|
realwired!
Ask about our latest offering,
The perfect system for Banks to lower the cost of ordering appraisals, managing 3rd party service providers and managing problem real estate loans. |
|
Are you...
Tired of trying to email attachments and documents to clients just to get a "Delivery Failure" notice?
Paying overnight charges for large documents?
Ready to solve delivery delays and improve workflow and increase production?
|
No. 1 Selling Comp
Database Software
|
|
More than 5,000 of you love DataComp©. Now be the first to have EDGE©...the Appraisal Report Generating software.
|
|
For more information on RealWired! Products and Services, please visit our website, call 813.349.2700, or email Sunda. | |
|
TOP OF THE WEEK TO YOU!
(by realwired! CEO, Brenda Dohring Hicks)
Top of the Week to You! is designed to offer the inside scoop and latest of what's important in the world of technology as it relates to the commercial real estate industry. |
|
Take This Test...Are You on the Path to Being Great at What You Do?
I talk to a lot of people who use technology to be the best they can be. So, I got to thinking...I should showcase some of them and what they do that makes them great. So I need your help. To get it, I'm going to hold an Awards Event. Nominate yourself or someone you know. I'll post the winners here for a month, in our sister newsletters for The Dohring Group and DataComp, I'll Twitter the award list and put it onto our web sites.
Here are some of the things, in no particular order, that I witness and, therefore believe, make someone great at using technology. Use it to get yourself thinking.
People who are on the path of being great users of technology...
-
Make other people feel good. Surprised that the first thing I mention doesn't have anything to do with "technology"? Well, actually it does. If technology isn't used to make people/clients/customers feel good about something, it's not worth using.
-
Obviously love gadgets. Not just like them, love them, but they only love them because they are simple to understand and use. These folks don't like instruction manuals and feel that a gadget has less value if it takes more than a few minutes to read the instructions or FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions aren't readily available and accurate.
-
Like to help others. Again the real secret of technology is that it works for each individual the way they want it to. Helping someone learn a new skill or enhance the use of a software product or tool, is "using technology". There's not a smidgen of smug. (Say that fast 5 times!)
-
Are really upbeat. They stay positive. Which, when using technology is sometimes tough. Devices and software don't always do what you expect or want. They are the person you want around when the office server goes down or you can't get your phone to sync.
-
Live to learn. These people thrive on learning. They appreciate the fact that software and tech tools are ever changing. They think everything gets better, so they like to try something for the first time. They're not afraid to be the first, but don't need to be the first and are smart enough to know when to be patient about trying or buying the "latest".
-
Know they are changing the world. Really. And it's not change in a big way. It's small incremental change because they are open to it and they like to lead by example. Change is the greatest fear most of us have. These people seem to thrive on it.
-
Seem to be in the business of making people happy. They are genuinely happy and so without much effort, they influence others to be so as well.
I've said for years that it's not about the "technology", it's about the people who use it. The people who make the top 5 for this Awards Event know that. I hope you see yourself! So after you read what I've written here, and I'm sure considered other traits that I didn't mention, tell me about yourself or someone else you know in a few words. Better yet, give me a short, quick example.
More than technique, more than skills, more than business acumen, frankly more than anything else...it's not about the technology. It's about who you are and how you see the world that determines whether you'll reach the pinnacle of "tech success". I can't wait to tell my "network" about you!
Remember, if you want to share some of your thoughts, it's easier now because we have a blogging component to RealWired! News. |
|
Sales/Marketing Tip
Sales Management, Anyone?
Whether you are someone else's sales manager or an entrepreneur who has to be his / her own sales manager you probably didn't really prepare for the job. In fact, most sales managers have absolutely no training for the position at all. Usually they were good salespeople who in an inebriated moment of weakness accepted the position. Most quickly discover that this is a management job not a sales job. Many didn't really want to be in management (though it sounded like a good idea at the time). Most don't have a clue how to do the job. Almost no one gets any training, which is more than a little strange since Sales management is one of the most important jobs in any company. We don't have the time or space here to make anyone a superior sales manager. But we can point you in the right direction. Below are the five things that a good sales manager does:
1. Sets and defines policies and procedures. It's up to the sales manager to make sure that everyone in the sales department understands the commission policies and the pricing policies and every other policy that determines what they do and how they sell.
2. Defines and tracks behavior. Spells out exactly how a successful sales rep spends his/her time and tracks their behaviors to make sure they do them.
3. Provides training. This doesn't usually mean that the sales manager does the training. He / she seldom has the time, resources or expertise required. It means making sure that the salespeople are taught how to prospect and how to close deals in a systematic way. It means making sure that they know everything that they need to know about your product, service, and company. Oh, and they might just have to manage a calendar, run a computer, or give a speech. You'll have to get someone to teach them to do all that. If they already can do those things then you'll have to get someone to teach them to do them better. Anyone who thinks that they can hire salespeople who can do all that and that their skills will stay sharp without any effort or expense on the company's part is dreaming.
4. Coaches and debriefs them. How will you know if the training's working if you don't debrief your people? How will you discover what they need to work on if you don't coach them?
5. Upgrade the team. Great sales managers are always be looking for the next great team member. The best sales managers always have their talent scout hat on, And aren't afraid to let the weak players go either.
It's fruitless to complain about one's salespeople. All problems are ultimately caused and resolved by sales management.
Mark Fitzgerald, Sales Training Institute, Inc., Tampa, Florida provides this column weekly. Mr. Fitzgerald provides both group and customized sales training for professionals and companies. For more information, please contact him by telephone at 813-831-5555 via email at mark@saleskills.com or visit www.saleskills.com. © Copyright Mark Fitzgerald, 2009, All Rights Reserved. | |
Hot Deals/Leads
Lenny's Sub Shop operates 175 locations nationwide. The restaurants, serving subs and other sandwiches along with salads, occupy spaces of 1,500 sq.ft. to 2,400 sq.ft. in endcaps of entertainment, specialty and strip centers, in addition to downtown/urban locations. Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months. Typical leases run five years. The company prefers to locate in areas with strong daytime demographics. The company is franchising. For more information, contact Andrew Bryant, Lenny's Sub Shop, 8295 Tournament Drive, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38125; Web site: www.lennys.com.
Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits operates 1,870 locations nationwide and internationally. The fast food restaurants, serving Cajun-inspired fried chicken, occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. to 3,000 sq.ft. in inline spaces and freestanding locations. Growth opportunities are sought nationwide during the coming 18 months. For more information, contact Bob Faller, Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits, 5555 Glen Ridge Connector Northeast, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Austin Sonic, Inc. trades as Sonic Drive-In at 62 locations throughout TX. The fast food drive-in restaurants occupy spaces of 1,320 sq.ft. in freestanding locations. Plans call for six openings throughout the existing market during the coming 18 months. Preferred cotenants include Wal*Mart and Target. Preferred demographics include a population of 30,000 within a three-mile radius earning an average household income of $30,000. For more information, contact Jerry Conway, Austin Sonic, Inc., PO Box 17788, Austin, TX 78760.
Miami Subs Corp. trades as Miami Subs, Pizza and Grill at 60 locations throughout FL, IN, NC, NJ, NY and SC, in addition to the Cayman Islands, Turkey and Romania. The fast casual restaurants, featuring subs, salads, wings, burgers, gyros, hot dogs, pizza and desserts in addition to delivery service, occupy spaces of 300 sq.ft. to 3,000 sq.ft. in strip centers, malls, gas stations, convenience stores and freestanding locations. Plans call for 60 openings nationwide and internationally during the coming 18 months. Typical leases run 20 years with two, five-year options. Preferred demographics include a population of 65,000 within a five-mile radius earning an average household income of $50,000. The company is franchising. For more information, contact Rich Rudner, Miami Subs Corp., 6300 Northwest 31st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309; Web site: www.miamisubs.com.
Slumberland, Inc. trades as Slumberland Furniture and Slumberland Clearance Centers at 115 locations throughout IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, SD and WI. The stores, featuring a full-line of furniture as well as a specialty mattress department, occupy spaces from 20,000 sq.ft. to 45,000 sq.ft. in freestanding locations. Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months. The company is franchising. For more information, contact Michael Larson, Slumberland, Inc., 3060 Centerville Road, Little Canada, MN 55117; Web site: www.slumberland.com.
Like these leads? Want more? Go to the Dealmakers website for a Free Subscription. The Dealmakers, the nation's weekly news source on retail real estate. |
|
Featured Internet Site of the Week
Daily weblog on software and personal productivity recommends downloads, web sites and shortcuts that help you work smarter and save time. | |
|
|
|
