Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter August 2008 No. 32

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Published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies

www.sellingstrategies.com

Copyright 2008 Emily Huling. All rights reserved.

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In this August 2008 issue:

 

  1. Thoughts from the office
  2. Thoughts from home
  3. Have you read…?
  4. 2008 public speaking engagements
  5. Business growth opportunities and tools

 

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1.     Thoughts from the office

 

A day in the life

 

To increase cross-department understanding, I’ve always advocated that employers host Lunch and Learn sessions. These informal meetings allow employees to share the ins and outs of what they do on a rotating basis.  I just learned of a novel way to implement this process called A Day in the Life.

 

Author Daniel Pink, in his book A Whole New Mind, suggests this method to increase awareness among coworkers.

 

  1. Have each participant write his or her name on a piece of flipchart paper and then list four categories; my highs, my lows, my frustrations, my rewards. Post all the sheets on the walls.
  2. Ask each person to walk around the room and write what they think their colleagues will answer. What’s the biggest frustration for the president? What’s the greatest reward for the fellow in the mailroom? What’s the biggest frustration for a salesperson?
  3. Once people write what they think, each person reclaims his own sheet.
  4. Everyone takes a turn responding to his colleagues’ guesses and explains what a workday is really like.

 

Breaking down barriers and increasing understanding among colleagues improves teamwork and solidarity. 

 

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New offerings

 

2009 Strategic Planning Meeting Facilitation

 

A well designed and well facilitated approach to future planning helps owners and managers:

 

 

To discuss scheduling a planning meeting or retreat this fall, please call or e-mail me. 

 

Tomorrow’s Leaders Development Program

 

This customized program will help owners and top executives identify and develop the talent within their organization.  Through career coaching and assessments, on-the-job observation and workshops, future leaders receive a short and effective course on what it takes to lead, manage, earn the respect and develop the talents of others.  For details on acceptance, program process and fees, please call or e-mail me.

 

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2.     Thoughts from home

 

“But” out

 

I have a neighbor Ann who says she never has time to do what she wants to do. She’s frustrated with all the demands in her life, blaming circumstances and others for getting in the way of what she really wants.

 

The other day I was listening to her go on about things:

 

I wish I could spend more time with my husband, but I’m working too much.

I want to start working out at the gym, but I’m tired at the end of the day.

I need to cook healthier meals, but I keep going back to fast and unhealthy.

 

She asked me, “How do you manage to do so much?”  I shared with her a tip I was lucky enough to learn in my twenties.  Instead of saying “but” in a sentence, I replace it with “and.”  That moves me from an excuse mentality to problem-solving mode.  For example:

 

I want to start working out at the gym, and I’m tired at the end of the day. So then I’m able to ask myself, what do I need to do to overcome that challenge?  I can work out in the morning or use a workout routine at home after work to eliminate going to the gym, which gets the workout done faster and with less effort. With that, I’m able to decide which works better and can move forward.

 

Write down a few of your “buts” in life and replace them with “ands.”  What can you act on that will make wishes, wants, and needs become a reality?

 

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Accomplish more by trying less.  EH

 

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Have you read…?

 

Just when I was thinking I’d had my fill of reading inspirational books, my neighbor knocked on my door and handed me her copy of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. “You’ve got to read this one,” Debbie commanded. “It’s terrific!”  She was right. My plane ride in early July, to and from Madison, Wisconsin, was just enough time to read this treasure.

 

Randy Pausch, 47, was an award-winning professor of Computer Science and Design at Carnegie Mellon University. Diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer last fall and given only a few months to live, he was asked to give a final lecture to his students. His presentation found its way to YouTube where his message has inspired millions. His book, co-authored by Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal, who attended the speech, expands on his one-hour presentation.

 

The book is not about dying.  Randy, who died July 25, shares his every-day life lessons from childhood to parenthood. He shares his personal stories about overcoming obstacles, having fun and helping others achieve their dreams. He’ll be remembered for thoughts such as, “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”

 

If you’d like an ordinary man’s perspective on living, knowing his time is running out, The Last Lecture is a worthwhile read.

 

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On the road in 2008

 

Here are my currently scheduled public speaking engagements and conferences I’ll be attending.

 

 

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Business growth opportunities and tools 

 

  1. Producer sales coaching and mentoring program

 

This coaching program provides three months unlimited access to me. Contacts include scheduled phone calls, course assignments using my books and audios, weekly activity and results reviews, and a dozen other topics to increase business. Our goal is to shorten the learning curve and create a sales process for long-term success. Full details on acceptance, topics, and cost are on the website. www.sellingstrategies.com

 

 

  1. Soft Market Survival Strategies – 4 audio programs to improve retention, increase new sales, and enhance productivity

 

1.     Thriving in a Soft Market

2.     Soft Market Selling

3.     Compete with Direct Writers

4.     Handle Sales Objections

 

For detailed program information and to purchase these audio programs, go to www.sellingstrategies.com.

 

Each program is $59. Save 20% by using coupon code news11 at checkout. 

 

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Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter is published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies. For further information contact emily@sellingstrategies.com.

 

© 2008 Emily Huling. All rights reserved. Feel free to share our newsletter if copyright and credit are always included.