SuccessCo

Why join your chamber of commerce?

A recent national study reveals that membership in a chamber of commerce can significantly boost a business's image among consumers, as well as other businesses.

In a scientific survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found positive perceptions of chamber members in a number of areas, including overall favorability, consumer awareness and reputation, and likelihood of future patronage.

The study showed that when respondents were told that a particular business was a member of a chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member.

Join your local, regional or state chamber today!

-Jim

To locate a chamber of commerce, visit Chamberfind.com

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Success Quotes ~ Problems

"I don't want to be just a voice on the phone. I have to get to know these guys face-to-face and develop a sincere relationship. That way, if we run into problems in a deal, it doesn't get adversarial. We trust each other and have the confidence we can work things out."
- Wayne Huizenga

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
- Abraham Maslow

"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds."
- Norman Vincent Peale

“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
- Albert Einstein

Increased income through improved articulation

When was the last time you listened to your own voice through the ears of your prospect? I mean really listen.

For most of you the answer is probably never.
I suggest that as professional communicators, you pay close attention to how you sound when you speak. Nothing speaks more clearly about your background, education and professional status than your articulation.

Here is an exercise you can do with a tape recorder or even your own voicemail.
Recite a few sentences, and place a comma between each word. Example . . .

“If, I, place, an, invisible, comma, after, each, word, and, an, invisible, semicolon; after, some; words, my, speech, has, presence.”

This exercise forces you to make each word stand on its own and that‘s the secret of many professional broadcasters and speakers.

-Jim
© 2009 Successco.com

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Elizabeth Gilbert: A different way to think about creative genius

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. The author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert has thought long and hard about some large topics. Her next fascination: genius, and how we ruin it.

* TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

Do you feel lucky?

Here are some common attributes of lucky people.

Lucky people do not generalize. By not having preconceived ideas or generalizations, it allows them to see opportunities that are often closed off to others.

Lucky people know what they want, therefore it is easier to recognize when it crosses their path. This is also one of the basic laws of attraction.

Lucky people consider themselves lucky! Have you ever known someone that is constantly talking about how ‘unlucky” they are? Well, it’s the same concept in reverse. If you tell yourself how lucky you are everyday, before long, it actually becomes your reality.

Lucky people work hard and are willing to “pay the price” for the things they want. Have you ever heard the quote, “the harder I work, the luckier I get”?

Luck is a state of mind – so make your state the size of Texas!

-Jim
© 2009 Successco.com

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Success Book ~ Words that sell

Excerpt from Words that sell - Written by Richard Bayan
“The thesaurus to help you promote your products, services and ideas.”

“Like magicians with their props, or fisherman with their time tested lures, advertising copywriters rely upon a handy assortment of contrivances for seducing their audience. A copywriters tools are words, and the most effective tools are words that sell.”

Permits you to…
Assists you
Solves
Advises
We deliver…
That’s what we give you.
A good friend to have by your side
The solution to your…
Our friendly staff is here to assist you.
Were in business to help your business succeed.
Consultation
Precision marketing
First-hand briefing
A professional recommendation
A total management tool

Words that Sell, Revised and Expanded Edition

Staying organized in a hectic, disorganized world

Today's knowledge workers are tasked with organizing heaps of information such as articles, lists, tasks, files and ideas, just to name a few. So to aid you in taming the information monster, I have long recommended a cloud computing solution called Backpack.

“A cool organization tool. How very cool.”
-David Pogue, The New York Times

This amazing Web-based program makes organizing your information incredible easy and the best news is they have an entirely free version that you will never be charged for unless you like the product enough to upgrade.

Get Backpack here

Disclaimer: I have been using this Web service for about four years now and I'm therefore, a bit biased.

-Jim

© 2009 Successco.com

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Where have all the leaders gone?

Where Have All the Leaders Gone is the title of a new book by Lee Iacocca.
Remember when he revived Chrysler in the 80’s with great leadership rather than a taxpayer bailout? Those were the days!

Lee has just written a new book that talks about the 9C's of leadership -  Common Sense, Communication, Creativity, Conviction, Competence, Courage, Character, Charisma, and Curiosity – He has also devised a scoring system to encourage you to really think about leadership qualities.

The 9C's are a roadmap for citizens to choose leaders and they are relevant in every area of life, whether choosing the next President of our country or the president of the PTA.
Here is a link to his 9C’s downloadable scorecard.

-Jim
© 2009 Successco.com

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Success Quotes ~ Leadership

"I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times."
Everett Dirksen

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
-John Quincy Adams

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be."
-Rosalynn Carter

"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences."
-Susan B Anthony

Reading a prospects mind and overcoming their objections

In the mind of a prospect, it is often easier to make the decision not to act/buy/join, than the possibility of making the wrong decision. Therefore, our goal is to help the prospect justify why they are making the right decision.

By anticipating their objections and questions in advance, you are able to be the proverbial devil’s advocate. Here are some transitional phrases to help you bring up that inevitable objection or unspoken question.

“I bet you’re asking yourself . . .”
“You might be wondering . . .”
“If you’re concerned about . . .”
“A question I often hear at this point in a conversation is . . .”

By mentioning the objection before they bring it up, you’ll disarm the prospect and put them in a more receptive frame of mind.

-Jim

© 2009 Successco.com

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