I woke up at 6 AM on Memorial Day to surprise my wife by painting our laundry room ceiling. You see, the previous owner painted the entire room, ceiling included, and it has always bothered me because it’s too dark in there. So, I figured by painting the ceiling white, it would brighten things up. I taped off the walls, covered the laundry machines with plastic, and started painting. Only ten minutes into my painting session, a disaster struck.
I was standing on top of the sink counter painting the final ceiling corner before starting the fun part — the roller. Suddenly, only 7 feet away from me, the 1 gallon can of paint which was sitting atop my new ladder (propped up at a slight angle) decided to slide off after having sat there for at least 5 minutes without moving. Let me tell you, a gallon is a LOT of liquid - especially when the can hits 3 of the ladder steps on the way down to the floor, splatting paint out of the can along the way - covering the walls, the ladder, & the tile floor. It even splattered into the next room onto the drapes, sofa, & carpet - 20 feet away! I jumped off of my perch and stood… shocked. Paint was EVERYWHERE. After a week of cleanup, paint is still embedded into the tile grout.
Smooth Dave, real smooth.
So, what does this have to do with marketing, sales, or running a business? More than you think.
Running a small business can sometimes be akin to placing a gallon can of paint on the top rung of a ladder. It’s about RISK. Sometimes it pays off and you get to paint the ceiling faster and with less effort. Other times, the can falls down splattering paint everywhere & causing all kinds of new problems. That’s the beauty of risk. Personally, I like to take risks because the payoff can be huge. When it doesn’t turn out, the cleanup can be a big pain, but isn’t that just part of the deal?
Go on! Stick that gallon can on the top rung where it’s not supposed to be. Get out there & risk a little with that new campaign, sales letter, or venture!
