All dogs are dangerous!

All dogs are dangerous!

That statement is an example of one stop learning. Here's how it works.

Jane was bitten by a dog. She generalises the experience and tells severyone
. And people without experience of dogs believe her advice.

So, now they believe all dogs are dangerous. They repeat this 'learnt' wisdom. Soon more people believe the dangerous dogs myth. It becomes a fact.

One-stop learning.

Now think of those growth gurus and peer advisors you may be listening too. Are they passing on their version of dangerous dogs?

Here are 7 examples I can immediately think of.

- Email outreach won't work for consulting;
- Content on social attracts a ton of clients;
- Focus on one highly specific service;
- Sales professionals selling projects doesn't work;
- Must have a unique value proposition;
- The best pitch will win;
- RFPs are a waste of time.

And I'm guilty of saying two of these myself, far too often!

What those growth gurus and peer advisors believe worked for them might work for you. Or maybe it only worked once. Or maybe it's the Hawthorne affect.

Those 'best practices' might be outdated, or out of context. What if they were just in the right market, at the right time, with the right connections?

So, take advice (including this) with a healthy pinch of skepticism. Confirmation bias is a strong trait for advice givers, especially when there spending your money, not theirs!

Maybe it's better to challenge bias, do your own research, and properly test ideas for yourself ... in the field with cheque writers.

Independent thinking and action. That's what I encourage as a sales coach.

BTW in my experience most dogs are friendly, have saggy tails, and prefer to lick - not bite.