Well, what if you could become a small part of the chain?  What if you could set up some agreement with a store that sells TVs and other stuff packaged in styrofoam and then, once a week or so, pick it up and reuse, repurpose, recycle it for staging plants??

Granted, a bit of trouble to go through but….what a neat win/win situation and what a good thing to point out to your clients.

Just a thought…..

Now, you can just show up on time armed with notebook and business cards and thats a good thing, but what if you got there 15 minutes early?  This gives you time to check out the scene, to identify the key people, speak with them, etc.  I make sure I never get in their way but just let them know I’m there.  Usually, as people come in someone introduces me or I walk up and without being pushy introduce myself.

Once the meeting starts it may be difficult to mix and interact.  There may b a speaker or a meal and the attendees are less accessible.  Or, when the meeting is over, most head out the door for their offices.  That is why, showing up early is advantageous.  Next time you go to one of these meetings, try it.  I think you’ll see a great difference.  Now go out there and get ‘em, Tiger.

Well, its important and I encourage you to look at how often you are doing what you do and figuring out if weekly, 10 day or 2 week intervals would work for some of your accounts.  Why?  Because this is the one thing you have control of that can and will impact your bottom line.  Yes, gas is down again, but, trust me, it will rise.  Employees are worried about jobs so the pressure for raises is low, but, trust me that will change.  The time to institute a change is at the beginning of the year after Holiday Takedown subsides.  Pull out a pen and paper and a route sheet and an Accounts List and see where you can start.

I mention this now because a TOPsider customer called to place an order (thank you Bruce) and when he heard my voice he just had to thank me for pushing him to do this.  He says it has totally changed his business for the better and put many $$ in his pocket.

You’re Welcome.

STOP!  Before you make that call and get stymied by the gatekeeper (He’s not in, on vacation, cannot met with anyone till 2010), lets go exploring.

Why?  ‘Cause the more yu know about the person and the company, the more likely you will be able to charm the gatekeeper and, later, the prospect.

Google, google, google.  Look at all the media data on file.  Note important tidbits.  Google the persons name.  Make notes and have a few questions as a result of the search.

As Jeff Gitmer says in The Little Red Book of Sales Answers:  "Everything you need to know about a customer has been written by them or about them.  And it lives on the Internet.  All you have to do is uncover it.  AND USE IT."

Then I remember all the triumps of the past when the situation was dark and bleak.  I overcame and went forward because I AM ENTREPENEUR.  And, so are you.  Read the piece at http:/blogmaverick.com/2008/10/23/the-cure-to our-economic-problems/  and see if you don’t feel better. 

Keep the Faith.

Of course, you have to be careful.  You don’t want to spend too much or purchase stuff that isn’t standard Holiday, prelit trees etc.  And you definitely don’t want a bunch of stuff that you will have to walk around for the next ten months because you are cramped for space.  BUT, if you have the space, buy judiciously, and have the extra bucks, you can save a bunch of money now. 

Just make sure you follow the above rules.  Happy Holidays. 

It is small (less than 200 pages),  so it is not intimidating,  It is Red so it can be easily spotted.  It is well organized so it can be easily followed.  And, it is full of Sales Humor which is not just good for a chuckle but, also, helps embed  the message/lesson in your mind.  The old "one picture" maxim, if you will. 

I could regurgitate chapter and verse from this little gem but, instead, I suggest that if you did not pick it up when I first mentioned…do so now.  And , if you did and it has been a while since you read a chapter, do so now.  The crazy season (Holiday) is almost upon us and you need to start to fill the pipeline for green biz in January.  Start by energizing your SALES mind.  Now go out there and get ‘em, Tiger.

We All Need a Cheerleader   If you have co-workers, a significant other, or a close friend, you already have a cheerleader.  Someone who is there to smile, pat you on the back, give you the hi-five, and just tell you how fabulous you are.  This kind of response is better than a day at a Spa.  It also encourages you to repeat the performance and helps smooth over the times when things didn’t go so well.

Think about who acts as a cheerleader in your life and for whom you are the cheerleader.  Thank them.  Without our cheerleaders….the successes just would not be so sweet and the bad stuff would be even worse.  Now go out there and get ‘em, Tiger.

Anyway, we are coping, the office is open, we are taking and filling orders and the insurance guys are dealing with the aftermath. 

Just goes to show you……….If you think you are secure, that nothing ever happens in your neck of the woods, think again and put a disaster plan in place.

Anyway, we are coping, the office is open, we are taking and filling orders and the insurance guys are dealing with the aftermath. 

Just goes to show you……….If you think you are secure, that nothing ever happens in your neck of the woods, think again and put a disaster plan in place.