Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone

I was suckered into reading a "click bait" story recently. 10 Phrases Successful People Avoid (but losers use).

Ugh, what a terrible title. But I clicked.

And guess what? There was some gold hidden in there.

Phrases that losers use? Nope. I think the article listed traps that we all can fall into. Here are three of those phrases.

• That won’t work.
  How do you know it won’t work? Even if it’s something that’s been tried before that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work this time. Shutting down ideas without trying them is definitely not the mark of a winner.
• I can’t do it.
  OK, negative Nancy, but guess what? If you can’t do it, chances are they’ll find someone else who can. Instead, approach this from the perspective of what you’ll need to accomplish the task. Do you need more training, more support, more supplies, more time?
• Impossible
  Things are rarely impossible, so be very careful throwing this word around. In my experience, it often indicates someone closed-minded who can’t see another person’s vision. Rather than declaring it impossible, open your mind to how it might be possible. Brainstorm. Look at the problem from different angles. Nothing amazing was ever created by declaring it impossible.

In my limited experience, it is a rare day when one of those three excuses or responses is true. But here's the thing...if you let that little voice kick in, each one of those excuses becomes self-fulfilling. If you think you can't do it, or if it's impossible, then the game is over.

And the opposite is true as well. I think we all know colleagues who simply assume they can achieve a goal or complete a task. And...they usually come through.

Like I said...always be careful saying never. It's almost always the wrong way to start.