I’ve got a quick message for you today. One thing you can do that can really improve your performance at work is to recognize that if you make a mistake - and we all make mistakes – it’s really important that you do not defend yourself.
I want you to look at yourself right now and ask this question: "What is my response when I get caught making a mistake?" Notice when I said, "when I get caught." That may spur on a defensive attitude inside of you. Maybe you feel like you did get caught. Maybe you don’t necessary feel that way, but you may respond that way.
What is your response when it becomes known that you made a simple mistake? When you overlooked a little detail, and someone points it out?
There are lots of different responses to this situation, but the main one I want to focus on today that is going to help you dominate in the workplace today is this: Don’t defend yourself! Don’t apologize defensively. Say, "Thank you, I’ll get right on it!"
What I’ve seen a lot of people do (including myself in the past) is, "Well, the reason I did that is…" or, "Well, I did that because…" That drives the people around you crazy! If they didn’t ask why you did that, you certainly shouldn’t be offering that information. You should simply say, "Thank you for pointing that out. I’ll take care of it," and move on! Do not give excuses and defend yourself!
I don’t know if you heard this one particular training I did last year called Everyone Needs An Editor, but I’m telling you, it completely changed my life! It took so much pressure off of me.My friend, this is exactly what needs to be in your head for 2013. (I would highly recommend you go listen to this training call right now. It’s normally locked up for our Insider Members only, but I’ve made it available for you for free today.)
The bottom line is, we all make mistakes. But you cannot be one who gets defensive and makes excuses and explains why you made the decision you made!
I want to tell you a quick story. When I wrote my latest book, First Steps to Wealth, it was edited 15 times. And every time it came back from the editor, we still found more mistakes! Even when we sent the book to be printed, there were still more edits that needed to be done! Now, when a book goes through 15 edits, does that mean it wasn’t written well or that the editor didn’t do a good job? NO! It was edited by the editor of a world famous publication that you probably read. We did our best, and the editors did their best. It wasn’t edited 15 times because of negligence. It was edited 15 times because everyone needs an editor!
Dominate the job market, control your future
Landing and keeping a job in today’s job market can be tough. That’s why it’s important to immunize yourself from the economy. Never again will you worry about layoffs or being passed up for a promotion. You will dominate the job market today! Here’s how.
When you defend yourself and give excuses for why you did what you did, it doesn’t make you look good. It makes you look childish. It absolutely does NOT make people trust you or have confidence in you.
However, if you recognize the fact that everyone needs an editor, and you receive correction, knowing that it will make you better, that is going to change your reputation at work and at home! This brings harmony and positions you as a humble, teachable person who is continuously working on yourself.
Remember the message I sent you last Wednesday? I talked about creating a checklist that you will go over every day before work to make sure you are setting yourself up for success. This is another point on that checklist! Do not defend yourself when you are corrected.
I’m really excited to hear what happens for you next. I know this one thing has the potential to change your work and home life, because that’s what it’s done for me. So keep me updated – I can’t wait to hear how this impacts you today. Please leave me your comments below! And go ahead and pass this message along to anyone you know who could benefit from it.
And until next time, God bless!
In great faith,
Dear Dani,
Your teaching has been so inspiring to me. I would like to thank you for your free copy of FIRST STEPS TO WEALTH which I received it yesterday. I have already started reading it, I am excited because I have already read testimonials and I know I will be among the next. Thank you so much for your heart and love.
This is from Arusha, Tanzania, You are touching lives that far.
in great faith
elyne
This is a response not just for this message, but for all of the messages you have posted. I’ve been listening to your videos and reading your email messages, and getting to your teaching material as fast as I can, and I noticed something happening even from the first few messages. For instance, my daily schedule hadn’t changed very much but I suddenly seemed to have more time and started accomplishing more. My attitude, which was getting increasingly negative, began to be increasing positive. I was surprised at such dramatic change even with limited exposure, so I asked God about it in prayer. He led me to 3 verses: 1. Deut. 30:19-20 (choose life and blessing), James 1:22 (be a doer and not just a hearer) and Proverbs 18:21 (life and death are in the power of the tongue … emphasis on the POWER). Then He showed me that when you teach and encourage, you are putting these scriptures to work: you CHOOSE life and blessing, you DO the Word, and therefore the POWER of life operates in your words. This has been a powerful lesson for me and I’m applying it to my entire life! Thank you for all that you do! You are changing lives, and my life is one of them! God bless you!