Search Engine News!
|
 |
Brought to you by: EBWAY CreativeGoogle is changing the way they index and show websites. We're not sure when, but the change is coming... Sources say it could be as early as next week! Get ready... Learn more from our blog by clicking the link below: Google News!
|
|
Greetings!
Just finished up a project where I had over twenty participants from the solar industry in attendance. What made it unique was that 5 of them had only been with their company a week or two. So I asked what they had done in their past life. Two had been mortgage brokers, one even admitted to marketing sub-prime loans! He openly said, "yep, blame it on me!". So we did. Another had been a car salesman, actually sold Cadillacs. He had sold the owner of the company an Escalade Hybrid, when he had come in hunting for a used STS.
For the record, there is about $30,000 difference in those vehicles. The owner completed the paperwork, and then remarked, "you are good. I could use you in my sales force.". The car sales guy replied that this may be the very best time to look at a career move, car sales are not exactly on an uptick right now.
|
|
|
The most interesting story
The most interesting story was from the former head of the local Chamber of Commerce. He was in the contractor's office to talk about his membership and an ad program, and noticed a group of people filling out applications. He asked the receptionist what was up, she replied they had posted an ad for a couple of positions, had a huge response, just trying to work though them. The chamber guy asked if he could put in an application as well. She said yes, but the owner had no time to see him that day. Turns out the owner took a break, spent less than 10 minutes with him, he got the job.
Now, they knew each other, so it was not exactly like a cold call. But he took the initiative, stepped up, got it put together. So how did the mortgage people get involved? They were in a networking group with that contractor. He was in two groups, one in each group. He told the group he was looking for a few good people, the subprime guy came over to him before the meeting was over.
Here is my point: the owner of that business looked outside his industry to find a set of new employees. It's not like there are no solar people available, this is in California, where you can't swing a cat around by its tale without hitting at least one solar guy. He found some people who were ready to move into a new industry, had successful careers in their old companies, just ready for a move. And in the case of the Chamber of Commerce guy, he seized the opportunity by asking questions and taking a chance that he may have been too late. He wasn't. It turned out to be a good move by the owner as well, the Chamber guy is connected, he knows everyone in town, and that is not a bad thing.
|
|
Going through security
In another related yet completely separate incident, I saw another example of how we need to open our eyes to the opportunities all around us. I am leaving for another trip to a meeting, going through security. When I hit security, I walked right up to the fast lane, since I am gold level on a couple of airlines. Now, in Denver we have a company that helps you get through security faster, called a Clear Pass. You pay a couple of hundred a year, they have an even shorter line to help you move fast. I have not bought into that, it is not found in all airports and I am in the short lane most of the time anyway. As I moved past the Clear line, one of their young men asked me where I was going. I told him where, he asked me if I wanted to go through the Clear line. I told him I was not a member, he said that was OK, since he had no customers at the time. He then offered to put my bags on the rack to move through X-ray. Never had that happen before. He said if I had a card, he would put me into a drawing for a free membership in their club. I gave him a card, he took it back to his desk.
He came right back, asked me what I did for a living. I told him I did sales training and consulting work. He asked me if I would accept a resume if he sent one over. I said send it out. He was a salesperson trapped in a security line uniform, just itching to get out. You may say, how do you know he is a salesperson? Well, he took the initiative to ask me if he could help, then put two and two together, asked if he could send me some information. He was networking in the ultimate way, taking every opportunity to move his career forward. That screams sales stuff to me.
Here's my thinking. It may be hard to look to someone who is not experienced in our industry and think of them as being part of your staff. But you may find some great new talent out there, just working in other companies, doing similar duties, just with different tools. They may be ready to move into a new career, and it may surprise you how hard they will work to understand your company and business, even your customers. So think of your business. Do you need to add new employees this year? Are you planning on growing market share in your local economy. Studies have shown that companies who were aggressive during times of economic slow-down grew at a rate several times that of the ones who pulled back. Companies that continued to advertise, market, and network when the business slowed down, they prospered when the economy picked up. Faster and stronger than the ones who said that the business was not there, so why try to build it.
|
|
A famous quote
 "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."
- Henry Ford, (attributed)
So make a decision to grow the biz this year. To move into new markets, get some new customers, whatever it takes. Concentrate on this concept, and think hard how you may do what many say can't be done. And it will amaze you what can happen. Darwin said it is not the strongest of the species who survive, nor the most intelligent. The ones who survive are the ones who can adapt to change. The times have changed and we must change with them. On the other hand, survival is not mandatory.
Thanks for listening, we'll talk later.
|
|
|
Warmest Regards,
James Hinshaw
SIP INC.
Mo: (602) 369-8097
Of: (970) 635-5675
Fx: (970) 635-5676
JimHinshaw@SipTraining.com
|
|
|
