The 5 Best Selling Secrets

*** In Memory of Lou ***

Lou the Nabisco Guy never used selling strategies …Lou had a culture of “selling.”

I was 23 years old when I first met Lou. He was the region’s number one salesman for Nabisco from 1974 to 1985.

One day I was eating lunch with Lou and asked,

“Lou, so what do you do, to be so good at selling?....can you share some tips?”

Lou replied, shaking his head and smiling, “Bob there is really no magic tips, but I do have five core beliefs about selling.”

1.) Love and believe in your product.
2.) People like to buy, but not to be sold to.
3.) I never sell anything, I solve people’s problems.
4.) Never talk yourself out of a sale.
5.) and….Never close a sale, open an opportunity.

Lou died in 1985 from a heart attack at the early age of 63.

Lou’s culture of selling has lived on. Those who adopt it become very successful.

To be the best, you need to have more than just strategies, you first need a culture, a core belief.

Dr.Ivan Misner, New York Times best selling author and founder of BNI (Business Network International) says it best, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Today when I enjoy my favorite Nabisco crackers I always think of Lou…Lou the Nabisco Guy.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Scrooge

aka,  Conflictor!

We all know one:

1. "Conflictors" know something about everything, just enough to be dangerous.

2. Disagree with you on everything, in a passive aggressive manner.

3. Challenge your knowledge, in a condescending manner.

4. Devalues your time, while their time is precious.

5. Tells you others are not team players, while stabbing you in the back.

6. Creates a positive facade, and then is negative about your positivity.

7. A "Conflictor" is always right, and if you try to prove them wrong...you will become mentally exhausted.

Bottom line; a "Conflictor" is a predator. When you are up they will get you down. And will you are down, they will take you deeper.

When a "Conflictor", by no choice of yours, tries to ruin your Holiday Season...do not try to handle them alone. One on one they will drain you. Bond together with people you trust and eventually the "Conflictor"  aka Scrooge, will get frustrated and move on to other prey.

---------------------------------------------------

Gratitude Lifts Attitude

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude.

In business we can be thankful for so many things; we appreciate our clients /customers, our partners, our shareholders, our employees, our suppliers, the list can be plentiful.

One strategic way that we can show our appreciation is by bragging, not about ourselves,  but about those who help us grow and secure our business. Specifically people who may be our strategic partners, referral teams, and networking colleagues.

Pick one person, just one, and throughout this Thanksgiving holiday season brag to others about this person using the specific points answered in the following three questions.

1. What strengths do you see in this person?

2. What specific contributions has this person made to help you grow your business?

3.  How does this person bolster a positive environment?

You will find that bragging about others will benefit their credibility and yours.
Your gratitude will lift your attitude resulting in a more fulfilling Thanksgiving holiday season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

How to Become a CFO

Not a Chief Financial Officer...I'm talking  "Chief Fun Officer" *

Many years ago, a very wise mentor of mine said. "When it comes to work, if you are not having fun... well, that's your fault!"
We all need to become our own CFO.
Below are some unique quotes about work and having fun:

" I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours."
- Leslie Nielsen

"When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?' "
- Don Marquis

" Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."  --Theodore Roosevelt

"It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man."
-Benjamin Franklin

"There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.".
-Andrew Jackson

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."
- Dale Carnegie

"I never drink coffee at work...mainly because it keeps me awake."
- Unknown

"I don't feel bad about online shopping at work, it's the only place I can spend money WHILE I make it."
- Anonymous

"I always give 100% at work: 10% Monday, 23% Tuesday, 40% Wednesday, 22% Thursday, 5 % Friday!"
- Grazer

* Leadership Freak

------------------------------------------------------------

Whatever Happened to "You're Welcome"?

---- Top Rated Post---

Just last week, I had someone open the door for me, I said “Thank you!” …his response, “Sure”.

Then the server at lunch brought me an extra napkin. I said “ Thank you”…she replied, “Don’t mention it”.

Next, I dropped my pen at the bank, the person behind me picked it up and handed it to me, I said “Thank you,” he said… “No problem”

“No problem” ?  ... Well I’m glad I wasn’t a problem!

“Don’t mention it” ?… Okay guess what, I did!

“Sure” ? … Sure of what?

When a person says, “you are welcomed” or even “you’re welcomed,” they are basically saying thank you,  to you,  for thanking them and responding with politeness.

Leadership lesson?  Yes!
Saying “you are welcomed” is letting the person know that you are thankful to them for giving you the opportunity to help them.

"Leadership is Giving" ---- Sven Goebel
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do-It-Yourselfers

When it comes to business owners, there are three types of  Do-It-Yourselfers (DIYS)

1. No Money-  DIYS

Fact: This business owner may be just starting out and has no funds to hire an admin, a marketer, web designer, business coach, etc…

Upside: When the cash starts flowing they will hire experts to help them grow their success.

Downside: Procrastination, wrt letting go and empowering others, can and will hinder growth.

2. Control Freak – DIYS

Fact: this business owner lives in fear and trusts no one to get “inside” his or her business.

Upside: Total control can be very rewarding because you can relish in the “I did it! I did it all!”

Downside: Burn out is inevitable and horizontal growth is impossible.

3. The Know-It-All – DIYS

Fact: This business owner knows a little about everything, and believes that makes them an expert. Albert Einstein said it best, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

Upside: If your favorite photograph is a “selfie”, you are in your zone and you may be successful.

Downside: When your business does not grow and you become completely frustrated, you will catch yourself saying, “What the heck happened!”

------------------------------------------------------------------

Fire, Aim, Ready!

I know what you're saying, isn't it... Ready, Aim, Fire?

When it comes to growing your business by word of mouth marketing...it is  Fire, Aim, Ready!

Fire: 

• Ignite the "fire" with a smile and a passionate conversation.
• Fuel the fire by showing interest in the other person.
• Keep the fire burning by giving and offering hope.

Aim:

• Ask; what is your target market?
• Educate them on your target market.
• Help each other "aim" at your respective target markets.

Ready:

• Develop trust with each other.
• Commit to helping each other.
• Then you are "ready" to accept leadership for each other.