Business Skills

The Power of One Word in Sales

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It’s amazing what a difference one word can make when it comes to getting people to sign on the dotted line and close a sale.

As I share in the video accompanying this post, I was reminded of this fact when my husband Saul and I met with Enrique, the gentleman who meets with us annually to discuss our ownership of vacation weeks with a Mexican resort company.

Several years ago when Enrique and I were chatting together, he mentioned that many times he would meet with people who appeared ready to invest in some weeks with the company, but that they often got cold feet and backed out of the deal when he mentioned that it was time to sign the contract.

I suggested that he substitute the word agreement for contract. Contract implies obligation and even pressure, while agreement implies doing something that has already been agreed upon.

The power of this word shift for Enrique is such that his success rate went way up and he increased his income and has been promoted as a result.

Most people wouldn’t consider a sales conversation to be a type of public speaking; but it requires, among other aspects, as careful a use of words as any well constructed speech.

I invite you to share your own experiences with the word contract; and your thoughts about replacing it with the word agreement (if you have not already done so).

Want to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions All Year Long?

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Want to keep your business and your life on track throughout the year, so that you can reach your personal and business goals?

Want to avoid the usual guilt factor that often arises from having to write down the same old resolutions year after year?

In the video accompanying the blog post, I share 5 suggestions from the Jobs section of the Detroit Free Press for how to revive those pesky New Year’s Resolutions, so that you can thrive all year long.

  1. Write them down: Resolutions are all too easy to forget, especially if they are about something we are reluctant to do or to change. Writing them down helps to keep us accountable.
  2. Be realistic: A stretch goal is a lot better choice than something so far out of reach that it discourages us from even starting down the path to success. In other words, don’t expect to play a concert at Carnegie Hall if you’re just starting to take piano lessons.
  3. Break them down: The bigger the goal, the smaller the steps need to be; so that we actually feel encouraged to get started and keep going. Remember the old riddle: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.
  4. Set a time frame: There’s nothing like a deadline for each small step to keep us honest and on track to eventual completion of even the biggest projects.
  5. Reward yourself: Too often we criticize ourselves for not doing things as well as we should (horrible word, should!), or for not doing something absolutely perfectly. This is guaranteed to discourage us and throw us off track. It’s far better to acknowledge every thing we do, no matter how small it is. Appreciation, not denigration, is what encourages us to keep on keeping on, no matter how long the path.

I’d love to hear if you have any other strategies that you use to keep yourself moving forward toward your long-range goals.

Here’s wishing you every success, this year and every year to come.

Polar Vortex Invitation

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Right now, as I write this, it’s around 7 degrees below zero outside (with a wind chill of 40 below😱); so I’m cocooning inside. (I’m no dummy!)

While in the process of upgrading and expanding my Always Know What to Say online course, I’m thinking about how I can provide more useful strategies and support that truly meet the needs of those who participate in it, especially those who want to upgrade their business communication skills.

The obvious answer is to ask you what your communication challenges are; so that I can better serve you and everyone else in the Vibrant Vocal Power community.

If you have not yet done so, and have around 15 minutes to spare, I invite you to sign up for a brief chat with me.

Here’s the link to my calendar: https://vibrantvocalpower.as.me/letschat

I look forward to connecting with you.

Want to Know Warren Buffett’s #1 Tip for Entrepreneurs?

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public speaking skills - Warren Buffett

 

 

 

 

Want to know how important public speaking skills are in the business world?

A 22 year old young man by the name of Michael Hood had the honor of being Warren Buffett’s escort for the day when Mr. Buffett was in Toronto for the Canadian Hall of Fame Inductee Gala.

Not one to let grass grow under his feet, Michael took advantage of this honor by asking Mr. Buffett to share what he considered the most important tip to give to young people starting out in business.

Warren Buffett’s answer: “If you can’t communicate, it’s like winking at a girl in the dark — nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it.”

You can enjoy the entire conversation in the video included in this article about that day.

What do you think about Warren Buffett’s answer? Do you agree? I’d love to hear your opinion. (Given that I coach people on business communication skills, you can certainly guess what mine is!!😉)

 

 

Want a Fun Way to Upgrade Your Elevator Pitch?

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When you are at networking events, are you happy with that vitally important communication skill, how you introduce yourself to the world?

Do you feel comfortable when you answer the What do you do? question, either at business events or in social situations?

If not, join our fun, free, online 5-day challenge, Effortless Elevator Pitch, at http://EffortlessPitch.com.

Running just 5 days from October 8 to October 12, here is what you will accomplish:

  • Create or upgrade your own client-engaging elevator pitch that resonates with your ideal audience; so that you stand out from the crowd;
  • Explain what you do with clarity and confidence; so your ideal clients know you are speaking directly to them;
  • Discover the 3 crucial questions that open doors to continued conversations, clients, referrals, and cash.

The sooner you join us, the sooner you can enjoy and benefit from daily prizes, a fabulous grand prize, short informative videos, and a bonus Q and A call on Thursday.

To join the fun and get all the benefits, click here.

I look forward to sharing the latest and greatest way for you to feel totally authentic and effective when speaking about your gifts with the people you meet.

Please note: The earlier in the week you join, the more daily prizes you qualify to win. So join now, while you’re thinking about it. It only takes a minute.

http://EffortlessPitch.com

Opt in now to enjoy the benefits of authentic and engaging communication with potential clients and referral partners, that will enhance your networking skills and results.

What Is Your Very Most Important Business Message?

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What’s the very most important message to share effectively in your business, the one message that makes the difference between either creating conversations that lead to clients, referrals, and cash; or the message that turns people off entirely?

You’ll find my answer in this video. (Hint: It’s how well you answer the What do you do? question.)

Get this one message right and you open the door to opportunity. Get it wrong and that door can slam in your face.

If you would like to feel more confident and authentic when answering that question, and to improve how people respond to you, I invite you to join my fun and free 5-day challenge, Effortless Elevator Pitch, taking place on October 8-12.

Simply click the following link to join in the excitement, while upgrading your message to a whole new level.

http://EffortlessPitch.com

You will be amazed at what you will accomplish in a short amount of time per day for 5 short days.

I look forward to sharing this adventure with you.

Please feel free to share the link for the challenge with those you know who may also want to speak about what they do in a more engaging and effective way. http://EffortlessPitch.com