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What's Cookin'?

Happy Mother's Day!

Did you send your Mom a card or a gift? Do you take her out to dinner and a show? Do you help with the chores. Do you mandate that Mom must avoid cleaning, ironing, washing, and cooking? Nice.
Mom's are awesome.

To my Mom,
To my Mother-in-law,

To all the single Mom's,
To my sweetie & soul mate,
Happy Mother's Day!
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May Trivia Question
What percent of sales reps never follow up with a prospect?
 
A) 12; B) 26; C) 48; D) 72
 
Three correct answers chosen to win a FREE $15 Send Out Cards account.

Click here to answer
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Quick Links
Sales Kitchen

Chamber Calendars
Aurora Chamber
Naperville Chamber
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No More Excuses

Asking for a referral sounds like I'm begging

Buyers are liars

Competition is cheaper

Customer still thinking it over

Customers not interested in service

Customers want the lowest price

Gatekeepers don't put my call through

I don't get enough leads

I don't have enough time

I don't have the right tools

I dropped off a sample

I forgot about the meeting

I need more training

I took a nap

I was too late

My sales goals are too high

My territory is too big

My territory is too small

Our price is too high

The buyer won't call back

The economy is still bad

The leads I get stink

We don't have any new products

We should see the order any day now.

 

What's your excuse?

Go sell something.


Cookbook
May, 2010
Greetings!

Hooray, Hooray, the first of May...

May is such a cool month. Flowers are blooming. Kids are outside playing and having fun. And finally, in 2010, businesses across many categories are experiencing new growth.

May is American Bike Month.
National Hamburger Month (Remember to cook your meat)
Motorcycle Safety Month (Ride, Sally, Ride)
National B-B-Q Month (a Kitchen favorite)

May 4: Star Wars Day ~ May the Fourth be with you
May 8: National Letter Carriers Day (Donate food)
May 9: Mother's Day (Hug your Mom)
May 12: Receptionist's Day (Get them flowers)
May 13: Root Canal Appreciation Day (Hug your dentist)
May 21: International Virtual Assistants Day (Hug your VA, virtually)
May 31: Memorial Day (BBQ some burgers)

There are 20 selling days in May, and 64 in Q2, 2010.
On May 6, you should be at 44% of Q2 plan. How YOU doin'?
 
Good Selling,

Mike Cooper
Head Chef & Chief Sales Officer
Sales Kitchen


Heat Up Your Sales
Why Do We Network?
Coffee & Connections, Business After Hours, Team 3, Leads Group, LeTip, B N I, Linked-in far west meet up, Linked-in near east meet up, Business Network Chicago, Fox Valley Networking Professionals...

To meet our next customer.
To meet our next boss.
To meet our next soul mate.
To get a free meal.

Looking around the room at a recent netorking event, I realized everybody was selling something. There were no buyers. Seventy five sales reps all dressed up with no one to sell to; but they sold anyway.

I'm a full service financial planner and I can make you money.
I'm a full service painter and I can freshen up your home and office.
I'm a full service mortgage specialist and I can save you money.
I'm a full service marketing agency and I can find you clients.
I'm a full service sales coach and I can Heat Up Your Sales.

Two things.

Stop with the "Full Service." When I hear that, I want to ask you to check the oil and wash my windshield.

Second thing: stop selling and start listening. While you are selling, the person you're talking to is thinking about what they can squeeze into 30 seconds, and when your mouth stops moving... blah, blah, blah.

Listen to the financial planner. She provides investment advice, retirement planning strategies and her focus is on women's financial strategies. She is also on the board at the Chamber of Commerce. She might not be your ideal lead, but do you think she might know two or three contacts you should meet? Are you listening?

Listen to the painter. He's been painting homes and businesses for 19 years. He might not be your ideal lead, but do you think he might know two or three contacts you should meet? And, oh by the way, you might need a painter some day. Unless you're out of work, under employed, or a documented miser, hire a painter.

Why do we network?
Listen to the person in your face. Ask them some questions about their business and networking activities. Find out what is and is not working. Think of how you can help them. Invite them to coffee to explore ways to help each other. Might be the start of a life long friendship and a successful business partnership.

From the sales authority, Jeffrey Gitomer:
No one likes to be sold to, but everyone loves to buy.
It's not who you know, it's who knows you.
Upcoming Events & Special Activities

May 8: Letter Carriers annual food drive ~ please leave a sack or two of food near your mail box.

May 9: Mother's Day

May 18: Naperville Chamber BAC Family Business Network: Naperville Recollections at NCTV-17 studio click here to register

May 19: Business Advisory Committee meeting speaker Mary Erlain, EVP Leadership Management Institute: Goal Management vs. Time Management. Learn new habits and skills to increase your personal productivity. Naperville Chamber Conference Room. click here to register.


May 20: DotNetNuke Fusion Partners Jim Nagy and Don Gingold will guide you in this free Build a Website Workshop: Build your own website in one afternoon to showcase your business or organization. 4-5:30 PM, Naperville Chamber Conference room register here.


May 27: Fox Valley Networking Professionals, Keynote: Sarah Victory, New York Bestseller, Speaker, 8AM to 10AM, Fox Valley Honda Dealer, 4173 Ogden Avenue, Aurora, IL
Cost: $8 (includes breakfast),
Details here


June 3: New Business Owners mark your calendars. Business in Motion - A Strategy for New Business. This is a great workshop for independent contractors and those looking for new ideas to grow your business. We will focus on sales ideas and financial solutions for your business. Host speaker Sandra Price from Ameripise Financial.Tentative at Black Finn; details to follow.

June 5: Blood Drive ~ Location St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 2200 Lisson Road. 60565 Register Full Free Breakfast served to all donors by the Knights of Columbus chefs.

High School Commencements Surprise your graduate with an unexpected gift and a card.
May 19: Wed: Naperville Central & Naperville North
May 20: Thurs: Indian Prairie
May 23: Sun: Wabonsie Valley (at COD Events Arena)
May 29: Sat: Plainfield (Central Campus)

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