SuccessCo

Climbing Mountains and Mental Preparation

While researching companies for another blog that I contribute to, KickLifesAss.com I came across an excerpt that describes the mental preparation needed prior to climbing one of America’s tallest peaks, Mount McKinley in Alaska.

Here is that excerpt:

MENTAL PREPARATION
Besides being physically fit and having climbing skills, you need to have the proper attitude and mental discipline. You will need to be willing to work hard day after day, with few comforts. You may need to dig deep into your reserves after a long day of climbing in bad weather to help set up camp, help a team member, or help with cooking. This climb is as much about mental ability as it is about physical ability. Summit day is usually the most demanding day but high motivation can overcome some of the difficulties. Waiting out storms is especially difficult, especially at high altitude. Everyone must learn patience and relax! Denali climbs require a group effort.

Wow, it strikes me that this description is applicable to FAR more than just climbing a mountain! At least it does for all of the winners in the world. . .

Have a successful day!
-Jim

Click to enlarge - High camp (17,200 feet / 5,200 m) of the West Buttress Route photographed in 2001 - mental preparation excerpt from mountainmadness.com

Words to Avoid Using

To be an effective verbal communicator, it will serve you well not to use the words Never, None, All, Always, Everything and Constantly.

The other person is likely to focus on the exceptions to what you are saying, rather than the general meaning of the point you are trying to get across.

This guideline is especially helpful in dealing with employee issues, employee discipline and during employee reviews.

Jim

© 2007 Successco.com

Success Video ~ Lance Armstrong

In the series continuation of "success commercials" Lance Armstrong and Nike team up in this somewhat funny commercial.

Goes to show that Sometimes, in order to succeed and beat the "herd", one must travel the path of most resistance!

If there was no Chamber of Commerce

There would be no office to respond to the inquiries about your community and its opportunities.

There would be no information-gathering center with which to inform the business community and advise it of current events affecting them.

There would be no collective force to make known the physical needs of the community such as improved roads, utilities, facilities, safety and the like.

There would be no forum wherein the business community can exchange views and positions, and no voice to express those to other agencies.

There would be no focal point for social gathering of the business community wherein an exchange of ideas and services may take place.

There would be no political voice to keep our elected representatives aware of the community feelings on legislative action and needs.

Support your Chamber of Commerce
www.chamberfind.com
© 2005

Success Quote

  "Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough."

Henry Royce (1863-1933)
Co-founder of Rolls-Royce

Closing the Sale - The Natural Outcome of a Positive Interaction

A sales close is any action that advances the sales process to the next stage.

*Expect to do business – that is what is meant by being assumptive.

*Don’t force the close – Help the prospect make the “right” decision by providing them adequate information and guiding them.

*Raise your own objections – If you believe the prospect has an objection, raise it for them by saying, “a question I’m often asked is ______”. In this way you will help eliminate stalls and put-offs.

*Recognize “buy” signals. – When the prospect asks detailed questions about specific benefits, that is often a signal of extreme interest.

*A simple close – When the presentation stalls or you feel that you’re ready for a trial close, simply ask, “What is our next step?”

*“Loose lips sink ships” (and sales) After closing, stop selling unless you need to raise the value.

*Close with a straightforward request for the business.

*Close by assuming the next step. “Is it best to meet with you in the mornings or the afternoons?”

-Jim

© 2007 SuccessCo.com 

Business Humor ~ More Fish

An investment banker was on the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. His boat was full of beautiful yellow tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on his catch, asking how long it took to catch. The fisherman replied "only a short time." The banker asked why not stay out and catch more. The fisherman replied,
"I've enough fish to feed my family."

The banker then asked what did the fisherman do with the rest of his time, he replied, "I will sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening, sip wine with my friends, play my guitar, I have a full and busy life."

The banker was not impressed. "I have a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat and from those increased proceeds you could buy several boats and soon have a fleet. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you could control production, processing and distribution by building your own
cannery. You could leave this small coastal village and move to the city then to New York where you could run your expanding enterprise."

The fisherman asked, "How long will this take?"

The banker said, "Ten to 20 years."

"But what then?"

"Next you would announce an IPO and sell your stock to the public, making millions and millions. Then you could retire to a small coastal village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings, sip wine and play your guitar with your friends," said the banker smiling.

Small Business Marketing Ideas

Joint Promotions with Other Small Businesses
Contact some non-competing small businesses serving customers in your market. Offer to publicize their products or services to your customers in exchange for their publicizing your services to their customers. This usually produces a large number of sales for a very low cost.

Trim Your Ads
Reduce the size of your ads so you can run more ads for the same cost. You may even be surprised to find that some of your short ads generate a better response than their longer versions.

No Free Lunch?
Give customers a chance to win a free lunch or dinner, compliments of your business.
Everyone likes a chance to win things. An incentive like a $10 or $20 gift card for lunch or dinner at a local restaurant might be enough to influence a customer to order from you.
Consider other offers, like a Starbucks or other local company.

Stick It Notes
Use stickers, stamps or handwritten notes on all of your direct mail efforts and day-to-day business mail. When you put a sticker or handwritten message on the outside of an envelope, it has the impact of a miniature billboard. People read it first.
Note: The message should be short and concise so it can be read in less than 10 seconds.

© 2007 SuccessCo.com

Tools for Success

What is Backpack?
Backpack is a simple web-based service that allows you to make pages with to-do lists, notes, files, and images. Backpack also features a Calendar and Reminders that can be sent via email or to your cell phone at predefined times.

Disclaimer - We actually use backpack and love it.

Another great thing about this service, is that you can try it for free before signing up.

Backpack.com

Communication Power Statements

Try adding these effective communication power statements to your sales and business communications.

You can’t loose.
What have you got to loose?
In short, you have nothing to loose.
Can you think of any reason not to support ____________?
We think you’ll agree.
When every dollar counts, it’s good to know that
And to top it off, your investment is __% tax deductible.
We need you and you need us!
That’s all it takes to.
You can see for yourself that.
You’ll be glad you did.
Try to imagine the alternative.
We need you.
It’s a winning decision.
There’s no time like the present.
You are the one who benefits.
You, your business and (Area) are all winners.
In return, you’ll gain the satisfaction of.
You help make a critical difference.
With your help we can go on.