Business and Fairy Tales (Part 1)

After having a Disney marathon at my house the other night with my kids. I realized that the fairy tales where strangely connected to business success. So I am preparing to explain myself ( after everyone has probably clicked the close button by now). However, I will press on and I don't know how long this series will be either.

Cinderella (even at 31 I still get a kick out of the mice). In short everyone knows that Cinderella worked tiredly on the house, bomb bartered with "NO's", and "You can't do that", yet still found the way to the ball. Destroyed a beautiful engagement with a trip up. However, still walked into the Prince's arm. Completely ripped apart by her step sisters.

I once read in a Jim Cramer book (yeah the mad money guy) that "Sleep is the epidemy of success". Cinderella exhibits the same philosophy. She worked tireless day and night to make sure her work was finished. She made sure it was finished and done correctly so she could go the "big dance". Your business should be the same way; don't think of it has a time thing (cinderella had to be in before midnight). Think of it as a I will not sleep until my task for the days are completed that way I can go to the "BIG DANCE" or "EARNING THE CUSTOMER" thing.

“It's a high-energy, high-risk, one-man-walking-a-tightrope act every night. In the end, that camera is on me every night and I have to deliver.” Jim Cramer

As a small business owner in different industries, I think the number one skill for a garage venture or a one man operation; is sales. Somebody has to sell your product or service and if you can't hire someone then you better get to work. I lost count on how many times Cinderella was told no, you can't do that, that won't work. However, she moved on never giving up searching for the yes, that sounds perfect, or let's get started. You have to keep pressing on. There will always be people out there that don't believe in your product or service, that thinks you're one sandwich short of a full picnic basket. The below quote says it best.

"Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."
— Abraham Lincoln

The despair of breaking her glass slippery. I think everyone in business long enough has had their glass slippery broken once or twice. You get the meeting with the big client, prepare diligently, focus your entire work week on this one meeting. Then it doesn't go as planned, or you were ill prepared for the objections the customer would have; however, business moves on and come to find out one door closing leads another to open. Just like when Cinderella was locked in that room, she did not quit until she was heard.

Ah, her step sisters are her competition. Then blast her, falsely accuse her, and undercut her at every open opportunity. Now I'm not saying that all competitors are like this. I have had some great relationships with my competitors. But; by the same token my competitors no matter what relationship I have with them are not going to hand over a huge client (the Prince) or invite me to a networking event to meet Fortune 500 clients ( the big dance). No that will be up to me! So in regards to your competitors, think like Cinderella did with her step sisters. You don't wish them any harm; however, you're still competing for the same opportunity.

So in short everyone knows that Cinderella had all of her wishes come true. But everyone should realize that she worked her hinny off, had the most positive attitude, and never quit to get what she wanted in her life. Now that is a great philosophy to live by and it all came from a children's fairy tale.