LISTEN: Seeing Areas of Need

Feeling like your business is running like a well-oiled machine? You are always listening for a client’s need. All your hard work has paid off, your network is immense, your client base is diverse, your staff is happy and hardworking, and most importantly, profits are substantial. Business is booming! Now is definitely not the time to […]
LOOK: By The Way Sales

Have you ever noticed how some of the best sales relationships happen organically? There is something so satisfying and exciting about developing a new client when you weren’t even looking! My friend Lucas owns his own consulting company. He found he really needed to hire a freelancer to do some work on his website. While […]
PLAN: Get Real About Goals

Recently, my friend attended a seminar about goal setting. Naturally, it included the idea of having S.M.A.R.T. goals (more about that in a bit), but also how to refine those so you don’t get burnt out, overwhelmed or stuck in a rut. And that’s exactly why she went to the seminar: She had a plan, but when it came to setting her plan in […]
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 […]