Long ago, Sesame Street was a favorite TV show for our family. I will never forget the repeating message, ‘The Sign Said One Way!’  According to a Google Search,

The Muppet character, Grover, stands in front of a traffic sign that clearly reads "One Way," with an arrow pointing in a particular direction. He then explains the concept to the audience, emphasizing that the arrow indicates the direction one can travel. 

While it’s true that we must pay attention to traffic signs to avoid getting hurt, it does not necessarily apply to business, or other endeavors. In fact, typically, there are multiple ways to accomplish goals via utilizing varying strategies. We each think differently and it’s in our hands to verify the ‘way’ we desire to approach our goals and long-term vision.

Just One Way is Irrelevant Seek Multiple Approaches

Image by E. Stutz

Give In or Stand Out

The corporate sales environment during my career was intimidating in the office. I took it as the  opportunity to not give in to the male management demands, but to stand out with my prospective clientele. Magic began to happen as each prospect referred to me as ‘A breath of fresh air,’ and asked permission to purchase from me.

My Favorite Sales Strategy

When approaching new business contacts, it's essential to remember that everyone thinks differently and to avoid assuming one perspective is right, and the other is incorrect. We each have varying backgrounds, histories, and ideals, all of which contribute to our thought processes and shape our perspective on life. It is crucial that we set aside all assumptions and instead ask questions; in particular, the question, 'Why?'

For example, recently, another incorrectly assumed that an acquaintance holds the desire to earn multi-million-dollar clients. An invitation to such a group was issued, but the person declined. To some, that may sound preposterous; however, upon asking the simple question, ‘Why?’ the details reveal themselves, and the personal answer was surprising, although highly meaningful. 

It's vital to learn about one's purpose for a business, especially for entrepreneurial endeavors, to correctly understand where they are heading and how we can assist them with their goals.

For sales, 'Why' proved many times over to be my best sales technique. The one word encourages prospective clientele to share more intimate details, thus providing insight to carry forward, and allowing new ideas to blossom. Otherwise, assuming one is right and the other party is wrong will only encourage an argumentative state with the other party and accomplish nothing. Asking questions, particularly 'Why?', opens the door to greater understanding and finding the path to work together through a collaborative effort.

Had I succumbed to what management demanded of me, I would have quit. Instead, my clientele taught me the magic of standing out on one’s own!

Creativity Generates New Opportunities

The creative mindset demonstrates that traditional methods can get old and boring, whereas the unusual approach will attract attention. It works perfectly for marketing and branding to help establish one's business. Moreover, collectively collaborating with other creative minds can produce remarkable new services, products, and ideas that surpass what was initially thought possible.

But what if one is not of the creative mindset? It is where collaborative effort comes into play, as well as expanding one's network through social media. By reading the posts of others and contributing your own, the right connections are literally at our fingertips.

Conclusion: Just One Way is Irrelevant Seek Multiple Approaches for Business Growth

By connecting with others online on a global scale, we not only strengthen our reach but also realize that there is more than one way to enhance our strategies and achieve our goals. While it's true that times change, and some efforts do not perform as expected, the willingness to persistently learn, strategize, and implement our ideas will lead us to the desired outcomes. It's beneficial to recognize that there is never just one way.

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Communicate to Attract Interest