By Jim Hingst
Failure
occurs on everyone’s road to success. Babe Ruth struck out 1330 times but set a
record of 714 home runs. Michael Jordan claims to have missed 9000 shots and
lost 300 games on his road to six championship titles and numerous NBA records.
Thomas Edison tried 10,000 filaments that didn’t work before he discovered one
that did. All were successful because they persisted. Their desire for success
was greater than their fear of failure.
occurs on everyone’s road to success. Babe Ruth struck out 1330 times but set a
record of 714 home runs. Michael Jordan claims to have missed 9000 shots and
lost 300 games on his road to six championship titles and numerous NBA records.
Thomas Edison tried 10,000 filaments that didn’t work before he discovered one
that did. All were successful because they persisted. Their desire for success
was greater than their fear of failure.
Everyone
fails. How you deal with it, defines you. Don’t let a failure create fear of
failure. Usually you are your own worst critic. The only one who can really
define you as a loser is you. Failures
should be learning experiences.
My friend Butch “Superfrog” Anton claims to
have had more vinyl failures than anyone else. His failures have been a result
of trying to do use vinyl films in different ways. “By pushing the envelope,
pushing a product to its limit, I learn what you can and cannot do with that
product,” Anton says. “Any failures shouldn’t demoralize you. If something
doesn’t work out, brush it off and keep on going.”
fails. How you deal with it, defines you. Don’t let a failure create fear of
failure. Usually you are your own worst critic. The only one who can really
define you as a loser is you. Failures
should be learning experiences.
My friend Butch “Superfrog” Anton claims to
have had more vinyl failures than anyone else. His failures have been a result
of trying to do use vinyl films in different ways. “By pushing the envelope,
pushing a product to its limit, I learn what you can and cannot do with that
product,” Anton says. “Any failures shouldn’t demoralize you. If something
doesn’t work out, brush it off and keep on going.”
Failures
usually cause us to reflect on the causes. Some of these causes are external,
such as a poor economy. Other reasons for failure are undeniably our fault.
These reasons include poor planning, lack of knowledge or insufficient
financing.
usually cause us to reflect on the causes. Some of these causes are external,
such as a poor economy. Other reasons for failure are undeniably our fault.
These reasons include poor planning, lack of knowledge or insufficient
financing.
Most
failures are only terminal, if you give up. For winners, failures are a just
temporary setback on the road to
success. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.
failures are only terminal, if you give up. For winners, failures are a just
temporary setback on the road to
success. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.
Don’t
let a failure define you. The key is not to dwell on setbacks. Learn from your
mistakes.
let a failure define you. The key is not to dwell on setbacks. Learn from your
mistakes.
If
you think about it, the most inspiring success stories are about those people
who have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles and yet have found a way to
succeed.
you think about it, the most inspiring success stories are about those people
who have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles and yet have found a way to
succeed.
You
don’t need to be a genius or an innovator to be a success. People, who are
successful, become so because they follow the tenets of good business. Here are
some of those principles:
don’t need to be a genius or an innovator to be a success. People, who are
successful, become so because they follow the tenets of good business. Here are
some of those principles:
● Take
the time to understand your market and the unmet needs of your prospects.
the time to understand your market and the unmet needs of your prospects.
●
Identify those activities which are most important to the success of your shop
and then concentrate on these activities.
Identify those activities which are most important to the success of your shop
and then concentrate on these activities.
● Surround
yourself with top notch people which includes your employees, consultants and
industry associates.
yourself with top notch people which includes your employees, consultants and
industry associates.
● Clearly
communicate your business objectives and values to your employees.
communicate your business objectives and values to your employees.
● Do
what you love to do. To make your business a success you will need to work hard
for many long days over several years. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing,
you are wasting your life.
what you love to do. To make your business a success you will need to work hard
for many long days over several years. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing,
you are wasting your life.
●
Focus on what you do best. This is how differentiate your shop from other
shops.
Focus on what you do best. This is how differentiate your shop from other
shops.
● Watch
your finances. This includes putting aside some money for those rainy days so
you can weather potential storms.
your finances. This includes putting aside some money for those rainy days so
you can weather potential storms.
●
Be flexible so your shop can change as the market and the industry technology
changes.
Be flexible so your shop can change as the market and the industry technology
changes.
● Everybody
fails at some point in their life. What’s important is that when you get
knocked down, have the courage to get up and keep trying.
fails at some point in their life. What’s important is that when you get
knocked down, have the courage to get up and keep trying.
Do You Have Questions or Comments?
About Jim Hingst: Sign business authority on vehicle wraps, vinyl graphics, screen printing, marketing, sales, gold leaf, woodcarving and painting.
After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 500 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.
© Jim Hingst 2018
