Quik Tip Tuesday: Fairytales, Success & the Broken Record

Growing up in the 70s, I used to love listening to my collection of Disney book and record sets.

My sister and I amassed quite a treasure trove of titles — including all of the most popular princess stories, as well as many of the popular cartoon characters of the day.

Regardless of whether the story centered around a hobbit, a princess or a heroic pair of mouse detectives, one thing they all had in common was the opening instructions.

“You will know it’s time to turn the page when Tinkerbell rings her little bells like this: (sound of ‘chimes’ ringing). Let’s begin now.”

We’d sit for hours in front of a red briefcase-style record player, and anxiously await Tinkerbell to cue us to turn the page.

If you were reading along with the story, you probably didn’t need the little chime reminder to tell you when to turn the page — but for those who weren’t yet able to read, or ones who simply got swept up in the story, it was nice to know that Tinkerbell would be there to remind you.

You see, knowing when to turn the page isn’t always easy, particularly when it involves your business.

Over the last ten years, there have been occasions when I have struggled with turning the page. There was the particularly expensive display advertisement that didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped; or a business idea that just missed the mark. Or, maybe it was a website that I never found the time to fully develop. Each of these examples were costly in their own way — yet, each of them provided me with valuable experience that has strengthened my business, and my resolve.

I wasn’t able to see that until I turned the page.

Some of the greatest minds of our time have long and storied histories of failed attempts before they enjoyed the success for which we now know them. Imagine how different our lives would be today if they had simply decided not to turn the page, and keep on trying!

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily stories of our businesses — what with the deadlines, the technology to learn, and the endless to-do lists. Understand that you will inevitably make mistakes…everyone does.

Magical as she is, I doubt that Tinkerbell can make the rounds and get to all of us when we need her. My advice would be to find your very own “Tinkerbell” — someone you know will tell it like it is (even when it hurts). Sure, it would be easier to find someone who will always sugar-coat it for you — but then your business would be nothing more than a fairytale.

Get mad if you need to. Have a good cry if that helps. Then get over it and turn the page.

The real tragedy would be if you allow the record to get stuck there. You could very well be standing in the way of your own happy ending.

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