Defeats and Growth

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.

— Maya Angelou —

An old story worth sharing again…

I remember the day I received a termination letter from one of our biggest customers many years ago. It was an account the team, and I had spent significant time growing and nurturing.  It was an account that included twenty assisted living facilities. This was the first time in my career I was faced with such a huge loss.  I was devastated.

My first reaction was anger, and then the anger turned to disappointment, and the disappointment turned to thoughts about what to do about it.

My “what to do about it” thoughts turned to our number one guiding principle–“We will treat others better than we expect to be treated.”

I decided to send a nice flower arrangement to all of the facilities, which would be leaving us with a simple, “Thanks for being our customer for these last five years.  We will always be here if you should ever need us again. “

We got the account back in less than one year.


I love the opening quote by Maya Angelou.

Defeats can turn into victories if we choose to handle them the right way.

2 Corinthians 12:9, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  (ESV)

P.E.A.C.E.

Jay@EagleLaunch.com

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