2015 SALESMANSHIP
Never Say “I’ll Try”
It’s remarkable how often you’ll hear people say, or perhaps even say yourself, “I’ll try.” What a mistake. This phrase is one of the most limiting phrases in the human vocabulary. When someone says, “I’ll try,” they’re instantly disqualifying the potential success they will experience.
What they’re really saying is, “I’ll go ahead and make the effort, but I’m not confident I will be successful.” The problem with this thought process is that subconsciously the person making the statement is acknowledging the likelihood of failure. If that’s the verbal focus, that will be the outcome. Remember the key phrase, “The greatest limitations are self-imposed.” And, by saying “I’ll try,” it’s obvious the expectation of failure will be the outcome.
The next time you hear someone say, “I’ll try,” offer them the following advice:
- “Please don’t say ‘try,’ because ‘try’ is the first excuse for failure.” It is far more productive to phrase your future efforts by replacing “I’ll try,” with “I will.”
While you’re at it, you might want to exclude a number of other words from your selling vocabulary:
- Hope (it’s not a plan)
- Might (very limiting)
- Maybe (another excuse)
- Could (leaves the door open for could not)
- Showing property (much better to say, “I’m out selling property.” You don’t get paid to ‘show’ a home, you get paid to ‘sell’ a home)
On a final note, always keep in mind, you are what you speak!