If I think of everyone I know, barely one person… even the rich and successful has had a smooth road without any bumps along the way.

Expect challenges.

And once you expect them and see them as normal, things become easier.

Sounds kind of counterintuitive doesn’t it?

I mean, I loved “The Secret” movie and other books which suggest if you can vividly  imagine something you can achieve it.

However I don’t believe in being a Pollyana.

And stuff will happen…

A client will say they are going ahead and then pull out at the last moment.

Someone will cut you off in traffic.

Despite your best efforts, you will get some smart ass trying to criticise your product or service.

A marketing campaign will flop like a dead fish.

Someone in your family will fall ill.

Sometimes stuff just happens.

And there’s two ways we can react. Getting angry and upset like the “giant toddler” I referred to yesterday.

Or by just saying to yourself “Get Over It” and dealing with it in real time.

And this is definitely the case when it comes to sales and marketing. Especially when you are just starting out.

You run a marketing campaign and it doesn’t work the way you planned.

Do you stamp your feet, throw a tantrum and get upset. Or do you just say “I am one step closer to getting from where I am to where I want to be.”

Remember, some of Thomas Edison’s quote…

“I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”

Results! I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that  won’t work.

We have only found 586 ways that won’t work and won’t have to be tried again.

Soon, we will find one that does.

I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving  that those 700 ways will not work.

If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.

Failed? — why we haven’t failed, we only know the thousands of ways that won’t work.

Actually, this guy has some awesome quotes. Here’s another one…

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

And an awesome little nugget for any marketer..,

I find out what the world needs. Then, I go ahead and invent it.

Anyway, I digress.

My point is you are going to fail. You are going to face tough times. Expect it.

No football coach expects his team to go through the season without injury. Or that he will win every game.

He has his game plan set to win but doesn’t get surprised when little challenges  pop up along the way.

It’s how you handle the challenges that counts.