Greetings!
Happy Tuesday! Coming off Mother's Day weekend, I thought I'd dedicate this week's issue to all of our Mom's out there and look back at how our Mom's may have had an affect on us and our business careers.
I hope you have as much fun reading as I did putting this together. Be sure to check out this week's Helping YOU section. I had help from a local eighth grade student that wrote an amazing essay that I thought was very appropriate for this issue. I think you'll enjoy reading it and be uplifted because you did.
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Mom's Top 5 Business Tips
Everything
I needed to know about business and sales
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Growing up, we all
picked up on little pearls of wisdom from our Mom that we later would use in
sales and business. We didn't know it at the time, and we may have even been
annoyed with the sage advice we were receiving, but in the end (as usual!) Mom
always knew best. So in honor of Mother's Day, here are 5 tips for sales and
business success we learned from Mom:
1 - Think before you speak. When
Mom said this, it was usually because we flew off the handle and said something
we didn't mean or that didn't make sense. In business, it helps us understand the
needs of our customers and what they need from us.
Many salespeople use their gift of gab and
go in touting their product or service's features and benefits while dominating
the conversation. Although they may make a sale, the customer may often feel
like they were "sold."
Mom's advice teaches us consultative
selling where you listen much more than you speak. You ask great questions that
allow your customer to tell you exactly what you need to know to provide the
solution that your customer needs. With this approach, your customer feels
appreciated and knows that they invested in a solution, rather than sold a bill
of goods.
2 - If you don't have something nice to
say, don't say anything at all. (Aka: Bite your tongue!) In business, this
means "don't bad-mouth your competition." Although this is a basic principle,
it still happens and bears repeating.
For me,
when I hear someone bad-mouthing the competition, first, I cringe. Then I think...
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Helping YOU!
Answering Reader Questions
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This week, rather than answering a reader's question, I'm having Kylie Boyd, a local eighth grade student, provide some insight and wisdom that seems appropriate for this Mother's day edition. I can't speak specifically for Kylie, (although I have a feeling I could!) but I feel this would definitely be something that a Mom would instill in her kids.
The middle school ran a Character Counts essay contest and Kylie was the winner with her article titled Help Others, Even if You Don't Benefit. My personal philosophy of "giving without expectation" is perfectly captured in this incredible essay. Enjoy reading it and be proud to know that we have an up and coming generation with leaders like Kylie that really "get it!"
Help Others, Even if You Don't Benefit
When I was young, I went to a daycare. Just down the road
from my daycare lived an older gentleman named Mr. Crawford.
Every morning
when our daycare would go out for our routine walk, Mr. Crawford would wait on
his porch to watch us pass by, and he always gave us a piece of candy. Seeing
him there was always one of the brightest parts of my day.
It has been a
long time since I stayed at a daycare, and Mr. Crawford has long passed away;
however, the memory of him saying hello and giving us a piece of candy every
morning stays with me. This memory reminds me of the quote by Ann Landers, "The
true measure of people is how they treat others who can do them absolutely no
good." Even though I was a small child who could give Mr. Crawford nothing in
return but my thanks, he was still kind to me.
In our world
today, we are always worrying about our own interests, and if we are helping
someone, we are asking "What is in it for me?" I believe that if everyone in
the world acted like Mr. Crawford, the world would be a much better place. The people
who are prosperous would show kindness to the poor and less fortunate, even
though those people could give nothing in return. Leaders of thriving countries
would lend a helping hand to struggling countries, alleviating human suffering.
We would all live in peace and harmony where people would be less selfish and more selfless.
Everyone, of
course, wants to have good morals and ethics; however, it is often easier said
than done. It is difficult to want to help someone that can not benefit you,
but it is a necessary step in our world, community and personal obligation to
becoming better citizens.
I happened to be
fortunate enough to get to experience something where someone took the time to
treat me with kindness though I could do him "absolutely no good." Mr. Crawford
helped me realize the importance of actions everyday; similarly I want to make a difference for someone
and not expect anything in return.
It makes me feel
good to know that I can do something kind-hearted for someone. It could be
saying hello and giving them a piece of candy. It could also mean being a
leader in our country and making peace with a foreign ruler. We can all take
time to do something nice for someone, even if we don't gain anything in the
process.
When I look back
at my memories of the walks with my daycare where I would see Mr. Crawford, and
be reminded that "The true measure of the people is how they treat others who
can do them absolutely no good."
Just like Mr.
Crawford, you can always brighten someone's day. Though they may not be able to
do or give anything in return or do you any good, chances are that by
brightening their day, you are brightening yours as well.
~ Kylie Boyd
Well, there you have it! Excellent job Kylie and thank you for allowing me to share this with everyone! I would love to hear what you all think so drop me an e-mail and let me know.
Do you have a question, challenge or opportunity that you'd like a little insight on? If so, e-mail it to workinghard@helpingusellu.com.
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Poll Question of the Week
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Referring back to this week's article above, this week's question is...
"What is the best business tip you received from your Mom while growing up?"
Click here to submit your answer.
Last week's question and results...
"What do you consider the biggest benefit of networking?"
Total Votes: 7
Meeting new people 1
Gaining information 0
Increased visibility 1
Increased opportunities 2
Meeting untouchables 0
Being a resource 1
Being a trusted advisor 1
Giving/receiving referrals 0
Responsibility 0
Having fun 0
Karma 1
Do you have a question you'd like to see in a future poll? If so, send it to me in an e-mail. workinghard@helpingusellu.com
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Wrapping Up
Well, I hope you picked up a few good ideas today and I look forward to being with you again next week. In the meantime, if you have a burning question, shoot me an e-mail and I'll shoot you a reply.
Helping You Sell You,
Scott Gillespie
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Copyright (C) 2009 Selling U, LLC - All rights reserved.
Would you like to reproduce this document?
Please call us at 989.546.7355 for written permission by Scott Gillespie before doing so.
However, go ahead and forward this to as many people as you want!
Selling U, LLC ~ 9825 E. Broomfield Rd. ~ Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
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Contact Information
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Call us any time at
989.546.7355
workinghard@helpingusellu.com
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Quote of the Week
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"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made Mothers."
~ Jewish Proverb
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