Tips & Talk 79 – On Being Second
My favorite number is 2. You’d think it would be number 1, right? I mean, who doesn’t want to be at the top, in the lead, “the winner” if you will? But there are some definite advantages to being second. And no matter how big you get, there will always be times when you don’t hold the top spot. In this episode I give you my insight into pros and cons in each of these positions.
And, the next time you see someone progressing ahead of you, I want you to reposition your thinking and open your mind to the benefits of being second. Seeing a fellow maker succeed proves that it’s possible for you too. It’s evidence that there’s a path to that level. While your road does not, and actually should not, mimic someone else’s, you can take clues from their actions to spark ideas for your own forward progress.
Seeing others do things that you’ve been afraid to do can spark action in you and open up your mind’s eye to a whole new level of opportunity you never dared believe is possible. I’m here to tell you it is possible and being number 2 provides the motivation for you to get there.
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Transcript
Hi there.
Speaker:It's Sue.
Speaker:And thanks for joining me for tips and talk day.
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Speaker:My favorite number is two for real.
Speaker:I know,
Speaker:I know.
Speaker:You'd think it would be number one,
Speaker:right? I mean,
Speaker:who doesn't want to be at the top in the lead,
Speaker:the winner,
Speaker:if you will.
Speaker:And yes,
Speaker:that position is great.
Speaker:And I've been there.
Speaker:My share of times the leader in sales contests in my
Speaker:early corporate days,
Speaker:the manager of the top sales team,
Speaker:as I advanced in my career and achiever of other things
Speaker:I've attempted in my life too.
Speaker:If you want to hear about that on a personal level,
Speaker:take a listen to tips and talk episode number 78.
Speaker:I'm guessing you can identify times in your life when you've
Speaker:been on top too.
Speaker:So you'll be able to compare what I say here with
Speaker:your own experiences.
Speaker:Maybe it's becoming homecoming queen holding a position on the PTA
Speaker:or being the leader for a nonprofit or a club event.
Speaker:Spots at the top can have many faces and don't get
Speaker:me wrong.
Speaker:I enjoy and work to achieve that position.
Speaker:But in other cases,
Speaker:I like being number two better.
Speaker:Maybe I'll say this a little differently.
Speaker:I like being number two,
Speaker:just as much.
Speaker:How about that?
Speaker:Here's why being on the top automatically places you in a
Speaker:position of defending your turf.
Speaker:If you're in an elected position or leading a team,
Speaker:your performance will dictate your ability to stay in that spot.
Speaker:So the pressure is on,
Speaker:you're also in a position where critiquing is at an all
Speaker:time high by nature.
Speaker:Unfortunately, we judge people all the time and holding the top
Speaker:rank, magnifies the analysis of you.
Speaker:Many expect you to be perfect when you were in the
Speaker:number one spot,
Speaker:because I mean,
Speaker:how did you get there after all?
Speaker:You're also the benchmark to beat.
Speaker:If someone wants to challenge your post,
Speaker:that means there's talking analysis about your performance,
Speaker:which can be hurtful.
Speaker:I also learned that being on the top can be lonely
Speaker:in quite a few positions.
Speaker:I've been privy to confidential information and behind the scenes knowledge
Speaker:that had to stay with me,
Speaker:that meant a limited sounding board to hash through action steps
Speaker:or ideas for improvement in this spot.
Speaker:You see behind the scenes and all the messiness.
Speaker:Most people don't know about to be honest,
Speaker:sometimes it's nice.
Speaker:Just not to know of course being number one comes with
Speaker:a lot of great honors to the achievement you feel when
Speaker:you've reached your goal.
Speaker:It can come with recognition and respect with those around you.
Speaker:And of course,
Speaker:that feels great too.
Speaker:And it also includes the ability to affect progress and or
Speaker:change in your area of control.
Speaker:Success or failure starts and stops with you when you're in
Speaker:the Primo position.
Speaker:Some people thrive on this and some don't care for it
Speaker:at all.
Speaker:Me, I've been in both spots times where I've loved being
Speaker:in the lead and others where I couldn't wait to pass
Speaker:the torch.
Speaker:I guess in summary,
Speaker:to this point of the conversation being number one has its
Speaker:definite pros and cons.
Speaker:Now let's talk about the value of being number two and
Speaker:why this is my favorite number when you're in second place
Speaker:and you want to reach for the top,
Speaker:you have a vision and a position to strive for.
Speaker:Maybe you're like me in that.
Speaker:It keeps me motivated and energized to go for more.
Speaker:In that quest,
Speaker:you may challenge yourself to increase your knowledge or skills around
Speaker:things you've never considered for yourself before.
Speaker:Or you may stretch herself to do things you never thought
Speaker:you'd be capable of when your desire and motivation are great
Speaker:enough to push you out of.
Speaker:What's comfortable to see what can be possible.
Speaker:It's the best feeling in the world,
Speaker:but guess what?
Speaker:Most of the time we get trapped in our heads and
Speaker:we become the obstacle standing in the way.
Speaker:There is nothing like the feeling of success.
Speaker:When you break through your self-imposed barriers,
Speaker:by being a business owner,
Speaker:you hold both spots.
Speaker:Number one,
Speaker:and number two,
Speaker:as the owner,
Speaker:you run the ship.
Speaker:Of course,
Speaker:even if you have a team of people working with you,
Speaker:you're the one who envisioned and started the ball rolling with
Speaker:your company.
Speaker:You put in place the structure,
Speaker:the plan,
Speaker:no matter how formal it is,
Speaker:and let's not forget the whole maker methods behind production and
Speaker:presentation of your products.
Speaker:You're also the one who people come to with questions or
Speaker:to get approval of new ideas.
Speaker:That's all part of your role as the leader and owner
Speaker:of your business,
Speaker:your number two spot comes in when you consider your business
Speaker:among others within your industry,
Speaker:depending on what definition do you want to give to these
Speaker:rankings? There's always someone doing things that you perceive to be
Speaker:a step higher than you,
Speaker:bigger or better if you will.
Speaker:And I know this can be intimidating.
Speaker:I've experienced it.
Speaker:Another maker who's been in business longer and has more sales.
Speaker:Someone who seems to be more creative than you in product
Speaker:promotion, or is ahead of you with social media followers and
Speaker:on, and on the next time you see someone progressing ahead
Speaker:of you.
Speaker:I want you to reposition your thinking and open your mind
Speaker:to the benefit of being second.
Speaker:Seeing a fellow maker succeed,
Speaker:proves that it's possible for you to it's evidence that there's
Speaker:a path to that level while your road does not,
Speaker:and actually should not mimic someone else's.
Speaker:You can take clues from their actions to spark ideas for
Speaker:your own forward progress.
Speaker:Seeing others do what you've been afraid to do can spark
Speaker:action in you and open your mind's eye to a whole
Speaker:new level of opportunity.
Speaker:You never dared believe is possible.
Speaker:I'm here to tell you that it is possible and being
Speaker:number two provides the motivation for you to get there.
Speaker:That's a wrap.
Speaker:I'm a get to the point kind of girl.
Speaker:And this is what you can expect from these quick midweek
Speaker:sessions. Now it's your turn go out and fulfill that dream
Speaker:of yours.
Speaker:Share your handmade products with us.