Bad News Travels Fast! | Travel Research Online

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Bad News Travels Fast!

I was sitting at a conference table with an event planner. In the first 20 seconds of the meeting, the event being held earlier that day was referenced and the name of the florist for that event was mentioned. BANG!

The event planner said, and I quote, “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but the florist in question is the absolutely worst one I have ever seen. Just awful.”

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I responded with, “Perhaps you shouldn’t candy-coat your opinion. Can you tell us how you really feel?”

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope today’s message is clear. If not, let me net it out for you.

“If you screw up, word will get around… fast, quickly, pronto, expeditiously, with god speed, often without an asterisk or your side of the story attached.”

It may even end up on the internet. Who knows?

Bottom Line: If you are not damn good at what you do, get damn good.

Bad news is not buried with the deed. It has a shelf life, which probably is embellished with a little creative license to make it even juicer as time unfolds.

The truth is, and the unfortunate reality of the situation is, that as one-sided and opinionated as a negative testimonial might be, I do not feel it is my obligation to check the facts or endorse the statement as being fictitious and unfair.

I have better things to do with my time. I simply will search for a different florist.

If (I say if) you do screw up (and chances are you will long before the Mets win another World Series), you better fix your goof ASAP and then fix it some more.

It takes months and even years to land a new account, and milliseconds to lose one. Unfair? Maybe. Reality? Absolutely.

As former NFL great Merlin Olsen once said, “If I am not practicing, and my competitor is, when we meet, he/she will beat me.” You can take this quote to heart. If you are not practicing your trade daily, start practicing your trade daily.


Mike Marchev is the author of the sales book titled Become The Exception and is a popular speaker at industry events. You can receive a complimentary copy of his Special Report titled “Your 12-Word Marketing Plan.” Email Mike and put the number “12” in the subject box. Also, ask about his 3rd Annual Training Cruise coming in November. Mike@MikeMarchev.com.

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