Power vs Influence
Recently my friend was in an argument with her teenager. She wanted her daughter to stop watching so much YouTube and read. The teen pushed back, arguing and asking why. My friend was tired and used the dreaded phrase, “Because I said so!” Ugh… that’s never effective – especially with a teenager! In that split second, my friend was […]
Reframing No
I once worked with someone who couldn’t handle the answer, “No.” It was a lot like dealing with a child. One day I literally saw her stomp, raise her voice and throw a book! She then spent the rest of the day trying to “rallying the troops” and get other employees on her side – […]
Self-care Sunday
I listened to a very interesting conversation between friends last Friday evening. We had all come off a very busy week with another one looming on the horizon. One friend asked, “Does anyone want to go shopping tomorrow?” The first response was, “No, I’m going backpacking with my family.” The second response was a laugh and, “Are […]
The Sales Ick Factor
How many of you cringe when you hear the word ‘sales’? Or hesitate to tell someone you are a salesperson because you are certain they will picture you in fake white leather shoes, plaid pants, butterfly color, and slicked-back hair? Maybe it is because you once bought a car from ‘Johnny Two-Thumbs’. You know, that […]
Getting Into The Trenches
When Terry first started her own business, she knew she would need to start with her own network first. Friends are your best network! But, the idea of asking her friends for help rattled her. She felt uncomfortable, like she was putting them in an awkward spot. But if she makes the ask properly and her friends have good boundaries, they can choose their own answer: yes or […]
Friends and Allies: Asking Others for Help
If a friend needed help you wouldn’t think twice about helping right?! So why do you have such a hard time asking when you need some help! Here’s how to ask your friends and allies for a helping hand.
Hearing vs. Listening
What is the difference between hearing and listening? They are basically the same thing, right? Actually, not even close! Hearing is simply perceiving sound by the ear. It requires no effort. Listening requires an intentional decision to participate in what you hear. Listening involves really absorbing what is being said and processing it in the brain – not just consuming words and […]
Your Own ROI
My friend Jeff is a great salesperson. He spends time really getting to know his clients and finding out exactly how to best meet their needs. People love him! He has no shortage of returning clients and a steady stream of referrals. The problem? He is great with sales and helping people, but not so great at understanding […]
Asking the Pros
When I started my own business, I needed a plan – and that included asking for advice. Not just a long-range plan but the daily grind plan. So often we can get caught up on strategic planning that the daily schedule gets lost. And as I’ve already talked about, I needed other people to help me succeed. […]
Asking People for Help
Asking for help can sometimes feel like you are exposing your weak spots, and nobody wants to appear needy or incompetent. But guess what? That pressure you feel at the thought of asking for help is not related to your abilities. It is caused by your fear! Fear of what people will think. Fear of the unknown […]