Many years ago I attended a sales workshop in Arizona. It didn't take much to convince me to leave Toronto Canada in the middle of winter and go to Scottsdale. Little did I know how much that trip would change my outlook on selling.
Let me digress for a moment. Upon arrival at the hotel I was immediately impressed. A beautiful setting, first class service, lovely room, and sun, lots of warm sunshine! The next day, regrettably we were indoors for the first of three days in a meeting room, 17 of us, indoors in Scottsdale. On the breaks many of us would rush to stand outside and enjoy the sun. It was on one of these breaks we were standing at a side entrance to the hotel when a large number of very tall men approached. Now I'm not a tall person. I stand 5'7" first thing in the morning before gravity sets in. Turns out these "giants" were the San Antonio Spurs basketball team in town to play the Phoenix Suns. They were using a side entrance to avoid fans at the front of the hotel. I don't think I came up to the belly button of one of them!
But back to the sales workshop. Our facilitator had a captivating Texan drawl, causing me to listen intently to his stories and tips based on years of experience. The content was terrific, the group really bonded, and the three days evaporated. Towards the end of the final day I just had to ask a question of our workshop leader who had so impressed all of us. I was about to have one of those "ah huh" moments in life.
I asked "If you could share only one piece of advice on how to be a top sales person what would that be?" I'll never forget as he went into a pensive stance, holding his elbow while putting his forefinger to his lips, "What a tough question." He then paused for maybe a minute or two, it seemed longer.
What he shared was so profound I have added it to my repertoire of sales truisms. It has shaped my philosophy and behavior ever since. He started by cautioning us that in the sales profession we run the risk of developing egos bigger than the moon. Top sales people think of themselves as super stars and want to be in the spotlight. Confidence he said is a good thing, and recognition at the appropriate time and place is important in fact necessary, but an unchecked ego can do damage. And here it came, he paused and with conviction added, "If there is only one piece of advice I'd ask you remember, it is to always shine the spotlight on your customer. They are the most important person, not you!" The room went silent. Our egos on pause, we reflected hard on what we just heard.
For some reason my thoughts turned to the Spurs who, two days earlier had walked past us. They play under the spotlight all the time. Fans pay to enjoy their athletic excellence on the court. We want them to be in the spotlight, we want them to succeed, and we want them to play to win.
In sales, we're not playing basketball. It's a different game, and it's one of the best games in the world. If the sales arena is where you play and you want to win, remember these words of wisdom.
Always shine the spotlight on your customer.
2011/12/23
Why Business Credit Is A MUST For Every Business Owner
As an entrepreneur, you're hardwired to enjoy a greater level of risk than the average person. But do you enjoy the thrill of business and investing so much that you're willing to risk:
-Being hounded by creditors?
-Declaring bankruptcy?
-Being denied a mortgage?
-Paying more than your fair share of interest on your loans?
-Losing your house?
If you answered "no" to one or more of these questions, this may be the most important report you've read in a long time.
Because, if you're like most entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners I've met over the past 28 years, you're in danger of facing all of these horrific problems.
And it's all because of your business.
You see, entrepreneurs typically make one or more financially devastating mistakes when financing the launch, operation and/or growth of their businesses. In most cases, they don't realize that they're making a mistake.
And to tell the truth, even when they do realize they're making a mistake … they lull themselves into thinking that the consequences will be a minor annoyance.
Until, one day, they can't qualify for a mortgage. Or they can't get the to-die-for financing offered on the new car they're buying. Or they're hounded by creditors and eventually have to declare bankruptcy.
And it is all because they use their personal finances to fund the launch or expansion of their business. They then use personal credit cards to pay for business expenses. If you are in business or thinking about starting a business, business credit is a must.
Let me explain, most business owner have no idea that they can establish business credit and even fewer know how to how to establish business credit. If owners would take the time necessary to educate themselves about establishing credit they would no longer have to use their personal funds for start up capital or working capital.
They would also be able to use business credit cards which don't report to their personal credit reports, therefore, not lowering the personal credit scores.
The most important goal of business credit though is to obtain unsecured business lines of credit, which can be done once the business credit profile is set up properly. Once a business obtains unsecured business lines of credit, they then have the working capital they need to start a business or expand their business. The business owner has check book control to use the business lines of credit as they wish. And best of all, the business lines of credit don't report to the business owner's personal credit report.
If you have set up your business profile correctly there are a number of banks that will lend to brand new start up business. That is right, brand new start up business with no track record whatsoever. The banks will extend unsecured business lines of credit so they can have the start up capital they need to finance the business of their dreams.
Make no mistake about it; business credit is a MUST for every business owner. Don't put your personal assets at risk finance or fund your business!
-Being hounded by creditors?
-Declaring bankruptcy?
-Being denied a mortgage?
-Paying more than your fair share of interest on your loans?
-Losing your house?
If you answered "no" to one or more of these questions, this may be the most important report you've read in a long time.
Because, if you're like most entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners I've met over the past 28 years, you're in danger of facing all of these horrific problems.
And it's all because of your business.
You see, entrepreneurs typically make one or more financially devastating mistakes when financing the launch, operation and/or growth of their businesses. In most cases, they don't realize that they're making a mistake.
And to tell the truth, even when they do realize they're making a mistake … they lull themselves into thinking that the consequences will be a minor annoyance.
Until, one day, they can't qualify for a mortgage. Or they can't get the to-die-for financing offered on the new car they're buying. Or they're hounded by creditors and eventually have to declare bankruptcy.
And it is all because they use their personal finances to fund the launch or expansion of their business. They then use personal credit cards to pay for business expenses. If you are in business or thinking about starting a business, business credit is a must.
Let me explain, most business owner have no idea that they can establish business credit and even fewer know how to how to establish business credit. If owners would take the time necessary to educate themselves about establishing credit they would no longer have to use their personal funds for start up capital or working capital.
They would also be able to use business credit cards which don't report to their personal credit reports, therefore, not lowering the personal credit scores.
The most important goal of business credit though is to obtain unsecured business lines of credit, which can be done once the business credit profile is set up properly. Once a business obtains unsecured business lines of credit, they then have the working capital they need to start a business or expand their business. The business owner has check book control to use the business lines of credit as they wish. And best of all, the business lines of credit don't report to the business owner's personal credit report.
If you have set up your business profile correctly there are a number of banks that will lend to brand new start up business. That is right, brand new start up business with no track record whatsoever. The banks will extend unsecured business lines of credit so they can have the start up capital they need to finance the business of their dreams.
Make no mistake about it; business credit is a MUST for every business owner. Don't put your personal assets at risk finance or fund your business!
2011/12/04
Work At Home Internet Job - At The Speed Of Electricity
I'm a pretty average gal. I kind of do my own thing of which some seem relatively productive and others not so much. And a lot like other people, and I guess different from others then, I have a lot of different interests. I'm a full subscriber to the variety being the spice of life adage. With so many interests (some even approach full-blown passion), you'd think that it'd be fairly easy to find myself a job that put food on the table clothes on my back and left a little in my pocket for weekend skullduggery; and I mean something that really tickled my fancy and had me jumping out of bed five minutes before my alarm goes off. But that simply has not been the case. It may not help that a large slice of these interests are Caligulan in nature. Not only do I digress, I also have reason to believe that one of these interests may be piqued with paycheck in tow.
Work at home online jobs has got my name written all over it. Granted, I'm not exactly sure what these employers from the heavens are wanting me to do online, as there a fairly wide variety of topics covered. But, that's besides the point. What I'm talking about is waking up, or not even going to sleep, rolling over and that right there is me punching in-if I qualify for my work at home online job.
So, if you'd prefer to continue doing what you've been doing while procrastinating your actual job search and take home a couple of dollars, grab yourself an online job and work at home. You'll be searching, browsing and exploring the internet just like you do now, but probably with slightly greater restrictions than your current fear of breaking federal laws provides.
Work at home online jobs has got my name written all over it. Granted, I'm not exactly sure what these employers from the heavens are wanting me to do online, as there a fairly wide variety of topics covered. But, that's besides the point. What I'm talking about is waking up, or not even going to sleep, rolling over and that right there is me punching in-if I qualify for my work at home online job.
So, if you'd prefer to continue doing what you've been doing while procrastinating your actual job search and take home a couple of dollars, grab yourself an online job and work at home. You'll be searching, browsing and exploring the internet just like you do now, but probably with slightly greater restrictions than your current fear of breaking federal laws provides.
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