#Disappointment October 19

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Last week I had to deal with professional DISAPPOINTMENT.

Initially the expected emotions flooded over me. Anger and rationalization appeared but in short order I decided to put into practice a quote I use with others.

That quote says, “There is not winning and losing only winning and learning“.

Lessons for Disappointing Events

Specifically, I experienced the chagrin of losing out on a sales proposal. If it had been accepted, it would have been a challenging and prestigious professional opportunity. To prepare I invested a lot of time in research and the content of my proposal. When you commit emotionally and physically to an outcome that doesn’t go your way it will sting. Often the best life lessons involve disappointment.

When the call came that I had not been selected here are the lessons I received.

1. That not every outcome in sales, sports, relationships, or promotions is fair. Some factors in why a decision were made are totally out of your control.
2. That having acceptance on an event or outcome is a place that allows a leader a state of mind to learn and grow.
3. That despite my initial emotions no one in the decision process was trying to hurt me.
4. That maybe I need more practice in high stake sales proposals. What can I get better at?
5. That after the decision was rendered, I was surrounded with positive people that helped me.
6. That the experience gave me exposure even if the decision didn’t go my way. That exposure will have future value.

One spiritual lesson that I revisited from this DISAPPOINTMENT was that God so often closes one door to open another for us. We have to recognize that opportunity it is often disguised as an obstacle.

The key is we have to believe and have faith that opportunity will come to pass. While we are waiting, we need to grow, learn and prepare.