Sales Driven Marketing Hub

Do I talk too much?

Once I start talking, I just can’t seem to stop. Even noticing people’s discomfort doesn’t stop me. I somehow don’t care enough. My problem sank in when my boss told me that some of my clients won’t work with me because “I suck the air out of the room” with my pontification. Do I need some sort of personal stop sign?

I don’t need a stop sign. I need a traffic light.

Shortly after the publication of my book,"Just Listen" Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone, I gave a presentation to a financial services company that prides themselves on understanding their client's needs because they said they wanted to improve their listening skills.

In such presentations in addition to providing something didactic, I like to facilitate discussion and sharing of best approaches from the participants. I also ask that top performers be forthcoming with the best techniques they have learned.

Two thirds of the way through my presentation I explained a few of the approaches from my book they could use. After I finished making my points, one person pointed out that what I had suggested was exactly an approach that the most successful person in the group used, but never shared with others.

You’ve heard all this talk about building relationships. I hate to say it, but that’s not the priority. Building relationships is secondary to building business.

People often confuse the terms self-esteem and self-confidence. Self-confidence is believing in your competence and your ability to do something. Self-esteem is believing in your goodness. You build self-esteem the old-fashioned way, you e-a-r-n it... through dedication, effort, and sacrifice in the service of others. Self-esteem is the measure for how content you feel at the end of your life.

If you are innovating a process, a service, or a product, and your market doesn't care, it doesn't really matter. Here's a four point checklist to help make your next innovation successful...

Making great hires is a challenge. When you're in a rush, hastiness gets in your eyes and your ears.

Too often when we are overly enthusiastic about an undertaking, growing an organization or a company, we may enter into partnerships or hire people based on what they say they can do, before we check it out. Part of that is because we are just too eager to move forward, don't want to confront someone about what they say (i.e. imply they are lying) or are just too A.D.D. to have the patience.

Forget the empty platitudes; your star employee is not a "godsend." They are a person deserving of your acknowledgment and worthy of appreciation and respect. When was the last time you thanked them — really thanked them?