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As a leader of any team, it is in the best interest of the organization that you step outside of what is expected and take action that may cause people to ask, “Is he out of his mind?” In that instant, the answer to the question is, Yes! For when you step outside of the accepted norm of ‘business as usual,’ you are bound to draw negative attention, but there is often a positive trade off. You set yourself and your team up for a new and different outcome.
Taking calculated risks in favor of reaching your goal usually pays off. The key is to stand firm in your decision to be different, even in the face of questioning and adversity. Like in the movie, Moneyball, Billy Beane the general manger of the Oakland Athletics baseball team (played by Brad Pitt) realized that their team’s method of recruitment was archaic. The system they and the industry had used for decades was ineffective in helping A’s assemble a team that had the potential to reach the World Series.
Under the guidance of a statistical genius, Billy chooses to recruit players using an unorthodox system of focusing on individual statistics and averages rather than on players who “had it all.” The A’s talent scouts and coaches poop-pooped the idea and thought Billy was crazy. Many expected that he would lose his job and be laughed out of the league from the expected epic failure, but that was not the case. A year or so after losing three key players, the team tied the 1918 record for 20 consecutive wins in less than one month and they finished first in the American League West. Although the team never won a World Series, their performance was nothing short of spectacular.
So, if you always do what you have always done; why would you expect a different result? What system, process or people in your business needs to be re-evaluated? We all have outdated ways of doing things that keep giving us the same result we’ve always gotten. Isn’t it about time for you to be out of your mind?
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Cheryl C. Jones, Simply The Best Results
Cheryl is a speaker, facilitator and change agent to businesses ready to step in to a bigger ball game. She specializes in helping businesses discover and attain their potential. You can contact her at Cheryl@Simplythebestresults.com or 210-545-2378. Her website is www.simplythebestresults.com. Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute this article in its entirety, inclusive of the by-line.
Every one of us is in the business of Sales of one kind or another. If we are looking for a new job, we are selling ourselves. If we have a job, we are selling not only our company’s products and services, but also ourselves. The thing that most people forget is that Sales is all about relationship.
Surely you have heard the phrase, “People prefer to do business with people they know, like and trust.” That’s where the relationship comes in. Far too many “sales people” are in it for the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am version of sales. They want to get in and get out with an order in hand. While that may work in some low dollar investment circumstances, it does not work well when selling high-dollar packages or equipment. In these situations the customer needs to be woo-ed.
Now don’t misunderstand me when I say, “woo-ed.” I don’t’ expect you to start dating your customers. What I mean by “woo-ed” is that you take more interest in determining what is the best product or service for your customer than closing the deal. In doing so, you take on a consultant’s demeanor.
When you take on the consultant-like demeanor, you focus on serving the customer by learning about his needs, requirements and desires. You take time to ask questions to reveal his expectations, past experiences and disappointments, goals and wish list items. His answers will provide you with detailed clues of how you can be of service to him.
One of my favorite questions is, “What are you hoping I (or this product) can do for you? This question immediately tells me, 1.) Are his expectations are reasonable; 2.) Will my product or service meet his needs; and 3.) What the problem is he wants solved. Having this information is invaluable in preparing a proposal for services. Additionally, by asking thought provoking questions like those above, I start building a meaningful relationship with my potential customer. The customer feels that I “know” him and have his best interest in mind. That is when “trust” between us begins and sales follow.
Give my favorite question a try in your sales conversations to see what happens.
A few years ago the term “empowerment” was all-the-buzz. The concept was about managers giving their employees permission to take responsibility for most aspects of the business and in doing so they would create more loyal and capable employees. And in many ways the concept worked well until the economy tanked and fewer people were doing more work. I think the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, now.
In my observation, there are fewer managers today than ever before willing to allow their employees to make decisions on their own. Managers seem to horde authority and responsibility for every aspect of running the business. In affect they tie the employees’ hands by requiring them to follow strict guidelines that limit their ability to make decisions, and ultimately service the customer.
I believe that these managers choose this style of management because they have lost trust in their employees to do the right thing. It seems that managers assume the worst of employees. Assuming employees are trying to get away with something and therefore don’t extend the authority that they once did.
Maybe the fear of losing cash or products is so great in a “tight” economy that they would rather not chance it. So they think that controlling their assets is the only way they can protect their interests.
Unfortunately, this behavior is erodes the employees’ natural instinct to take a personal responsibility for the success of the company, therefore reducing loyalty, teamwork and retention. I think that’s a darn shame! What do you think?
Recently I contributed to an article on Conflict in the Workplace – Five Causes of Conflict and How to defuse them. Please check it out my two cents worth at: http://77.fi/144
Hope you enjoy the read and that it helps you avoid conflict in your workplace.
~ Cheryl
When I start feeling small or scared, my normal pattern is to “buck-up”. “Bucking-up” is a phrase I’ve learned since moving to Texas some 30 years ago. It means “to avoid or deny experiencing the feelings of whatever you are feeling and moving ahead anyway” In my case, it results in me pretending not to have the fear or major disappointment and putting on a “pretty face” in spite of what I am truly feeling on the inside. (And by the way, it’s not the best approach to dealing with difficulty.)
I caught myself doing just that, today. You see, I had a big invoice come in for some major technical work done on my website that was an absolutely necessity. As I looked at the total amount, fear immediately set in. Thoughts of “limited resources” and “not enough” raced through my head. SO, I did what any normal Texan or a Naturalized Texan, such as myself, would do who knows how to “buck-up,” I got up and walked away from the computer, avoiding the situation all together and the feelings associated with it.
But you know what? That darn thing was still on my computer screen when I came back into the room. It just goes to show you, without taking ACTION, things stay the same.
As I sat there thinking about the overall situation (not so much about the invoice), but my reaction to it, I realized several things that could have changed my emotional response had I taken action. For instance,
If I had had a clear picture of bank account balances, I would have realized that there was no money problem present.
- If I had thought about options for payment – maybe half now and half later, or placing the payment on a credit card – that would had freed up my thinking.
- If my response had been coming from a place of “abundance” and “expectation of abundance,” instead of “fear” and “lack,” I would have joyfully written the check right then. In this case, I wasn’t even aware of where I was coming from. (This is probably something I should pay attention to daily by asking myself, “Am I feeling abundant and expectant today or feeling lack and fear?”)
- I also recognized that I’ve been sitting on my butt, resting on my laurels – not operating like there is any urgency to marketing my business. I don’t mean running myself into the ground with ‘doingness,’ but instead putting an action plan together and working that plan. I think you know what I mean, again taking action verses taking no action or little action.
How often do you find yourself blaming the world or someone else for your situation? Or blaming your lack of growth, promotion at work or general unhappiness on something outside yourself? And wishing things were different, a different situation, a different outcome, a different ________ (you fill in the blank).
I can tell you this; IT can’t and won’t be different until you take ACTION. Believe me, I’ve been there and I know of what I speak.
I’m sure that you have heard the famous quote by Einstein about insanity, right? It bears repeating here.
“The definition of insanity
is doing the same thing over and over
and expecting different results.”
This statement is true for individuals as much as it is true for businesses. I know business owners who keep doing what they’ve always done expecting different results, and then place blame on external factors.
It’s time to stop wasting time and energy getting angry with someone else, the economy, or your employees and instead take a look at what you are doing or not doing to change the situation. Instead, consider what needs to happen for your life or business to look more the way you want it to look.
And if you have trouble identifying the “What” and the “How,” then give me a call. I’m an expert at helping to identify the gap between where you are and where you want to be and making a plan to move you in the right direction.
The only way to start moving toward what you want is to TAKE ACTION. So why not take action by giving me a call? Right now, while you are thinking about it-210-545-2378. We’ll set up a time to talk and explore why what you want is not happening and how you can change it. I look forward to our visit.
~ Cheryl
‘Hold positive expectations for great outcomes no matter what, for the Universe is always conspiring and aligning for your highest and best good.’
~ C Jones
Simple Step #1- Define Success
Sometimes you’ve just got to write about (or teach) a subject to learn it yourself. So today, I’m not only sharing with you the five simple ways to achieve success, but I’m reminding myself of them, as well.
Simple way number one, is to define success. It’s not enough to just say, “I want to be successful.” Chances are, you already are in many areas of your life. Yet, there is some area of your life in which you would like to experience greater satisfaction, and thus success.
As you listen to people talk about what they want from life or work, you’ll hear them speak of their desire for success. And those listening to the conversation will think that they know what is meant by the term “success.” But does the listener really understand? Or for that matter, does the speaker really know, himself?
Rarely do we defined success clearly enough or in such a manner that it can be understood by others universally. It’s kind of like knowing the concept of air, but not being able to explain it to someone who has never experienced it before. You and I know what it means to us in terms of having it or not having, especially if you have ever been scuba diving and gotten very low on air. But can any of us really explain to someone who has never known it, what air is?
Defining success is extremely important if you hope to ever achieve it. Without a full description of what it looks-like, tastes-like, smells-like and feels-like, how will you be able to recognize it when you have it? So set out with the intention that you will define success for yourself. Describe it in great detail. Reread your description several times a day. Keep it present with you at all times. And be on the lookout for evidence that it is headed your way.
Simple Step #2 will follow shortly. Thanks for reading and I welcome your comments.
Thanks for stopping by,
Cheryl
For networking to be “really successful” it requires a commitment that most people don’t realize. Check out my article to learn more about how you can gain greater value from your “networking” activities. http://Ez.com/SuccessfulNetworking
Then let me know what you think about the idea of traditional networking verses my suggestions. I’d love to hear from you.
Have a great day,
Cheryl
Strolling through the bookstore yesterday, I stopped in the self-help section. (I love to peruse the titles to see what creative new solutions authors have for solving problems of the human condition.) It was then that I noticed the number of books focused on the topic of self-esteem. Then it occurred to me.
When I think of people who seem to have it all together, who don’t appear to care what anyone else thinks, who don’t get triggered by popular opinion or criticism, I wondered, were they born that way or have they just developed a thick skin? Or is it possible that their self-esteem or selfness is so strong that criticism doesn’t bother them?
A case in point, when I think of people with a high level of confidence, clarity and chutzpa , I think of P!nk, the singer. There is no doubt, she is her own person. She dresses as she pleases. She sings what she wants and often writes controversial lyrics that get people up in arms. Yet, she seems to know exactly who she is in the world, where she is headed and doesn’t waver from it. I think that is pretty cool!
Coming from an upbringing where I was taught to always worry about what the neighbors thought, I find P!nk’s “no limit” persona very attractive.
All this mind chatter got me thinking further. When faced with criticism from self or others, why not ask myself, “What would P!nk do?”
By asking myself this simple question, I can allow myself determine whether or not the criticism is important enough to give my attention. Then I can decide how I’ll respond. By asking the question, it also allows me to stop to listen to my inner voice to see who is driving my thought process, is it my genuine-self or some old tape of my mother. Taking the time to get clear, helps me to make better decisions about the direction to proceed.
Just to let you know, I don’t plan to model myself after P!nk. I’d just like to develop a “no limits” persona like her. I want limit, no actually eliminate, the limiting self-talk that has stopped me from stepping out in the world in a big way.
So here’s to P!nk. Thanks for being an awesome role model of confidence and clarity!
Have a No Limit day! ~ Cheryl
This morning my mind is chaotic with thoughts running rampit. Unassociated thoughts of business, events of other people’s lives, promises of things I said I’d do but don’t have much interest in right now, and idea that I must get clear on I want. If not, I’m afraid this craziness will continue forever.
Each thought rushes through my consciousness pushing and shoving hoping to get more of my attention than the current 2 seconds available. Then they circle back again in parade, each screaming, “Pick Me, Pick Me!”
With this kind of randomness, I’m not sure what to give my attention to. Should it be the thought of the TV show of last night? Should it be the idea of hiring an assistant? Should I focus on one of the projects currently on my calendar – the client, public workshop or marketing campaign? What should be first? What should get my most immediate attention? Heck if I know at this point.
In this moment, I’m ready to run to the shower to let the hot water blast over my head in hopes of clearing my confusion. Of course, there other options. I could get dressed to go workout, make a list of what’s on my mind, or even better, I could go back to bed to sleep for a while. None of these escapes really gets me what I want – clarity. These actions just delays the inevitable of looking at the “what’s” really going on.
Ego’s Role
Could it be that my Ego is running rough-shot over my life right now, trying to stay in front and in charge? Just maybe it’s trying to distract me from something really important. It might be trying to distract me from looking within to find the clarity I seek. Ego seems to constantly pull my attention away from “Being,” and instead encourages me to “Do,” as if I’m not doing enough.
Everything I’ve thought about is action oriented in some way. Very little of my thoughts are about connecting with Spirit or with myself. Or appreciating what I’ve accomplished thus far. Isn’t that interesting?
I find that I am most clear when I hand write pages every morning. It helps to clear my mind and put things into perspective. It’s also provides an opportunity to let go of the mundane chatter that clutters my thinking. I’ve been out of the habit of writing my Morning Pages. So today, I’m renewing my commitment to writing every morning.
A Final Thought
As I put these thoughts into the computer, a little voice spoke to me and said, “Where do you find Joy? Go for the Joy.” I think I’m starting to regain clarity. Because where there is Joy, there is clarity. And where there is clarity, there is Joy.
May you have a blessed and clear day!
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