This could take a moment. Go grab a cup of coffee and come back prepared to give my message some serious thought.
Not spring. Not fall. Not winter. Not summer. The answer to the question is “20 years ago.” If you planted a tree 20 years ago you would be enjoying a little shade today. “Duh! Is that all you have for us today Mike?” Stay tuned.
I love to receive incoming phone calls. I love to receive email from the people I care about. I love to hear how well people are doing. I love to hear success stories. What I DO NOT like is when people call me with the “call of doom.” These usually come near the end of the week and sound something like this:
“Mike, I have invested so much time and money in building my business and nothing seems to be working. I attended the seminars, conferences and workshops. I bought the books. I am frustrated and at a complete loss as to what to do next. I am even willing to try your Inner Circle to see if you can help me.”
I hate these calls. And although I try to shed a little hope on the situation, more often than not there is little light to be shed. Waiting until the 12th hour to seek help just makes everybody sad. And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be like that. Listen to the following words of Casey Stengel, and think about what the old geezer was saying:
“If my pitcher would pitch at the beginning of the game, the same way he pitches at the end of the game once he realizes he is losing, he wouldn’t be losing in the first place.”
As much as I would like to flatter myself, my job is not to “get you out of a jam.” My job is to make sure you never get into a jam. What you do today will determine the size of your smile tomorrow. Some wise old farmer put it another way, “You will reap what you sow.” Now that I think of it, I think it was the Big Guy who reminded us of that truth. Regardless of who said it you can take that advice to the bank.
All you can do is all you can do. Just make sure that you are doing all you can do…today. And while you are at it, try to make what you do make a difference. Working for work sake (to appear busy) is not the answer.
Okay. You were waiting for it, so here it comes: “If you find yourself up against the proverbial wall and looking down the barrel of a travel business gone south, do not call me. Call your shrink…call your priest…call your bartender…call your ex-spouse who got you into this mess in the first place…but do not call me. Not because I don’t like you, but because you waited too long. There is nothing I can do. You needed to plant your tree long before today. I may be a lot of things, but I am not a miracle worker.
On the other hand, if you want to continue doing your happy dance for the rest of your dancing days, and perhaps polish up a few new steps…call me. If you want to stay away from trouble, call me. If you want to remove the word ‘procrastinate’ from your working vocabulary, call me. If you want to laugh more, help more, and count more take-home pay—call me. And don’t ‘call me maybe.’
CALL ME to become a card-carrying, certified member of a happening group of travel professionals who are making it their business never to play their doom card. EVER!
As cliche-ish as it may sound, “Your future does lie in your hands.” You alone, along with a little prodding from an outsider perhaps, (and a gentle whack-in-the-head when warranted) can insure a bright future.
Seeing that you are still reading you might want learn about an opportunity that could keep you profitable for years to come. Check out this short video clip”
www.youtube.com/embed/nKyqAgm-wVM
Mike Marchev freely shares his experiences, strategies and observations with travel professionals in an effort to keep them on top of their game. For a complimentary copy of his 12-Word Marketing Plan send him an email at mike@mikemarchev.com.
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