Should you get on this train or not? Do you know the general direction you are heading? When you plan for the future, at what point do you actually start moving towards it? Closer to, or farther from? If you wonder where the train metaphors are coming from, I just came back from a meeting in Europe. …
#kolehardfacts
What is your filter?
Happy Wife, Happy Life - many of you have heard this simple phrase before. How many of you use this as a filter before you say yes to something? Think of it this way, you are asked to play cards tonight with the boys, do you automatically say yes? Or, do you run the question through this filter? If …
The “Wimpy Syndrome”
This is probably one of the most overused negotiation tactics by buyers and purchasing professionals in history. I call it the Wimpy Syndrome. You all remember “Popeye the Sailor man” and his friend Wimpy. Wimpy always wanted the immediate satisfaction of a hamburger today, with the promise of …
Tips: Closing the Deal
Going into this meeting, you know you have this deal. You have been in this position 10 Time’s, and you have your script ready. Your preparation for that objection is beyond reproach. Just at the moment you were going to say something, the prospect throws a curve. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers …
Eating Soup With a Fork!
FOCUS ... Keep your eye on the ball, target marketing, niche, dig an inch wide and a mile deep. I am sure you have heard one or more of these phrases in the past. I'm here to call BS to this! I want you to think about something for just a moment. If we are focusing so hard on our objective, how …
Can’t save em’ all
When do you give up? When is it okay to stop trying to help others, especially when they don't or won't, help themselves? How often do you run into a situation where common sense means nothing? Did Jack Welch's system of ranking employees A, B, or C, then getting rid of the C's offend …
Purpose: A Bridge Between Dreams & Goals
Do you know your why? Are you committed to that why? What is making you move? Will that be enough to keep you moving? This weeks blog is very simple. In all goal setting & objectives systems, we talk about the BIG WHY! Every program you go through calls it something different. The key …
What type of pencil do you use?
When I say the word “it”, what do you think about? Does it make you feel a certain way? It is a simple word, carrying very little emotional meaning, am I right? Now, what happens if I use it with other words like; Cujo, Misery, and Carrie. Now “it” evokes horror, fear, and disturbing images of …
Tips: How to be a salesperson, NOT an account manager
As a CEO or business owner, you wonder why Sales are not increasing. You have spent money on Sales Training, hired account managers, and review the metrics weekly. What are you missing? One of my functions is to gather information to provide my principals with some level of market intelligence. …
What type of leader are you?
Are you are full of passion, your business has been growing in triple digits month over month, however you get the feeling that something is not right. Maybe you have built a great company, with high customer service, quality beyond reproach, yet your sales have plateaued. Or you take over a well …