The JF Guest Author Spot
Kim Duke
I was browsing through the bookstore today (which for me is very close to achieving Nirvana) and I bet you think I was hanging out in the SALES and BUSINESS section.
Nope. You'll hardly ever find me there in fact.
Nooooo...I like hanging out in the cooking section, the new age section, the history section, teen and kids section, how to make a macaroni collage section... You get the picture.
One of my little secrets to selling has absolutely NOTHING to do with selling and EVERYTHING to do with expanding my creativity. And I end up making tons more money almost by magnificent default!
Why?
You Have To Burst Your Bubble NOW To Get More Customers!
OK pay attention. If you:
* Attend one more boring tradeshow related to your industry
* Read one more self-absorbed trade magazine
* Listen to one more long-winded teleclass from your "own circle"
* Read one more book written by one of your industry "experts"
...I guarantee your brain is going to shrivel up in rebellion and you're going to end up singing the Sesame Street song over and over and over. And that would be a sad thing. Plus - it's exactly what your competitors are doing.
So instead - why not give your brain what it has been BEGGING you to do?
Break The Boredom Bubble!
My buddy Albert Einstein said this:"A problem cannot be solved by the same factors that created it."
Yes - he was talking about YOU!
Do you know what customers really, really want?
Yeah - tell me what they want, what they really, really want!
FRESH IDEAS.
FRESH PERSPECTIVE.
FRESH EVERYTHING.
And my darling reader, that simply cannot happen if you're living in a bubble of You, you, you.
5 Sales Diva Activities You're Going To Do NOW!
1. Read a book that is about gravity. Or how to fly an airplane. ANYTHING you wouldn't normally read.
2. Read 3 magazines that are totally bizarre -ie/ crocheting, Millionaire, How To Live With A Gecko.
3. Check out a ie/tattoo store, or an antiques store or a store that only sells lollipops.
4. Attend a tradeshow about boats, or motorcycles, or the chess convention.
5. Meet with 5 new people and take them for coffee....at a truckstop.
Don't Keep Looking For Answers In The Same Old Places!!
So you're thinking..."HOW is that going to help me Sales Diva???"
Well you're going to see:
1. A new font style you love
2. An idea of how to create a new product or service
3. A new perspective on advertising
4. New ways of offering guarantees and customer service
5. How other companies promote themselves
And the list goes on and on and on and it's so exciting!
Hmmm I bet you're wondering what EUREKA moment I had in the bookstore today?
Well - it was HUGE and it will be worth at least $30,000 per year for me...and not hard to do either.
So there.
Love From Your Bossy Sales Diva,
Kim
Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report "The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make" at www.salesdivas.com
Ed: If you want to catch The Sales Diva live, she is one of the all-star speakers at this year's Sales SheBang - details over in the left-hand column.
Today's News:
Every now and again, I work to expand my network on LinkedIn, because I think it is an excellent business project, which has connected me with so many great people. I am always open to linking with new contacts but here are some guidelines if you wish to connect with me.
1. I love connecting people to great resources and other people that can assist them in achieving their professional goals, so yes please feel free to connect - I always try to respond to emails within 48 hours.
2. I will always accept invitations from friends, business acquaintances and clients to join my network on LinkedIn
3. If we haven't met, I am open to connecting but please send an introductory note providing a little information about your background and how we would both benefit from connecting - a standard LinkedIn request to connect won't be responded to.
4. As I consider connecting people in my network to others as a recommendation and therefore want to ensure a quality connection for all concerned I will not usually forward requests to connect you to members of my LinkedIn network if I do not know you and your work.
5. Please ensure that you spend a little time writing a thoughtful and detailed request as to the benefit to the person in my network and why they would benefit in connecting to you. In return I promise to only send you relevant, well written requests.
And if you have any tips on how you get the most out of LinkedIn or guidance on how to ensure that you manage your online network effectively, perhaps you'll share them here with our JF Blogit Community
My LinkedIn profile is at the top of the left-hand column.
Finally, a couple of excellent blog posts for you:From Jill Konrath "Sales Challenges... Reverse Auctions and "Low Bid Syndrome" - there is an excellent white paper to download here too from Dave Stein's blog.
And also "Self-Driven Sales Motivation in a Tough Economy" from Mark Hunter, is an excellent read.
Tomorrow: Ten signs that your business may be heading for trouble and a FREE commercial health-check for you.
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