Grief when you’re unemployed

grief after losing your job

I have friend who, after 10 years at her company, decided to quit her job because of the toxic leadership. I have another friend who lost her job during a huge restructuring. One was by choice, the other – not so much. But both of them dealt with grief from losing a job. Grief? Yes! We tend to have pre-set expectations […]

What Differentiates You?

crazy-emotion-eyewear-2015

What really makes you different than the competition? I am not talking about ‘service’ or price…but what really makes you stand out from the rest? Think about it…what is it about your brand that convinces someone to hire you or buy your product? What are you putting out there for your potential clients to see?  How do you […]

What’s On Top of Your Mind?

sales needs discuss

If you’re doing it right, you go into every sales call with a clear idea of your goal, your prospect’s needs, and the strategies you’re going to use to connect the dots. But a strategic and well-planned approach isn’t the same as a single-minded approach.  Keeping multiple options open when working through a sales conversation can often lead to unexpected […]

Always Keep Improving 

always keeping improving and learning

In the last year, I’ve really been working on improving some of my skills, mainly, videos and photos. No, I’m not talking selfies and working on SnapChat. I’m talking about professional development. Even though I’m on a stage 90% of the time in my career, being on video is something else entirely! It’s hard for […]

Make Room for Success

star

Recently I was talking with a group of friends, congratulating one on a recent graduation from grad school. She ducked her head and mumbled her thanks then proceeded to discount her happiness with statements like, “…Thanks, but it ‘s not really that big of a deal…” She felt too prideful and almost guilty for her success!   We […]

Questions to always ask in an interview

interview

Whether you’re on an interview for a new job, going for a promotion, or pitching services to a new client, there’s always some questions you should ask yourself and the interviewer to meet your goals and the goals of the organization. In ANY interview situation, you should be interviewing them as much as they are you!   Before your interview, you need to […]

T.A.L.K. it out

talk meet

When I started my own business, Orange Leaf Consulting, I was fortunate to have built a small clientele. But I knew I’d need more clients if I wanted to reach my goals. (You know I’m a fan of planning for your goals!). How do you get more clients? Find people who need your help! How? By uncovering their needs […]

Every day interviews

meeting interviews

Recently, a friend of mine was talking with a bunch of new college grads. She’s a small business owner, a marketing and communications consultant, who works with multiple clients. When she explained her job to the graduates – who were nervous but excited about entering their professional careers – one of them said, “So you basically have an […]

My Sales Story

my sales story

I thought I was born to be a college professor. I went to grad school, got a Ph.D. in Communication and then taught courses in public speaking, interpersonal communication, leadership – you name it. Then how the heck did I end up being the First Lady of Sales?

ASK: Ask to Offer

ask to offer

One of the best skills you can develop is how to give someone options in order to get a YES. We all like to have options. No one likes to be told what they like, what they don’t, what they want, what they will do, what they won’t. We like choices.   Here’s an example: When my neighbor, a freelancer, was asked to handle a […]