Lemons and a recipe for success

As a child, my father made lemonade, he made cider too but that’s a story for another day. As a 12 or 13 year old boy I remember my dads lemonade, there were bottles of it all over the place and each batch was different. It started off almost undrinkable, sorry dad but it did, and over time he improved his recipe to the point where it was a very enjoyable drink, much like the cider that made people very merry.

When life gives you lemons, so it is said, you make lemonade. There is quite a lot of truth in this, in life and in business but do you know the recipe for Lemonade?

Life and business take many twists and awkward turns, we don’t always get what we want and we always stand a chance of coming second and the prize, the reward or the contract goes elsewhere, in fact it goes not where we want it to all. Having been in sales I think I talk from experience and in life I have also had the same results, I have lost and won much and I suppose it’s what can be called balance. But there are those who always seems to win, the ones who for some reason always get the sale, “always get the luck” as my mother says and always just seem to have everything. How does one take themselves or their business to become one of those “have everything” types?

The answer has three elements, two are easy and the third a little more challenging.

Part one is simple and is key to so much in life. Being content with what you have. What you never had you will never miss. Accepting the fact you lost the deal, lost the prize and appreciating the very fact you had a chance to compete, is for many a massive step and one that will grow the person and by growing the person the business.

If you can accept contentment your mind and thoughts will remain positive and happy. A positive and happy mindset is the only way that part two can work. Part two is something everybody and every business says they will do but in reality tend to brush off and get on with the next task. Taking time to think is vital, slowing down, pausing and relaxing is key to the second part of not being the winner and turning it around.

Upon not getting the prize step back, step outside your box and examine not only why you came second but examine why the other party came first. Your failures or weaknesses will become very clear when you are happy and positive as in part one. Write down a list, don’t’ just think write down for when you write your brain connects, of the following.

ü  List one -  what I did right

ü  List two – what could I have done better or extra

ü  List three – what did the other party have or do that I didn’t

ü  List four – 5 lessons learned from this experience

I have recently, after 20 odd years in sales, started to do this. I think back to my early days and something I was taught as a young man,  in a winter garden by a sadly missed and much remembered mentor, and only now am I beginning to apply. These lists can apply to anything; looking back it even applies to growing roses, mowing lawns and pruning trees – its natures law.

From part two in the mind state of part one your third and sometimes most difficult part in answering the question starts to form. You get an image, you have been given the Lemons before you started this little exercise and now having taken time to think you have the foundations of a recipe. What you choose to do with the Lemons and then your answers is up you, but no matter what they become your Lemonade. It can either become sharp and bitter, or it can become sweet and enjoyable. It will take a few attempts to get it right and many minor adjustments for it to become perfect.  I must point out that there is one ingredient not supplied and this Lemonade cannot even become Lemonade without it no matter how many lemons you have. Without the most important ingredient you merely have your pile of Lemons from your success or un-success. This other ingredient is so important but is sadly often neglected, especially when the lists in step 2 are merely thought about and not written down. The other ingredient is Action; do it, take action.

To improve your recipe don’t only make your four lists when you don’t succeed, make them when you win. Even when you win, as it is for a Lemonade recipe, there is always room for improvement.

Success in business and success in life all only work with one thing. Doing. A dream without a plan is only a wish, but likewise the dream with the plan that is not acted upon will remain a dream that has no plan thus become a wish. 

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