Remember from the Happy Gilmore movie (if you saw it) where he had a cushion of 4 strokes to win the first match he played? Rather than bear down and get it done with the first one or two tries, he took all 4. I saw the same thing in a actual golf match where all the golfer had to to to win - on 3 holes in a row - was sink the putt. With the kind of a cushion, maybe overconfidence or pressure set in, but he failed to get the job done. Eventually his opponent tied and then went on to beat him.
I think sometimes when we have a comfortable advantage in a selling situation that we tend to back-off a bit and not bear down or focus as much as we might if we were in a "must win" situation.
Having a cushion is like having a mulligan - a do-over if we need it or extra time to get something done - but it isn't always to our best advantage to have a cushion. We need to go all-out everytime like we know how to do, regardless of any apparent advantage that we might have.
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Steve - I'm a "cushion" kind of gal, although I have never quite understood the game of golf. Maybe it's because I haven't figured out why folks shoot something they can't eat. And those little balls are so hard to clean and prepare for dinner too. Have you spent anytime unwrapping the inside. However, I make a pretty good sauce that may be used. . .But it's easier to serve it over spaghetti instead:-)
Great post, Steve!
Myrl,
Those little golf eggs are indeed hard to peel and prepare. Thanks. :)
Steve
Old school circus performers often practiced without safety nets. When asked why, they all said the same thing. Safety nets made them careless. So - a cushion, mulligan or safety net isn't always a good thing.
Ryan,
Thanks for adding that. That safety net can give us a false sense of security and make us a little careless. :)
Steve
Steve: You're right. The cushion puts us in a different mindset. We need to not rely on our safety nets mentally. The folks who feel the urgent need to get things done are always the ones that seem to do just that...get things done.
Chris Ann,
Thanks for adding those comments. Quite right. :)
Steve
If you always hold back then you won't go anywhere. This is true to real estate marketing. WE should be risk takers but remember before we take the risk study it first if its worth risk taking.
JR,
Thanks. Risk-taking is part of free enterprise. It just shouldn't be reckless. :)
Steve