PERFECTION

"Strive for perfection in everything you do.

Take the best that exists and make it better.

If it doesn’t exist, create it.

Accept nothing as nearly right or good enough."

Henry Royce – Co-founder Rolls Royce

This quote by Henry Royce, has been the cornerstone of Rolls Royce since its beginnings. This quote is written on a plaque in the lobby of Rolls Royce Headquarters for everyone to see. I have been told it is also written on the employment applications for all perspective employees to read.

This quote is awesome. To me, what makes this quote so strong is the word STRIVE. If the word strive was replaced with “achieve” this quote would have no meaning to me. Why? Because asking someone to achieve perfection, and expecting it, is above anyone’s ability. This doesn’t mean that no one can achieve perfection and we should all STRIVE for it, but it isn’t something that we can put into a plan. If and when perfection is achieved, it is achieved through hard work, trial and error, and usually happens without anyone knowing it until after it has been achieved.

Let’s look at the Olympic Games. There were several “perfect scores of 10. Every athlete started the competition in hopes of achieving the perfect score of 10. Thousands of men and women set out to be perfect, and yet the small handful who achieved it, didn’t know they had accomplished their goal until they were told so by the judges. Not one of these young men and women left the field or floor of competition knowing they had been perfect.

Sales are the same way. Every sales rep I know walks into the customer to make the PERFECT presentation which will maximize the sale and profits. Very few, if any, ever hit the goal of perfection.

Now for the good news, every Olympic event has a winner. Athletes win with less than perfect scores. Even better news, most sales (if not all) are made with less than perfect presentations.

This is why I started today’s post with a quote that says STRIVE FOR PERFECTION. We all need to do everything we can to be as perfect as we can be, but we also need to keep in mind that perfection is almost impossible to accomplish and impossible to plan into your day.

Henry Royce understood this concept very well, that’s why every Rolls Royce comes with a warranty! If a Rolls Royce sells and is never brought in for repairs, then they have achieved what they consider perfection. If a sales rep gives his or her presentation and it goes without any flaws and the customer buys then that rep has achieved perfection as well. Does this mean the car or the sale is perfect? No, it means the car or sale is perfect in the buyer’s eyes. Perception is reality! Who am I to argue?

Lorin