Sales Success Secrets: Tips you can use immediately to increase sales in your small or medium-size organization

    Perhaps you've heard the adage: nothing happens until someone sells something. The truth is that until someone trusts you enough to believe that what you offer will add value beyond the cost of acquisition, you have no business. Further, you'd better know at least the basics of selling regardless of your title so that you can sell yourself, your product or service and effectively manage or lead others involved in selling.

In his lively, interactive presentation, John Carroll will share a selling model to help you know where your sales efforts are effective and where they require greater attention. He'll discuss the importance of trust, the value of asking great questions, why you should offer options in every selling opportunity and the psychological basis for every buying decision anyone will ever make about your product. One lucky attendee will receive a prize directly from John valued at $497. Plan to join us and walk away with practical, proven tips you can use immediately to increase your sales and grow your business.

John Earl Carroll is a national award-winning columnist, author, consultant, executive coach and serial entrepreneur. He strategically connects hidden strengths that create dramatically improved results and profits for his clients. John is one of only 19 professionals on the planet recognized by peers for his work consulting with emerging growth companies. John has worked with sales professionals, managers and entrepreneurs in businesses, trade groups and charitable organizations. 

An accomplished and engaging speaker, he has been internationally recognized for Sales and Facilitation Excellence.  His approaches have attracted attention around the planet, including articles appearing in Chief Executive China magazine.

A national award-winning columnist, John is also the author of Sales Illustrated: 68 Sales Lessons from Everyday Life (available in three languages). His columns have appeared regularly in The Charleston Regional Business Journal and The Catholic Miscellany.

With firsthand experience in manufacturing, distribution and service industries, he is a true entrepreneur, having launched or helped to launch six organizations, one of which was recognized in the Emerging 10, the 10 fastest growing businesses in the Charleston region. John is also the first layperson to serve on the Clergy Personnel Advisory Board of the Diocese of Charleston. He currently serves as board chair for Camp Rise Above, a camp for children with special medical needs.

He is a founding board member of Lowcountry Local First and has served as board president of the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center and president of the Mount Pleasant Business Association. John is the father of two grown daughters and lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina with his wife Lori.

This month's sponsor: 

Charleston Neck and Back Center

 

Sponsor presentation topic: Pain Relief Will Change Your Life   

Presenter: Dr. Adam Morrell, Charleston Neck & Back Center

Often, back pain starts in the spine but sometimes muscular imbalance or an old injury in another area of the body is the culprit. Dr. Morrell will show you how to reduce your pain, increase your function, and change your life! *We will briefly demonstrate 5 of the most effective treatment methods.  There's more to it than just adjustment of the spine!*  

 

For a $30 donation we are offering MPBA Members a consultation to discuss any health concerns, a full chiropractic examination, x-rays (if needed) and follow-up appointment to go over your Report of Findings. Proceeds will be donated to ECCO (East Cooper Community Outreach).

 
To find out more, contact:

Charleston Neck & Back Centers
(843) 266-2652
www.neckandbackcenter.com

We are off to a great start to the year!!! Eric DeMoura started the year off in January talking about plans for the future of Mt. Pleasant. Then in February, McCay, Kiddy & Associations kicked off the busy tax preparation season by updating our members on changes in the tax code and even dispelled some myths. Now its time to get down to business!  Our featured speaker is no stranger to the association. A former President of the MPBA , John Carroll of Unlimited Performance will share with us his Sales Success Secrets.

I would like to thank everyone who attended February's Members Only Happy Hour at O'Brions on Hwy. 41. It was great to have the opportunity to get to know the other members of the Association in a relaxed setting. I personally came away with a great opportunity as a result of getting to know one of the other members. After all...that's what its all about.  If you haven't had a chance to check out O'Brions, it was a great establishment. 

I am also thankful that several members of the Association have volunteered to help keep the momentum going.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Kent Thune, of Atlantic Capital Management, for taking on the role as MPBA Treasurer - an extremely important part of the Executive Board of the MPBA.   Kent  is a Certified Financial Planner & Fee-only Investment Advisor, a Mount Pleasant business owner (Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC) and he has been an MPBA member since 2006. He has a Masters in Business Administration from The Citadel and he teaches retirement planning for the College of Charleston's CFP program.  A welcome and thank you to our new MPBA officer.

I would also like to commend some other recent volunteers. Eileen Woodruff, of Raven Mortgage, is a welcome addition to the board as our new Speaker Coordinator. And I think that you will agree that she has done a great job!! Then there is Reese McFaddin, with Workplace Benefits. Reese is help to keep our Facebook page up to date, keeping our membership informed through social media. And last but not least, the newest member of the team, Quin Stinchfield, the Business Coordinator with the Town of Mt. Pleasant. Quin will be our Events Coordinator. Quin main responsibility will be working with local establishment in coordinating our monthly networking events. These additions to the board have brought new energy and fresh ideas that are sure to enhance our visibility, and increase the associations benefit to its members.

It is truly evident that we have some great energy around the Association...So keep and eye out for some great opportunities that will be headed our way very soon....How's that for a tease!!!

I look forward to seeing you at Thursday's meeting!

Cheers to all!
Shawna Garris
MPBA President
Assistant Vice President for Tidelands Bank

Thur., Mar. 17 - 12 p.m. - MPBA Meeting, Holiday Inn 

** Wed., Mar. 23 - 5:30 - 8 p.m.

MPBA Members Only Happy Hour

- drop in for some off-hours social time with other members at the King Street Grill, located off the Isle of Palms Connector.

King Street Grill

1136 Hungryneck Blvd

.  Members only!  But non-members willing to join the MPBA at the social are welcome!

Tues., Apr. 5 - 11:30 a.m. - MPBA Board meeting (Tidelands Bank)  

 MPBA's 2011 Networking Contest
 
While we may know many of our fellow members, do we know anything about them other than the name of their company? Do we know what their business does and all the products or services they have?  That's what the MPBA Networking Contest hopes to address. 

If you take time and meet other members for coffee or lunch and talk to each other about what your company does we truly believe your business will increase. You may not need that person's product or service, but chances are, somewhere along the way someone you know will. You've then increased your value to that person. Chances are, the person you took the time to get to know will know someone that will need your product or service, even if they don't need it themselves.

That is what networking is all about. It's not about selling anything. It all about relationship! Create your network of professionals so that you can be seen by your family, friend and clients as the person to go to when they have a need.

Meanwhile, you earn points every time you network with another member and could win a free membership for next year!

If you have any questions about the contest please contact Lynne Klosik or David Seay.

Click on this link to learn more about the rules and start earning points.

East Cooper Updates

MPLC to be featured at MPBA meeting

The Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy (MPLC) was established in 2002 due to concern over maintaining and improving the quality of life in the Town of Mount Pleasant and surrounding East Cooper areas, in light of the rapid increase in the rate of population growth and associated development.  The improvement and preservation of open space was seen as imperative for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
 
The MPLC is proud to have successfully protected nearly 200 acres of undeveloped land including the most recent protection of the 57 acre Marsh View Trail off of Rifle Range Road.  The mission of the MPLC is to enhance the quality of life through education and preservation of open space by promoting protection, acquisition and stewardship of our land resources.

Have you checked out the new Association website at:

www.MyMPBA.com

(The old link - mpbpa.com - will also lead to this new site.)

Of particular note is the searchable Membership Directory.  You can search by business name, business type, or member first or last name.  Likewise, you can see all members in a single list.  There are links with each profile that will allow you to email the member or visit their website.

If you are a member and have not done so, please take a moment and look up your listing in the directory.  If you are not there, if you need some information changed, if you'd like to add a photo or change your photo, please email Diane Pauldine by clicking here.  She will collect updates from members and then make them on a monthly or semi-monthly basis.  (So if your submitted change doesn't happen immediately, please be patient.  We will get to it asap.)

Coming soon to this new website will also be the ability to pay luncheon, event or membership fees via Paypal.  Also, we will launch on online forum that will allow members to communicate with one another on a wide variety of topics.

We welcome you to check out the new website and offer feedback.

For those of you who have become involved with the hottest social network out there - Facebook - you can now join the MPBA Facebook group. We intend to develop this as an adjunct to our website as a method to share information and communicate with one another.

Because it has been asked, be aware that joining our Facebook group does not automatically make other MPBPA Facebook members your friends. It's simply a way to keep up with the MPBPA.

Please join our Facebook group to network, stay informed and further extend the wonderful connections you've made at the meetings. Click the link below to go to our new page and contribute:

Click Here To Go To The MPBA Facebook Page

Get real-time information on business events (i.e., grand openings, and what's "coming soon"),
meeting notifications, and relevant project updates. Follow @mtpleasantbiz  for updates on all things business & everything Mount Pleasant.

Follow @mtpleasantbiz on Twitter for information & updates, and for direct questions, contact: Quin Stinchfield, Business Development Coordinator, via @ mpbiz@townofmountpleasant.com or 843.377.5365