Mark Twain has widely been attributed as saying that “the secret of getting ahead is getting started.” His words ring as true now as they did a hundred years ago: If you want to reach your destination, you have to take that first step in the right direction. While this is true across all aspects of life, it’s especially important …
We All Make Bad Decisions. Why is it So Hard to Admit It?
We all make bad decisions from time to time. So why is it so hard to admit our faults and that we need to change course? Why do we sometimes think they have to live with those bad choices? As much as we all hate being wrong, avoid the urge to dig yourself a deeper hole. Here’s how you can …
Solution and Relationship Selling: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between solution and relationship selling? Which sales method will be most effective in your approach? Most sales efforts will fall into one of two categories. Knowing your product or service, your clients, and your sales objectives will help you determine whether to offer solution selling or relationship selling. Different skills apply to each method, though. So …
Relationships, Personalities, & Friendships in the Workplace
Relationships in the workplace can be tricky. Should you befriend your co-workers, or is it better to keep the relationship strictly professional? How can you develop strong relationships with your co-workers to build a solid team? How do you determine whether friendships at work are hurting you professionally? On the flip side, you may have to work with people you …
Sentimental or Useless: When Should I Let Go of Old Things?
For many of us, letting go of old things is difficult. So many of us are pack rats, and we still treasure a lot of the things we hold onto. But do all of these things really hold sentimental value? How do you determine whether it’s worth keeping? How do you decide what’s truly special, and what’s actually useless to …
What is Thought Leadership and Why is it Important?
What is a thought leader, and why is it so important to become one? You may have heard buzz about thought leadership a lot in the past few years, and it’s becoming increasingly important to establish your role in it. Developing your part in this will lead to greater sales success. Indeed, thought leadership can give you an edge in …
Bridging the Generational Gap in Attitudes, Approaches, & Perspectives
Our workforce today is as diverse culturally as it is in the ages of workers. With millennials, boomers, Gen-X, and Gen-Z doing business side by side, it’s natural for there to be some generational clashes. We recently shared a podcast about overcoming differences in communication styles. Now, let’s dive into how we can bridge the generational gap in attitudes, approaches, …
The Secret to Moving Forward After Rejection
Rejection can be hard to take in your sales career, whether you just started or have been in the industry for decades. How do you handle it with grace? Moreover, how do you move forward from it? Sales veterans Lynn and Tina have been there, done that…. time and time again! They’ve learned from experience how to not only maintain …
What are You Destined to Become?
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” It sounds so simple, yet it also means that who you become is up to you. It all depends on the choices you make each day. How realistic is this concept of self-determination? How does it play out in your …
Bridging the Generational Gap in Communication Styles
Our workforce today is as diverse culturally as it is in the ages of workers. With millennials, boomers, Gen-X, and Gen-Z doing business side by side, it’s natural for there to be some generational clashes. One of the biggest clashes is in our divergent communication styles. From written notes to verbal interactions, there are always tons of differences and misunderstandings. Do …
Why to Always Choose and Practice Kindness
You know what your mother used to say: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Unfortunately, so many of us forget this sentiment. And given the current social climate, kindness can feel even farther away than ever. How can you infuse your life with kindness, no matter where you go or who you’re with? How do …
The Foundations of Features and Benefits
In sales, knowing the ins and outs of your product or service is crucial. Being well-versed in the features and benefits is the foundation of sales success. While knowing these details is invaluable, it’s not a panacea. You must also think about how an organization’s culture will play into the resonance of these features and benefits. How well do they …
Stop Apologizing: How to Break the Secret Bad Habit
Have you ever noticed the behavioral pattern women have to constantly apologize? What are we so sorry for, anyway? Why don’t we hear men apologizing every five minutes? The reasons behind women’s perpetual apologizing run deep, going back to our early childhood and repeated social training thereafter. Despite indications to the contrary, our work does have merit and validity. How …
The Puzzle of Motivation & Productivity
We’ve probably all felt it: the struggle of finding motivation to act in order to achieve your goals. We all want to reach for the stars and check things off our to-do lists. And yet, having the time, inspiration, and willpower – all at once – can be a challenge. Motivation wanes. How can you overcome this struggle? How can …
Leading by Example: Do You Have What it Takes?
Think about the exceptional leaders you aspire to emulate. What traits and characteristics do they possess? Which leadership skills will help you engage, inspire, and motivate others? To climb to the top of your career, you’ll need to develop your leadership skills. Knowing what to work on will help you cultivate the right traits. Effective leading also takes also takes …
Can Money Buy Happiness? The Importance of Cash in Our Lives
People have been saying for years that money doesn’t buy happiness. But is this actually true? Like it or not, money is a part of our society. We require it to pay bills, eat, and travel. How much cash leads to happiness? If financial stability or excess doesn’t buy happiness, then what does? Or is money one of many necessary …
What’s the Best Use of Business Travel Time in Sales?
In professional sales, you’re always on the move. When you’re constantly traveling to new destinations, it can eat into your work time. How do you stay productive while you’re on the road? How can you utilize your business travel time more effectively? Sales veterans Lynn and Tina share their top tips to maintain sales while on the move. Make the …
What are Emotional and Social Intelligence?
Have you heard of emotional and social intelligence? Do you know how your understanding of the two enhance your life? Emotional and Social Intelligence, or ESI, refers to the competencies linked to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, which enable people to understand and manage their own and others’ emotions in social interactions. We all have different social skillsets …
Does Persistence Really Pay Off in Sales?
You’ve probably heard that patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. But does persistence really pay off in sales? There’s a fine line between being persistent… and being a nuisance. In your sales position, you want to maintain both good relationships and good results. Not sure where that line is? Lynn and Tina – both sales experts …
The Secret to Preventing Burnout at Work
For many of us, each day is just go, go, go! We’re constantly busy with our jobs, household chores, errands, and trying to fit in quality time with our loved ones and maybe a good book. When ambition runs high, we often take on more than we have time for at work. With so much on our plate, it’s easy …