A Fatal Attraction For Blogs and Businesses
It’s in our nature to always look at what’s not working, first.
Take for example, the report card shown below. What stands out to you?
Probably that “F”, right?
If this was your report card, even with 7 “A+” marks, you probably wouldn’t be able to get your mind off of that “F”. Of course, an “F” is a failing grade, so there’s definitely a reason to be concerned.
Now, let’s see an example of a report card that is nearly perfect and see how we feel about it:
If your son or daughter gave you this report card, you’d probably be very, very proud. However, can you not help looking at that “B+” and wonder what happened?
Again, we are attracted to what is wrong.
This is why bad news grabs our attention more than good news. It’s why missing a slam dunk is more often a big deal than making one. It’s why some ideas die, businesses fail, blogs get abandoned and why we’re so infatuated with trying to fix what is wrong, instead of first trying to understand what’s behind the things that are working for us.
So the next time you’re looking to really improve your business, blog, or whatever you do online, don’t dive right into what’s wrong. First look at what’s going well and try to understand why. You’ll be surprised to find that often the solution for what you’re trying to improve may very well be behind something that’s going well in your business already.
I can’t take credit for the little report card demo. This was a variation on something I learned in the book Switch, which I’ve been raving about lately. If you’re looking for something to read, I definitely recommend it.
Here’s to a great weekend! Cheers!
Posted on : March 26th, 2010
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50 Comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below)
I got a D- once in Government. Thank God I got into Jewelry!
It is so true of life though, we always tend to focus on the bad things versus the good that’s happening. It’s human nature… and maybe a little Social Studies! (What was that class even about?)
People and their environments, maybe? Heh.
I’m going to put Switch on my list of books to read. Thanks for the post man, it totally makes sense.
Awesome Tony! I hope you enjoy the read. Let me know how it was once you’re finished!
I’ll tell you what is right, those graphics look sweet Pat.
Haha, thanks Dan! Pages for Mac is awesome.
Interesting post. I am often looking for what is wrong as I am always trying to read the next best technique or strategy or anything to make my blog better. This can take away from focusing on what is right. I need to get a copy of Switch. Have a great weekend Pat.
It’s pretty much human nature to notice what’s wrong first, and especially online, with all of the new things that seem to come out every day, it’s easy to believe that we’re not doing anything right. However, like you said, we should always be focusing on what is working, and use the 80/20 rule to make things happen on top of that.
Cheers Mike!
This is so true. I think about it with my blog I have to stop worrying about whats wrong with my blog and just look at was going great. Every time I check google analytics I get a little discourage but when I see other people commenting or email me I get exited. Exellent post Pat I am currently reading Made to Stick, Dan and Chip as just GREAT! I am on the concrete chapter. Probably finish it by the weekend and make a few blog post about it and re-read before I move to switch.
Awesome Wilson! Glad you’re liking Made to Stick, and Switch should be a perfect followup for that.
Checking analytics and our stats can be tough, and really it doesn’t accomplish much in the end. However, it’s fun and addicting and I’ll have to admit that I probably overcheck my statistics too. Hehe.
So true. I teach people to focus on their strengths, those are the things that carry you forward. The only weaknesses to worry about are the ones that completely hold you back. i.e. the F is a problem, the B (or C) is fine.
Well said TJ – thanks!
Pat,
When you get the chance, throw up some more affiliate links to books, you recommend, in your resource section…..when we get back from the honeymoon, I’ll give ya’ some affiliate love….
Thanks Howie, I appreciate that, and I just wanted to wish you and your wife a fantastic honeymoon!!!
This is really true, You can even get a whole white bond of paper and what you will not notice is the cleanness or the whiteness of the paper but the small, tiny black dot right in the center of the bond paper.
Great example, Andrew. I know exactly what you mean. Thanks!
Pat,
Very true! Thanks for posting this as it reminds me what I DO need to focus on. It’s much too easy to look at our failures instead of our successes. Have a great Friday!
Thanks Moon! Hope you had a fantastic weekend!
Hey great post, Pat. It is always good to have a reminder to see the big picture. Great message today.
Thanks Brandon!
I’m pretty sure the reason someone missing a dunk is such a big deal is because it is so easy to dunk. If you are above the rim already with the ball in your hands and you somehow miss it, you obviously suck!
True! But, what do people think about that person after they miss the dunk? Usually it’s something like, “You Suck!”, when really they have mad skills.
Boy is that ever true. When we focus on what’s wrong — especially when what’s wrong is defined as less than perfect — it’s also easy to become afraid to try the hard things that might really result in a home run. We’re too worried about potential failure to really go for it.
So true, Jackie. I think it’s engrained in our heads as children in school to think that failure is bad and we should do everything we can to avoid it, when really we shouldn’t be afraid of failure at all – or else we’re never going to progress and, as you said, “really go for it”.
Interesting and thought provoking.
What strikes me most, is that feedback such as a “report card” from an objective outsider is sometimes lacking in our lives; for the self-employed, we have to generate our report cards on our own. For a business owner, the report card might be the income statement, or regarding websites; it might be the stats we measure. Or for a blogger, the report card might be comments on posts, and engagement with the audience.
We have to generate our own report cards now.
For me, it’s easy to pass over or ignore areas that aren’t working. I think that’s why so many people get a lot out of coaching; it creates accountability, and provides more objective feedback both on what’s working and what’s not.
Great points, David. And the hard part is, it’s tough to generate our own, unbiased report cards that we can learn from. The report card is great because it tells you how well or not well you are doing at something, which can be improved on for the later assessment. We should make ones for ourselves for the same reason, but it’s tough. A coach is a great solution for that.
Thanks David!
Hey Pat, great write up – I’ll definitely take a look at that book. I am actually about to buy a couple of books on Amazon so I will see if I can find this one/ I am looking at getting a book called 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris, apparently its quite a good read as well.
I talk about 4HWW all of the time! If you haven’t read that yet, go read it now, because it’s life changing. At least it was for me, and I’m sure many others here would agree.
Thanks!
It seems that unfortunately it is human nature to focus on the negative instead of relishing in the positive aspects of things. That’s why I always try to focus on what has been accomplished and improve instead of dwelling on few things that are wrong. Great simple post, Bravo!
Well said. Thanks Nick! Cheers!
Excellent insight, thanks! There’s an official name for this technique, its called “solutions focused approaches”. Its even on wikipedia.
Ahh, very cool Mike! Thanks for pointing that out! Cheers!
If the report card had seven Fs and one A+. which one would we focus on? Surely it would be the A+? Or if in the first case that you show, F was the top grade and A was the Fail?
I don’t think it’s a question of focusing on the negative so much as focusing on what stands out, what’s different. A black spot on a pure white sheet of paper stands out, but not because it’s a “flaw”.
Isobel,
The A+ would stand out, for sure, but you can’t deny that a report card with seven Fs and one A+ is still considered a failing student. That’s exactly what the counselors at the school would say, and the parents of most children would think too.
If only instead they would think something like, “Here’s a student who we know can be successful, but is struggling in most of his classes. Let’s see exactly what’s working in the one class that he is doing well in, and see if we can make that happen in the other classes as well.”
We really have to focus on the things that are working well, rather than those that aren’t. I agree that normally, we can find the ways to improve the “F’s” in the “A’s” we have.
Indeed! Thanks Julius!
Hi Pat,
Switch is definitely on my to-read list after seeing your raving reviews. I do agree that we tend to look for what is wrong instead of what is right. It seems like human nature. However, I think we can use this trait to help us identify potential problems and solve it.
Cheers,
Vincent
It is human nature, but unfortunately a lot of human nature is what holds us back from doing the things we probably should.
I really liked this little demo. I’ve been thinking about either picking Switch or Make it Stick.
Thanks Jay – either one is great! Why not both? Hehe.
Thanks, Pat, for the timely reminder that I need to focus on what I do best.
Anytime Rasheed!
Here’s a question. What if it had shown six C’s and one A?
A parent should be very proud of that A.
That leads to an entirely different message, though: If your niche is full of C’s, throw all you can into being the A.
/<3
Hey Karanime,
I would have to partly disagree. I think most people would see a six C and one A report card as a report card for a C average student. Yes, we’d be proud of that A, but probably more so because it’s just not another C, and that they are at least excelling in one subject.
But you’re right in the sense that we should always do what we can to stand out from the rest, especially when everyone is just doing “so-so” type stuff.
Cheers!
You need those F”s in order to learn how to make A’s.
Some people coast by with all As because it comes naturally to them – they can’t explain how they do it, but they can do it. The day will come when they’re NOT good at something, so that F becomes the eternal motivator to be good at that particular failed skill.
I actually see F’s as a positive. Its a way to focus on a weak point and make it a strong one.
Well said Drezz, thank you for that. It’s just like failing or running into mistakes when doing business – it’s necessary, because we learn from them and perform better the next time. Unfortunately, some people (most people?) see F’s as the ultimate de-motivator, which can make it hard for people to focus, I’m sure.
Cheers!
You are absolutely right Pat. People sometimes go over the things that went wrong and too frustrated that they forget to see that good things that happened. It’s on the mentality of every person. Good thing you pointed this out on your post, many people forget about this thing. Me too.. lol. Thanks for reminding me and all the people that we should concentrate on the good things now rather than be frustrated on the bad side.
No problem Steve! The post is a reminder for my readers as much as it is for me too. Cheers Steve!
Quite true. I think we are conditioned to see the flaws in many areas of life. For instance even the fittest of athletes will still see an ounce of flab. A cook will most often say “I think it needed more salt, or it came out kind of dry”. Even though in the eyes of others they appear perfect.
Looking at things with a more positive and less critical eye will help any flaw auto correct.
Please don’t leave us hanging about that book you mention. I missed all your comments on it.