The majority of inventions do not happen on the first go. There are always modifications, tweaks or complete revamping, also known as failures, before we actually see and use the final product. The end result regardless, comes from doing or not doing something. Thomas Edison, Orville and Wilbur Wright and Dr. Norm Larsen; inventor of WD-40, did exactly that. When asked about all the times that he had failed before finally inventing the light bulb Edison stated; ‘I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Most of you have figured out that the title of this short paper is the definition of ‘try’. Further, this is a word that should be erased from your vocabulary. Just look at it closely, what is it saying? You are going to attempt to do something, or, you are going to make an effort to do something. There is no action to that word it does not state that you will actually do something. In business, as in life, this word can be your demise. It is ineffective, weak, unproductive, powerless and quite frankly, wimpy. See if any of the following have ever applied to you:
· I will try to get that out for you today.
· Hey honey, I’m going to try to get home by 5.
· I will try to get back to you
· Let’s try to have some fun
· Frank, can you try to get me your expenses tomorrow
Yoda was so right when he stated; ‘do or do not, there is no try.’ In other words, make a decision. Even if that decision is to not do something that in itself is a decision. So, now take a look at the above statements and apply that principle.
· Sorry, but that order came in too late and we will not be able to get it out today. However, it will be going out tomorrow.
· Honey, unless you hear differently from me I will be home by 5.
· I will get that information and get back to you by 2:00 pm today.
· Lets have fun.
· Frank, please have your expenses to me tomorrow before noon.
All of the above have action associated to it; the order is not going out today, you will be home, barring circumstances which you will communicate, by 5, your customer will be receiving the requested information from you by 2:00 pm, you are going to have fun and finally, Frank is now expected to have those expenses in tomorrow before noon. There are no ambiguities.
The word ‘try’ is also a polite way of saying ‘no.’ How many times have you been told by a prospective client that; ‘I will try to get back to you.’ How many times did they actually get back to you? But you accept that and thought that you had a new client. Whenever this happens to me I like to play what I call the ‘try game.’ It goes something like this and I apologize in advance for anyone who has the last name of Jones.
‘So Mr. Jones, what you are actually saying is that you are really not interested.’ Mr. Jones usually will come back with something like; ‘Not at all. I stated that I will try to get back to you.’ At this point I follow-up with; ‘My apologies then. When you say try to get back to me, do you know when that would be?’ Some may think that you are trying to trap Mr. Jones when all you are in fact doing is getting Mr. Jones to either take or not take some action, or, decision. Frankly, would you rather not know right now if you even have an opportunity at the business? Mr. Jones has to now make a decision if he is truly interested, or, was he just too polite to come right out and say no? Therefore, he can respond in one of two ways; the first being; ‘I will call you with a final decision by 3 pm tomorrow afternoon.’ He is now going to do something, or, he could go the other way; ‘You’re right, I really don’t think we are a fit at this time.’ There you go, a decision. You may not be happy with it, but at least you are not wasting your time and can now move on to other opportunities. Regardless, there was an action taken. You may wonder though what if he stated that he would call by a certain time and does not? Great question, and the focus of an upcoming article. So instead of ‘trying’ to follow these articles, you will need to do so in order to get that particular answer.
If you have never played this game, may I suggest that you start with family and friends in the beginning because you know that ‘try’ is going to come out of someone’s mouth really soon. Once you do, the realization becomes quite clear that ‘try’ actually means nothing. Your objective in the end, whether it is family, friend, client, or, prospective client, is to get them to, as Yoda so eloquently stated is to, ‘do or do not.’
Have fun!
According to Edison, it took him over 10,000 modifications to invent the light bulb. When the Wright Brothers finally got their plane off the ground, it was only after extensive reworking and changes with gliders. In fact, the one that took flight was their fourth full scale aircraft. Ever wonder what WD-40 actually stands for? Water Displacement 40th attempt. In other words, if they got it right with two fewer alterations, we would all be buying WD-38.