Look Before You 'LIP'

Sun, 24 Nov 2024

Life is not a game that you gamble your way through.

Achieving sustainable success and fulfillment in your personal and professional life requires conscious and deliberate actions. You must not leave anything to chance, neither should you treat important things, people, and moments with levity. In other words, to succeed in life, you must take charge of your life. And taking charge of your life requires adequate preparation.

It is important for you to continually keep your eyes on the ball. Any distractions can cost you more than you are prepared to pay, because we do not usually know when the right opportunity will present itself. It is important to prepare adequately, leaving as little as possible to chance, to ensure that we do not squander opportunities when they arise.

Here is an incident that happened to yours truly when I was very young and just starting out in my career.

Look before you ‘Lip’

I walked in like I owned the place. If I was asked to attend to this very important ‘high value’ client, it must be because I have what it takes and is really good - even the best. “I was born to do this”, I said to my then twenty-two-year-old self. He was having breakfast when I arrived. so I was asked to sit in the adjourning living room adjacent to him, right in front of the television set, while I waited for him to finish his meal.

“I will be with you shortly” he said politely, as I settled into my seat grandly. “How is your boss?” he asked, trying to make polite conversation while he ate before the 'proper' meeting started. “He is very well Sir; he sends his regards,” I responded. The food smelt and looked delicious. I tried not to watch him eat, so I turned my gaze to the television set, feigning interest, even though my mind was completely on something else. Noticing my 'interest' on what was showing on the television set, he asked, “Do you like golf?” I responded quickly, “Not at all”. “Why” he asked with a certain look on his face? I ignored the look and immediately went on a rant, as if possessed. “I think it is boring, and slow, only suitable for lazy people who cannot play fast paced simultaneous competitive sports like tennis or squash.” I went on and on; even emphasizing my position by pointing out how most Nigerian golfers had pot-bellies and were usually old. I must have spoken for a lifetime.

As I continued, I started to become aware of my environment, as if in slow-motion. I started to notice objects around the room: golf trophies, branded golf balls, golf clubs. Even the TV set had a golf tournament showing. Just then, I realized that he had asked, “Do you LOVE Golf TOO?” In my zeal to speak, I did not hear the words “LOVE” and ‘TOO.’ He even had the pot belly I had so fervently ascribed to golf players. At this point, I clutched at the document that was sitting on my lap. All I was required to do was to get one signature and go back to the office. I may just have blown this important deal that my bosses had so carefully put together, I thought to myself.

Lessons Learnt

1. I walked in like I owned the place.

While confidence is very important in everything we do, it is even more important that we try to assert ourselves from a point of knowledge and not the mere emptiness of our self-acclaimed intelligence.

2. The food looked and smelt good I observed the wrong thing.

I observed only one thing when I walked into the room -- the food. What I observed was not the most important thing in the room. I didn't notice the golf equipment and the client's interest in golf. In everything we do, we must be fully aware of the operating environment and not just the basics. We must observe and learn, and keep learning; never drifting.

3. I went on a rant.

Sometimes, we mistake being overly outspoken for assertiveness; so, we tend to say more than is necessary. In an environment where we don’t call the ‘shots,’ we must talk less and listen more. Listen with our ears, our eyes, and our ‘gut’.

4. I missed a crucial opportunity to bond with the client.

Due to my lack of adequate preparation, I missed the opportunity to nod with the client and generate additional business from him. If I knew then what I know now, I would have acted differently, played my professional cards right, and seized that opportunity to extract more business and even referrals from that client. In everything we do: work, play, life; we must do our homework each time, every time, never taking plunges in the dark and just assuming that I am the 'best', and, therefore, everything will fall into place. We can't assume that, if it's meant to be, it will be: that may lead to carelessness and recklessness. We have to take deliberate steps to achieve the success we desire.

All the lessons learnt from this personal story point to one vital truth about achieving our ultimate goal; success happens when preparation meets with opportunity. My lack of preparation made me miss out on the very critical information about that client – his love for golf. This caused me a business relationship I could have forged with that client.

P.S.

Preparation is not an act we perform before an event. It is ongoing.

When he asked “Why”, I could have salvaged the situation. I however missed a second opportunity to make it right. We must prepare as we go along. Our journey will throw up surprises every now and then. It is important that we keep preparing for the next steps as every opportunity is key.