business for 6 months and business is just pouring in because we’re providing value and service that those big name company no longer have to provide.”
Again, great article.
Nicholas Z. Cardot´s last blog ..Writing for Real People (Part 1)
Nick – Thank you so much for the compliments. You make some very good points on that. Getting what you pay for is a constant that never changes. As well, you’re right; we should be paying attention to our achievements, so we can use that to our advantage, taking away the crutches that only hold us back. Thanks for making some great points on that!
Jay, very well written article and totally spot on.
So many people do not understand the power their words and actions have when talking to fellow business people. If you cannot believe in your own product totally, well, maybe it’s time to get a better product.
The best way appreciate this, is to visit your local networking club, you will soon spot the people who will succeed and the also rans who will continue to struggle.
A short simple and to the point Elevator pitch is what everybody in business needs, otherwise Item 4 is what we have to listen too, and that really does turn people off.
Anyway, thanks again Jay
Hi Alan! Thanks so much for the compliments. I couldn’t agree with you more about believing in your product or service to an unshakable extent. And like you, I truly believe in a solid elevator pitch as being crucial to success. I wrote about that very thing in my article called “7 Mistakes to Avoid When Marketing Your Small Business.” It appears great minds think alike!
Please come back and share more comments with the community! See you soon Alan!