Communication

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).

When You Don’t Know What to Say at a Time of Loss

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One of the most important commandments in the Hebrew Bible (which I would surmise is also included in other holy books) is the commandment to comfort the mourner.

Perhaps it is given so much importance in my own Jewish tradition because it is something that is so difficult to do.

What can you say in such a painful situation? How can you console someone who has suffered a loss, instead of avoiding that person and feeling guilty about it ever after?

The person who suffers the loss can end up feeling deserted by family, friends, and community, precisely at the time that caring support is needed the most.

You end up feeling uncomfortable around that person; and this often leads to a long-term negative effect on the relationship that you had shared, and perhaps even cherished.

Despite all my years as a speaking and messaging coach, I cannot recall anyone ever asking me for guidance on how to communicate with others in such a situation. Yet this situation inevitably comes to all of us.

Having had the occasion to attend the funeral of the dear niece of one of my husband’s cousins, I was inspired to make a video about this difficult subject. I hope that you find the thoughts I share to be helpful, and that the necessity to use them comes rarely in your life.

Love and blessings,

Marjorie

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.

Do Your New Year’s Resolutions Serve You?

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Think about it: 
Do your New Year’s Resolutions serve you, or discourage you because you somehow end up giving up on them fairly soon into the new year?
Check out the suggestions I share in the attached video:
1. How to frame your assessment of this past year in a way that helps to build a good foundation for this coming year.
2. How to adapt Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues system into one that enables you to actually keep your New Year’s Resolutions this coming year.
The thoughts I share in this video are my New Year’s gift to you.
Keep the ones that resonate with you😍 and dump the rest.😉
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year,
Marjorie

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!!😉)

 

 

Master Your Message – Speak More Powerfully to Your Audience

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Do you know how to master your message or are you floundering around when you are trying to share information or some type of message with someone?

Would you like some handy hints on how to go from stream of consciousness communication to succinctly and effectively sharing your thoughts?

Tune into the Facebook Live broadcast on this page to get the latest scoop.

The most important point of the message is to get to the point!