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Listen…the secret of great networkers

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

You know very little about the best networkers in the world and do you know why that is?  It’s because when you meet them they ask questions of you and they listen to you.

The best networkers know and are consciously aware they must listen to you in order to learn how they can best serve you.

Ten years ago when I began my business I didn’t know squat about networking. My ability to connect with people stemmed from my natural extrovert nature.

That nature was out of control as I often tell people that I am an “off the chart” extrovert. I struggle with each encounter to keep myself under control and to let the other person speak to me. It doesn’t always work that way.

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. He wants us to listen more than we speak. Practice it this week.

Dale Carnegie said that when you encounter someone imagine there’s a sign hanging from their neck that reads, “Make me feel special.”

When you listen you set yourself apart as someone who cares about others.

Filed Under: Attitude, Featured Articles, Networking, Sales Tagged With: ,

Reflect On This!

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Tis the season to say “Thank you.”

According to author Gary Chapman  there are five love languages:

  1. Quality Time
  2. Words of Affirmation
  3. Gifts
  4. Acts of Service
  5. Physical Touch

We all have a primary language and a secondary language. So there’s a 33% chance that by expressing your gratitude in any one of the five languages you’ll make that connection with the person you wish to say “Thank you.” to.

Remember What Your Mother Said?

Our moms taught us to say “Thank you.” OK, maybe not yours but everyone else’s did. Hey Buck-O it’s not too late for you to learn this invaluable lesson.

The most typical love language used to express gratitude is words of affirmation which can include:

  • A verbal “Thank you.”
  • A “Thank you.” email
  • A note card sent in the mail as in via the US Postal Service. Yes it’s corny, it’s old fashioned but it’s the most sincere form of “Thank you.” (Make sure you use blue ink.)

As we near Christmas Day you’ll be showered with reasons to say “Thank you.” Don’t blow it. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by to express your heartfelt gratitude.

Look at it this way. Someone thought enough of you to take money out of their pocket and purchase something for you. Sometimes it’s more thoughtful than you could ever imagine. Then they took time to wrap, send, present or mail your way. All that, deserves a simple “Thank you.”

That simple “Thank you.” can express just a bit of love that was missing from that person’s life. You have the power to change the world with your “Thank you.” of love. Will you use your powers?

Filed Under: Attitude, Featured Articles, Networking, Sales Tagged With: , ,

The Answer You Seek/I Remember You

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

How many times have you wondered why you seem to recall a song or poetic verse so easily? If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Why is this song stuck in my head?” Then this excerpt from author Roy Williams’ Magical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads will answer that question.

Doubt is what happens when the security guard of the rational, logical left brain isn’t sure whether to accept an idea or not. But unlike his left-brain counterpart, the right brain doesn’t make judgments at all.  He isn’t concerned in the least about plausibility; that’s the left brain’s job. So when your idea is rejected at the door of the left brain, just knock on Righty’s door. He’ll let anyone in. Once inside the mind, your idea can scoot over to the logical left on the waterslide of symbolic thought.

There are several ways this can be done. One of them is to use an anapest: “For the moon never beams/without bringing me dreams/of the beautiful Annabel Lee.” * An anapest is a rhythmic pattern of syllables composed of two light verses followed by a heavy third stress. (Anapests don’t have to rhyme, but they often do.) Since anapests are inherently musical, they enter directly into the nonjudgmental right brain, and upon crossing over to the left (via the dorsolateral prefrontal association area) they often become stuck in the phonological loop.

In other words, you can’t get them out of your head. Ever notice how much easier it is to recall phrases that have a lyrical beat?

*Edgar Allan Poe

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I Remember You

It’s the motto of a great networker, by remembering the names of the faces you meet it can propel you to greatness amongst the masses. There are numerous ways to assist you with that goal. What works for me may not work for you. I do know this: If people are important to you, you’ll discover your method to help you remember.

Glen, Francis, & Ottis

Glen Travis was born on born April 22, 1936 in Billstown, a tiny community in Pike County Arkansas, he is now 76. He was the seventh son of 12 children. His father was a sharecropper of Scottish descent. His Uncle Boo was an Austrian circus clown. He started playing guitar as a youth without learning to read music. He credits his uncle Boo for teaching him the guitar.

Francis Edward Ifield was born in Coundoun, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, on 30 November 1937, he’s 75 today. Frank moved with his Australian parents to Dural (31 miles) from Sydney, about 1946. It was a rural district and he listened to hillbilly music (now called country) while milking the cows. He learned how to yodel in imitation of country stars like Hank Snow.

Born in Tampa, Florida, as Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. on January 20, 1924, he’s now 89. Growing up, he liked the country music of Jimmie Rodgers and songs of Gene Autry, but he did not embark on a musical career of his own until the end of World War II, after he had served in the South Pacific with the United States Navy.  Even though he is right handed he plays guitar left handed. Why do you think that is?

I Remember You (1941 song)

Australian singer Frank Ifield recorded the song in a yodeling country-music style in 1962. Glen Campbell has a sweet rendition on YouTube with nearly 6,000 hits.  Ottis “Slim” Whitman introduced by Andy Kaufman has garnered nearly 138,000 hits.

Numerous people have recorded “I Remember You”, I’ve just narrowed it down to 3 plus one group. The Beatles recorded it in Hamburg, Germany during 1962. At the time the Beatles were in their apprenticeship phase. My opinion is they butchered a beautiful melody.

Just click on the artists name to have a listen to their version.  What’s your favorite?

Frank Ifield

Glen Campbell

Slim Whitman

The Beatles

You may be asking yourself why I wrote about this song. Frankly, Frank’s version was playing in my phonological loop when sat down to compose this month’s issue.

Nuff said.

 

Filed Under: Education, Featured Articles, Networking Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pictures, Sounds and Numbers

September 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I believe in my heart that one thing God wants me to do while I am here is to serve you with information of value. I give you or lead you to information of value that assists you or helps you to serve others.

Even though we have five senses I believe we learn most from:

  • Pictures
  • Sound
  • Numbers (Statistics)

 

All advertising is designed to persuade you to act in a desired manner that is not limited to:

  • Purchasing
  • Traveling
  • Driving
  • Spending
  • Investing
  • Associating
  • Behaving
  • Tasting
  • Thinking
  • Empowering
  • Attending
  • Living
  • Dying
  • Etc.

 

PICTURES

Have you looked at Pinterest yet? It can be addicting, fascinating and boring. My best definition of Pinterest is a magazine on steroids. Black and white pictures, color photography and works of art. Images abound in categories and on boards. Images filled with ideas, projects, emotion, and all designed to stimulate thought and often prodding your imagination.

There’s a commercial on TV now advertising Verizon as being the best for 4G coverage.  Aren’t they all? In that commercial they use the bar graph you see here and the presenter says, “Based on this chart who would you choose?”

There’s no explanation of what values the chart displays. You are to assume that more is better and the answer is clearly Verizon and every one of the people agree, and with every agreement your brain registers a “yes” for that service. The focus group members all nod their heads and concur it’s a “no-brainer”. It’s implying that if you don’t jump on the Verizon wagon you’re some sort of idiot.

How many times will you watch that commercial before your brain tells you it’s time to purchase that service? What you haven’t seen it? Watch it now. WARNING: This commercial is intended to deceive, trick and mislead you. Aren’t they all?

SOUNDS

Can you hear me now? I’m speaking to you and expressing myself with words. Is there power in the spoken word? You bet there is and God proved it when an entire universe was spoken into existence with the words, “Let there be light.” Genesis 1:3

If God spoke worlds into existence and He created us in His likeness, then why can’t WE speak worlds into existence? We can and we do so in the minds of those around us, every time we describe an experience or tell a story.

Our voice is aural and written. That voice expresses our thoughts and our feelings. “I feel” and “I think” is a typical way to verbalize ourselves. I laugh (only to myself) when I hear someone say, “I don’t think……” and then they go ahead and tell me their thought, “the apples are ripe.” When in fact what they really mean is “I think the apples are not ripe.” How many of you are not thinking?

NUMBERS (STATISTICS)

Statistics lie. Not just some of them but all. Can I prove it? No, and that’s my point. Let’s say I have a coin and like every coin it has two sides, a heads and a tails. For this example the coin can never land on its edge, it will always land on one side or the other.

What percentage of the time when flipped into the air will the coin land on its head side or tail side? If you say 50% of the time, you’re wrong. The correct answer is 100% of the time as it always lands on one side or the other. (Read my words.)

What percentage of the time when flipped into the air will the coin land on its head side? Again you might say 50% of the time heads and 50% of the time tails. That to can be proved wrong when I take a coin and flip it three times and each time it lands on heads. Your 50% answer is then wrong, very incorrect, not right, you get a zero (0) on the test. Life can be difficult. Statistics lie, period.

WRAP UP

In a nutshell that’s the fine art of advertising: persuasiveness. It’s so slick you don’t see it coming and after it’s done you don’t know what’s happened in your head.  Advertising lies for the purpose of persuading you to act in a desired manner. They get your greenbacks and you get or at least you think you get whatever you believed to be true. Can I prove it? Nope.

 

 

Filed Under: Education, Featured Articles Tagged With: , , , ,

Musical House

September 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When the rain starts to fall, this colorful drain and gutter system attached to the outside of a building in the Neustadt Kunsthofpassage turn into charming musical instruments. The Funnel Wall is one of the strangest and most enjoyable attractions in Dresden’s student district in the new town. Designed by Christoph Roßner, Annette Paul, and Andre Tempel who all live in the building. This one of a kind building was inspired by Rube Goldberg Machine and makes an emphasis on the pure orchestra sound of the rain.

Funnel House

Filed Under: Uncategorized

John’s Literary Awards

August 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s TRUE!

How could I possibly lie to you after writing an article on Truth? 

I couldn’t.

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Apple Logo

August 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’m not making this up.

Apple’s first logo, designed by Ron Wayne, depicts Sir Issac Newton sitting under an apple tree.

Almost immediately, though, this was replaced by Rob Janoff’s “rainbow Apple”, the now-familiar rainbow-colored silhouette of an apple with a bite taken out of it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Make’em Laugh

July 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I work with a graphic artist that prepares my customer’s logo and info for imprint on promotional items. I have worked with graphic artists for over 25 years and in general they are not extroverted type people. Friendly sometimes but rarely extremely outgoing.

Kay has been working with me just over a year now and she makes jewelery she sells online as well. Recently she decided to help some friends with their business. Her job is to approach tourists at area hotels near Disneyland and persuade them to attend a 2-hour presentation about time shares.

She puts in about 6 hours a day, 5 days a week and contacts 100-150 people per week. Her goal is to get 4 people to attend the presentation per week. When less than 4 attend she is paid for her hours but when 4 or more show she is paid a commission. Commission pays waaaaaaaaay better,

In only 2 of the past 7 weeks she has earned a commission.  So I inquired as to what she was doing on her approach, what does she say?  She’s got the rapport building part figured out but she’s at a loss for setting the hook.  She needs a Power Statement so the prospect will open their mouth and take the hook.

In her approach she mentions that they will walk away with $100 cash in exchange for their 2 hours of time.

After a few more questions I wrote her a Power Statement that had her ROTFLHAO. If you can make them laugh, they’ll buy. I further instructed her to deliver this Power Statement for one week and she would see a marked improvement in her results ensuring an earned commission.

 

Kay’s Power Statement

“If I could show you a completely legal way to earn $100 for just 2 hours of your time without removing your clothes, would you be interested?”

 

$50 an hour equates to $100,000 a year in a job. Most of the people she’ll contact don’t make that kind of money on their job so the offer is tempting.  “…without removing your clothes,”  makes’em laugh and think about the offer.

“…, would you be interested?’ is a question that weeds out the dead wood. If they’re not interested she can move on to the next prospect. It’s a numbers game and the more people she contacts the better her chances of earning a commission. She should politely thank them for their time and excuse herself.

Filed Under: Networking, Sales Tagged With: , , ,

Do You See What I See?

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Branded Email

For those of us with eyesight we live in a visual world.  Our sense of sight is probably the biggest reason we have for much of what we do yet many of us take it for granted.

When you return from your vacation the first thing people normally ask is, “What did you see?” Can you imagine taking a trip and not going to see the local sights or meeting people? Why take the trip in the first place?

Sight is a vital part of our being in work and play. Sight even makes hearing take a back seat when we go to a concert. If sight wasn’t a priority to hearing we could have just bought the latest CD and listened to the same tunes.

Before the invention of the television people listened to the radio as a form of family entertainment. As they listened they would envision in their mind’s eye the drama being played out over the airwaves.

We think in pictures too. When the word “horse” is read or spoken you think of a picture of a horse.  As for myself I “see” a brown mare. What color was your steed?

Many people have a problem remembering other people’s names. However they don’t have a problem recalling peoples’ faces.  That’s because we think in pictures.

The Wax Museum

Years ago I was at a friend’s house for a Super Bowl party. I met a man there whose family owned two wax museums, one in San Francisco and the other in Buena Park. I’ve been to wax museums and could never understand why people were so drawn to them so I asked him why that was.

His response made a lot of sense when he explained that many of the foreign tourists that come to the Los Angeles area have a preconceived idea of what to expect based on the American movies they have seen.  They also expect to see movie stars and when they don’t they look for other avenues to satisfy that expectation. Thus the wax museum is a popular destination.

Emails

Rather than dull, boring, black on white emails, imagine email with a visual explosion of color and imagery.  An email that would display your logo and company colors, your image and your contact info. An email that info would include links to your social media sites and your company web site. That would be a powerful business tool.

That’s exactly what Ace of Sales offers.  I tell people that Ace of Sales is the best $20 per month investment in my business because it is.  With Ace of Sales my emails “work” for me, they connect me to the people I want to reach.  Ace of Sales emails “draw” a picture of what I want to convey.

Talk is cheap and since you’re a visual person you really need to see the possibilities that this tool offers. So here’s my offer. Try Ace of Sales for 30 days FREE. Simply use my promo code PRUSA. You’ll get 30 days to test drive it and I’ll throw in one FREE greeting card and one FREE post card. I suggest you send them to yourself so you can see first-hand what your clients will be getting.

Send me an Ace of Sales email after you’ve signed up for the 30 day FREE test drive and I’ll enter you name in the hat to win a $50 gift card. Entries must be submitted before Christmas Day 2011.

That’s my Christmas gift to you:

- 30 days of Ace of Sales ($20)

- FREE greeting card ($3)

- FREE postcard ($1)

- Chance to win $50 gift card

If Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or AOL can top that offer let me know I want in on that deal.

Seeing is Believing

Wednesday I am sending you a “branded email” from my Ace of Sales account. Then on Thursday you’ll get an “email greeting” from my AOS account. Friday you’ll get a holiday “email greeting”.

 

Filed Under: Attitude, Education, Featured Articles, Networking, Sales, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Curbing Excusitus

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’m amazed at all the catalogs I still get in the mail despite the onslaught of Internet shopping. One of my favorites is Wireless because I get creative ideas by thumbing through the pages.

For just $20 they offered a golfer’s excuse t-shirt.  I’d once heard this definition of an excuse: “A reason stuffed with a lie.”  I liked that because it reminds me to change my thoughts towards a positive outcome

Of the golfer excuses none of them accepted responsibility for the results.  They placed blame on something else.  Another saying I’ve learned is that, “Losers place blame and leaders accept responsibility. “

So instead of accepting the losers lament (excuse) and it leading to an undesirable outcome (lousy golf game).  Why not change those excuses to reasons for positive change and thus improve your game?

Rather than saying, “My putter won’t hit straight.” You could say (out loud), “I need to practice my putting to improve my game.”

Rather than saying, “The greens need mowing.” ” You could say (out loud), “I need to practice on greens that haven’t been mowed.”

Rather than saying, “The club slipped.” ” You could say (out loud), “I need to wear my gloves and get new grips.”

Rather than saying, “The ball was in a divot.” ” You could say (out loud), “I love the challenge of my ball lying in a divot.”

By changing your output to a positive note you will in time improve your game while you improve you attitude.

Do you want to improve your sales, your performance or your network? Then adapt a positive attitude and accept responsibility for the desired outcome.

  • “People like meeting me.”
  • “I’m willing to prepare for my sales presentations.”
  • “I begin my day refreshed and ready to tackle assignments”
  • “I get to work early”
  • “I realize that reading improves my value in the market place.”

What is it that you know you could be doing to improve your game?

 

 

Filed Under: Attitude, Featured Articles, Sales Tagged With:
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