Hopefully, by now, you know that you cannot just be a product source and expect to command a premium price or a loyal customer base. Quite simply, if you don’t want to be commoditized, don’t be a commodity. Think about why your customers buy, and work to give them a reason to buy from you.…
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In my last article, I discussed the No. 1 reason why most people in our industry aren’t rich. In that article, I stated that there is no good reason for people in our industry to make less than $500,000 per year income unless they choose not to. To some, that may sound like a lofty,…
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Every business has metrics, but too many use vanity metrics that make them feel good about what is being done rather than providing insights to be better. For example, we’ve all suffered from the call center that is so focused on wrapping up the call rather than resolving the problem. Why? Because the more calls,…
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Research has shown that the right promotional products can elevate your prospective customers’ opinions of your products. However, selecting the right gift isn’t always easy. Balancing desired outcomes, messaging, branding and costs can be a nightmare. Successful promotional products are not only relevant to your brands, but also to your customers. Your ultimate goal is…
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This is what you clients want. This is what your staff wants. This is what your colleagues want. This is what baby boomers want. This is what millennials want. This is what my kids want. This is what my wife wants. This is a nearly universal truth. People want to be heard. Listen. Listening is…
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In my last article, I wrote about the first type of business plan, which is really having no plan at all. The sad fact is that more than 90 percent of business owners and sales representatives have no real plan for their businesses or their lives. The second of the three types of plans is…
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Do you know what success looks like for you? I’m amazed by the number of people who are dissatisfied with their current situations but cannot describe what their personal happiness would look like. In “Alice in Wonderland,” the Cheshire Cat tells Alice that if you don’t know where you want to go, then “it really…
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The customers make the buying decisions to buy what they want, when they want and from whom. What Salespeople are inundated with what to sell from suppliers, managers and their general experience. It’s not a secret that customers want to know what is popular. We all want to know today’s special when we visit a…
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A frequently asked question that I get at speaking engagements is, “What is your elevator speech?” Or, I’m asked to help someone craft an elevator speech. Here’s what I don’t like about elevator speeches: They’re canned. They are a one-size-fits-all recitation that’s not going to win anyone any business. It’s not that I’m down on being…
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This article is the last in a three-part series about using visualization to achieve your goals. Last time, I mentioned that, during our waking hours, we deal with approximately 8 million bits of information. Our brains filter out the information they’re not aware we need. When we practice visualization by vividly picturing our goals, we…
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