THE SATISFACTION OF DISAPPOINTMENT

Most of my friends would say I am fatally pessimistic.  I can look at something that is almost perfect and get fixated on the minor flaws.  To me, the glass isn’t 95% full, it is 5% empty…or the glass was too big to begin with.

I think I am realistic.

Needless to say, I’ve had some pretty interesting discussions with sales people after line reviews. 

The salespeople only see the positive:  Their confidence and optimism cause them to cling to any slightly positive reaction or feedback given by the buyer.  They are high-fiving as they focus on all that was good about the interaction.  And they’re completely bewildered when the buyer fails to give them any new distribution.

I only see the negative:  I am guilty of only seeing the questions we couldn’t answer or objections we weren’t ready to handle.  I focus on how the buyer didn’t respond the way we expected or appeared too apathetic.  I remember how my answers were not as concise or compelling as they could have been.

I spend a lot of time disappointed in myself.  But at least I don’t need to find a scapegoat when success proves to be elusive.

TRADING SATISFACTION FOR SOMETHING BETTER

While this pessimistic disposition isn’t very good for my short-term emotional stability, it has provided great long-term benefits.

You see, a side effect of being overly confident or overly optimist is the tendency to overlook or ignore areas needing improvement.  These false perceptions breed contentment and apathy.

This is evident in the fact that you’re probably looking to disrupt a category and steal market share from big players you view as entitled and out-of-touch.  Those big players became big because, at one time, they were almost certainly a disruptive force of their own.

Over time, I’ve seen companies and talented individuals become obsolete as they’ve failed to adapt to the changing environment around them.  They’ve been too satisfied with themselves to recognize what needed improvement.

Meanwhile, those with a disappointment complex like myself will go down a path of rediscovery and reinvention.  The desire for constant improvement has no end.

I’m sure you can quickly see how these two paths diverge…and which one is better positioned for long-term success.

IS IT TIME TO DISAPPOINT YOURSELF?

When was the last time you were disappointed in yourself?  Has it been a while?  Has it been ever?

Are you a big player that has gotten comfortable with your position at the top and not felt that mix of fear and excitement for a while?

Are you an underdog, but so confident in your own abilities that you can’t imagine the possibility of failure?

At the risk of plagiarizing someone I don't know, take some time to consider this truth:

“If you never disappoint yourself, your standards are too low.”

 - Thomas Tessmer