If your name is "Mine That Bird," today is a must-win situation for you. There will be no Triple Crown without a win today - and even a win today doesn't insure that it will happen.
Whether you a horse racing fan or not, you've undoubtedly heard of the Triple Crown. It's a series of three demanding races that begin on the first Saturday in May with the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, and then on to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore on the third Saturday - today. It concludes three weeks later on June 6th with the Belmont Stakes.
To be the Triple Crown winner - arguably one of the toughest feats in sports - a horse needs to win all three races. In fact it's been 31 years since it was last done by "Afffirmed."
"Mine That Bird" is the only horse with a shot at winning the Triple Crown. If he wins today, there's still a chance at the Triple Crown. If another horse wins today, that's it - no Triple Crown. It wouldn't matter if "Mine That Bird" then went on to win the Belmont in the best performance ever.
It's plain. To be the Triple Crown winner, you must win all three races.
The analogy for us is clear. While we can sometimes recover from one poor performance, it hard to recover from a dismal initial impression.We don't have to win every time, but we should give our best performance each time. The better we are prepared and the better we do, the better the chance that we will help our customers get what they want.
In the Triple Crown, it's all or nothing. There's no "do-overs" or 2-out-of-3. We have a little more latitude than that but why not go for the win each time?
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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.
And on top of the challenge to win is to win with a new jockey.
I didn't understand horse racing before. It sound like fun.
Thanks Liz
Gary,
Is that anything like winning with a new sales manager? :)
Steve
Liz,
There is so much behind the scenes activity, and there is a lot of money and equipment involved in horse racing - as there is any sport. For flat-out excitemnt that lasts just a couple of minutes, you can't beat it. :)
Steve
Great analogy Steve. With all that goes into a horse race, why do we think we can just "run out", give any old performance and win?
The other similarity between real estate and horse racing, is changing companies. Jockeys move around like real agents we guess. Surprised to see the Kentucky Derby winner leave his ride.
Al and Peggy,
Great comments. Thanks for adding to the discussions. Excellent. :)
Steve
Steve - If only we had that focus in our daily approach to our business. Millions are watching on tv, analysts watching our every move, from diet, to work out, to trainer (business coach?), specialists analyze your technique, your are matched up against the competition and compared, and then you run your race ... your listing presentation. One must ask oneself ... how would I stack up? Thanks for the perspective.
Steve,
I understand that ther is a little filly that is out to upset the boys. It should be an interesting race.
Jim,
Great comments. Thanks for working with the analogy and adding to it. :)
Steve
Don,
I've heard that, too. This is the real pressure race. The Derby - anyone can win. This one the Derby winner has to win or no Triple Crown. :)
Steve
Real estate is like a race. We have new agents over taking the veteran agents. How do you feel about that?
Hey Steve,
I'll be watching from seacoast NH/ Portsmouth NH Real Estate
What a race that was!! By the way do the jockeys contract for the ride? I'm wondering what the jockey that rode Mine that bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby isn't riding him today???
Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate
PS ~ Great analogy by the way.
Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate
Great ananlogy, Steve. I feel like those horses today! Running one of the the hardest races yet in the mortgage industry, trying hard to stay on top of the game.
Great analogy. I will keep this in my saved collection. Thanks
Steve,
It seems like a creature with the name "Mine that Bird" has a couple strikes against it going in. Horse names are so weird at those high levels.
Hi Steve, Good point to always do our best to win each time...I had forgotten about Affirmed, and thought the last horse to win was Secretariat -- my how time flies! :-)
Harry,
I think it's great. Whoever is the most motivated and works for the business should get it. :)
Steve
Patricia,
I'm not that much "in the know" to know the answer, but now you gotten me curious, so I'll research it. Thanks. :)
Steve
Patricia,
Thanks for the PS. Glad you liked it. :)
Steve
Karen,
Thanks. Keeping with the analogy, make sure that you prepare and that you pace yourself for the finish line. :)
Steve
Eric,
You made my day. Thanks for the compliment. Enjoy. :)
Steve
Steve,
I don't know what the etymology is of that name - has to mean something. I do know that it can't be registered with more than 16 total characters counting spaces. :)
Steve
Mary,
31 years is a long time. It's OK if you can't remember all the horses. I couldn't believe it hasn't been done since then. :)
Steve
Steve - Good analogy, to strive to win every race, otherwise I guess you just become an "also ran".
Hi Steve
Today Mine That Bird must win to be considered great, coming in second Mine That Bird is just another horse.
Good luck and success
Lou Ludwig
James,
Good take on my post. Thanks for reading and for the comments. :)
Steve
Lou,
Yes, this was a must-win race for Mine That Bird and he let it get away. :)
Steve