In this issue...
Upcoming Events!
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Director, Promoter, Analyzer or Nurturer... What's Your Personality Type?
Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge - Call For Entries!!

I recently had an epiphany that I want to share with you. My story begins almost 15 years ago...  

 

When I graduated from college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I spent years switching jobs, moving from city to city (NYC, Boston, Concord, NH, just to name a few) and generally being aimless. 

 

At one point I decided "wouldn't it be fun to work in an art gallery?" So one hot summer day I walked into the nicest one, on Newbury Street (Boston) and asked if they were hiring.

Travel the country

The poster that seduced me into the 1997 Dentyne Ice "Icing America" Tour


When the gallery curator interviewed me, the conversation went (something) like this:

 

"Do you have any sales experience?" -- "Uh, no."

"Do you have any art background?" --"Hmmm. Nope."
"Have you ever done anything like this at all?" --"Well, last summer I visited 45 cities in 60 days to hand out Dentyne Ice chewing gum samples on street corners. Does that help?" [See pic at right]

 

Maybe they were hurting, because despite my un-qualifications I got the job. So I packed up, left bustling Concord, NH, and moved to Boston to sell art.

By the 3rd month, I hit #1 in the Boston gallery. In month 9, I ranked #2 among ALL of the art consultants across the entire national franchise. What happened?

I didn't get this back then, but in retrospect, it's clear. I'd studied psychology in college, and in the absence of ANY art knowledge OR sales skills, I relied on a basic "Psych 101" technique: personality profiling.

When people walked into the gallery and it was my "up," instead of accosting and trying to "sell" them, I focused on reading their body language, adapting to it, and developing rapport, mostly by educating them and focusing on the stuff that they wanted to talk about. The sales followed. Lots and lots (and lots!) of sales. 

The lesson that I see now, in retrospect, is that I was successful selling because I wasn't focused on the sale. Instead, I was building relationships, and ultimately TRUST. People want to do business with regular people - not with salespeople, not with logos, not with marketers. Moreover, they want to do business with people they LIKE. 

To that end, one of the most powerful ways to connect with other human beings is to adapt to their unique personality type. Do you know the 4 basic types? If not, scroll down and learn my "secret weapon" so you can use it too.

PS - The Empowered Woman Success Summit is BACK!! May 19th & 20th, and this time I'll be delivering one of the sessions myself... on what else? How to determine your personality type - and adapt to others'. 

And away we go!!

 

Michelle Villalobos Headshot With Sharpies 

Michelle Villalobos (vee - ya - low - bos)

(888) 531-3830

www.Twitter.com/mivi 

www.MichelleVillalobos.com  

  

PS - Want to contribute to my latest group blog post (and get some publicity for yourself)? The topic is "Have you ever been miserable at work? Why, and what did you do about it?" To contribute, follow the link below and fill in the fields. This is a great way to get a link back to your site, good for Google results. Feel free to share.  http://tinyurl.com/4v6hcth


Programs & Events...

For a full listing of speaking engagements & events, click here.  

 

EWSS III


The Empowered Woman Success Summit III, Thursday & Friday, May 19th & 20th.

Early Registration, VIP Registration & Sponsorship Details here. 


Below is an event that I'll be moderating/emceeing. If you know a bride, please let her know. I designed the sessions and found the speakers, so I know that they're phenomenal. And if you're a business that targets brides or other businesses in the bridal industry, let us know if you'd like to get involved. Contact Jessica Lurie: (888) 531-3830 or [email protected].

Bridal Confidential Invite 
Women's Marketing Mastermind Title

 Next One: Wednesday, April 12, 2011


Register Here   

Free Stuff

*** SPECIAL REPORT ***

Devil woman

Why Women Play DIRTY:
How Women Are Biologically & Socially Programmed To Undermine Each Other At Work (& 8 Ways You Can Protect Yourself)

click to download:
Download the Entire "Special Report" (free)


  • Understand the roots of female rivalry - all the way back to our primitive ancestors
  • Learn how those instincts play out today
  • Understand what you're doing right now that makes enemies - without even realizing it
  • Unveil those enemies and turn them into allies
  • Learn strategies for overcoming the dirty play




*** E-BOOK ***

Badass Manifesto

BadassBusinessWomen: The Manifesto
I co-authored this along with Jessica Kizorek & Marci Alt. Download the eBook here: http://www.BadassBusinessWomen.org.

You can now buy the book IN PRINT, here.
That's right, thanks to The Chief, yours truly is a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!! Woo hoo! 

Director, Promoter, Analyzer, Nurturer...  

Which Type Are YOU?


First and foremost, it is important to understand that we ALL have elements of all types, but like a preference for right-handedness or left-handedness, most of the population exhibits a natural preference for certain ways of being over others. When we understand our natural preferences, and those of others, communication and interaction is just easier.

In addition, there are MANY different ways of categorizing personality type - The Myers Briggs Type Instrument (a 16-type distinction that, incidentally, my company is certified to administer and interpret), DISC, Keirsey Temperament Sorter, and many, many more.

Below is a SIMPLIFIED 4-type distinction that can quickly get you to a place where you are recognizing and adapting to different styles. In this type paradigm, there are 4 basic personality types: Director, Promoter, Analyzer and Nurturer.

The first chart shows you the characteristics of each type, and the second chart shows you how to adapt to each type.
Personality Type II

Personality Type

The Directors and Promoters (top of the chart below) tend to do things FAST. They walk fast, talk fast, drive fast and decide fast.

Analyzers and Nurturers (bottom of the chart below), tend to take their time. They like to consider things more carefully and tend to be more circumspect in making decisions.

Directors and Analyzers (left side of the chart), tend to be more TASK-oriented, whereas Promoters and Nurturers (right side of the chart) tend to be more PEOPLE-oriented.

In order to make it easier to remember, I've put an animal next to each personality type. The Directors are the Lions, the Promoters are the Monkeys, the Analyzers are the Owls, and the Nurturers are the Koalas.  

So, can you tell which type you are? Let me know by posting on my blog - also if you have any questions, post them there and I will answer.

Enjoy! 
 
Miami HeraldY
At a conference I spoke at this weekend, I ran into Nancy Dahlberg who heads up The Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge, and she shared something VERY disturbing.

She mentioned to me that hardly ANY women submit Business Plans - I don't want to even TELL you the numbers (okay I will, last year it was only 30 out of 200!!). That's embarrassing.

So not only am I submitting a business plan, again (I was a semi-finalist two years ago and am DETERMINED to win), but I am also encouraging YOU to submit one too. Even for just being a semi-finalist I got lots of exposure.

You may ask why I would encourage you to submit and diminish my own chances. Well, that's precisely why... if I'm going to win, I want to be up against the stiff competition - that's how I'll know my plan is REALLY good!

So go on, brush up that business plan and submit it!! The deadlne is March 25, 2011.
Rules & contest details here. 

 Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge