Change what you can. Accept what you cannot.
Summary advice from broadsheet columnist investor, Tom Stevenson.
Revealing his general theme whilst 'Trump bump turns to Trump slump'. Which, his proffered crunched numbers claim, will be merely the blip of required correction.
Haven't we all seen (not just) salespeople whirl in the maelstrom of anxiety when stuck, frozen in the face of the unchangeable?
He also gave an opening frame;
"When markets wobble, I remember the serenity prayer. In our investments, as in the rest of our lives, we should accept the things we cannot change; seek the courage to change the things we can; and ask for the wisdom to know the difference."
I knew the sentiment, but not this labelling.
Something like serenity formula/platform/starter perhaps better suit? Or even sᴄᴡ? As in, serenity-courage-wisdom - although could an adherer then be a screwer? Any deal now screwn①??
Still, I couldn't help but think on the ol' sales manager mantra in such instance;
control the controllables.
Imploring the distracted seller to refocus back away from what's beyond their control.
I have in fact, ran a particular modelling technique on this through with many a salesperson. Chief Execs too. From which I know it is a little tool strangely not widely known. As appears in my book, 101 Diagrams That Sell (p66);
"A favourite [of mine] being the TPN framing of ‘controls’. Listing elements by whether over them you hold total, partial or no control."
This gives you the Sales wisdom. Use it for courage.
① Beyond the comedy factor, there is a potential unit of measure in this for us too.
When assessing the strength of our forecast, we could assign our screwn number.
Given we've in effect, a three variable equation, we could hazard a figure for how much we are actually in 'control' of deal levers. Take the Ts, Ps & Ns. Rank them by importance. Weight them by type. Create your reading.
And there you have it. Twists required known. Or if you're techie, 'a unit of torque or rotational force' showing deal likelihood. Your screwn score. Is the bid worth pursuing?