F*ck the Rules. Stay in the Game.

This morning my son, Legendary Lincoln, and I are playing go fish…

Simple game. Simple rules. Simple objective.

In case you forgot, because I sure did, you ask for a card and if they don’t have it - Go fish!

Except… my son doesn’t really play by the rules, YET. And I’m good with that.

He asks for cards he already has. He asks twice in a row. He leaves his cards face up…

And, I let him. I bend the rules to help him win. I want him to win.

This doesn’t mean I’m failing the parenting part, I’m teaching him something more important than the rules of Go Fish.

I’m teaching him what it feels like to stay in the game.

To keep asking, to not get discouraged, to not shut down because something didn’t go his way the first time.

So he wins. Then he wins again. And you can see it in his face, confidence stacking, smiles growing, a level of pride. And when he wins, we say it out loud, I’m a winner, he says it, then he says, I’m proud of myself!

Now, here’s where this one hit me.

In business, sales, and follow-up, MOST people are obsessed with playing by the rules.

F$%k the rules!

My now two month old son’s name is Maverick Alexander, and Maverick is a rule breaker, independent thinking, against conventional ideas, challenger of the status quo…

Follow up rules look something like this..

“The rule says wait three days.” “The rule says don’t double text.” “The rule says if they didn’t reply, they’re not interested.” “The rule says don’t bother them.”

Who made these rules? Again, most of the time they’re made by people who quit too early.

Other times? They’re made by people protecting their ego.

The people who win are usually the ones who bend the rules BUT DO NOT break trust, they break patterns, instead.

They are willing to follow up again when it’s “too soon.” They go in and ask the question a different way. They came back around when everyone else moved on. They don’t disqualify themselves because of some imaginary line in the sand.

Just like my son. He doesn’t overthink. He doesn’t hesitate. He just asks again. Plays to beat of his own drum.

And eventually, he gets the cards he wants, he loves those #2 cards, BTW.

That’s follow-up.

No recklessness. No annoying us. Intentional and human. We enjoy it, we’re having fun too, it should be fun for both sides, your follow up interactions included.

My goal is to let him win because I want to teach him that persistence creates progress. That if at an early age he learns winning and later with more brain development I will teach him the nuances.

Same lesson applies to you.

If you’re sitting around waiting for perfect timing, if you’re holding on for permission,
if you’re expecting the magic waiting “right” follow-up window…

Are you sitting there holding the cards no one knows you have?

No need for you to focus on a new deal, shoot your shot, bend the rules a hell of a lot with the opportunities you already have

Ask again. Follow up again. Play the game. Stay in the game. Have fun playing the game.

Winners?

They’re not always the best rule followers.

F$%k the rules! ;)

See you next week, Follow Up Fam.

Manny “That Follow Up Guy” Vargas