Interview An Expert

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Interview an expert.

That’s right, purchase a $100 piece of equipment that you can record on the phone (or do it by SKYPE…it’s free)

  • And ask them questions about the industry you’re in.
  • Ask them about their vision for the future.
  • Ask them what they see as trends in your business.

Then, put it on your channel.

By interviewing experts, you re-classify yourself as an expert.

-B. Caskey

Skills For Your Future

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What are the skills that you will need to excel? Not just survive but excel? You should be doing this exercise once a year because skills change. It used to be that sales people did not need to know how to write, so copywriting skills were optional. Not anymore.

What other skills are required for your future business that you’re a little weak on? Now, go to youtube and search on those skills with the key word “tutorial” after. Then, spend 5 hours on each of the skills you identify. Watch what happens.

-B. Caskey

Take Note of The Things That Speak To You

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Read and make note of those things you read that really speak to you.We might read a 300-page book…and see only 3 things that spoke to us. That’s fine.Take those three things and try your hand at writing about them.

You learn more when you write about something.

  • Why did they speak to you?
  • What will you miss by not adhering to those lessons?
  • How have those lessons shifted “how you think?”

-B. Caskey

Demonstrating Empathy

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Not many of us practice empathy. Our work with Hogan Assessments indicates that 80% of us have an “empathy deficiency.” Does your leader empathize? Probably not. But you can’t complain if you don’t practice it either.

Next time someone tells you something, don’t change the subject. Dig deeper. Ask them their feelings about the topic. And ask them “why” they feel that way. Don’t pry into their personal matters—just care enough to ask the next logical question. It’s profound what you’ll hear.

A System Of Ideas

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Have a system for fleshing out ideas. Great ideas, if not written down, disappear.  Make it a habit to acknowledge your ideas by giving them the respect of writing them out. Great authors will tell you that the ‘very act of writing about something makes it more real.’ So give your mind some respect and flesh through some of your ideas.

Finding Your Inspiration

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Find inspiration in others…books …authors…online. Put a different quote up on your mirror each week. Take it down to your quick print store and have them design a look for it so you’re proud of seeing it on your mirror.

Here’s one you can begin with by Gandhi. You’ve heard it before but it never fails to inspire me, “A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.” You don’t have the be in the same room with someone to learn something from them.

How To Improve The Sales Mind

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In this episode, Brooke Green takes a look at how we can improve the creative juices that make up the sales mind. Yes, sales people MUST be creative, but most are a bit afraid of it (our opinion). So Brooke let’s fly with some ideas.

Also, Bill Caskey rants about a cold call he received from an insurance agent (with a huge national brand).

*Watch other Whiteboard Wednesday Episodes: www.youtube.com/whiteboardwednesday

*Coming June 27, 2011, Bill Caskey and Bryan Neale interview Pat Williams – Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic. View the episode “What Every Salesperson Can Learn from John Wooden” at http://www.advancedsellingpodcast.com/what-every-salesperson-can-learn-from-john-wooden/.

 

Forward Progress

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We don’t pay enough attention to “forward progress.” Appreciate it. Look back and marvel at your accomplishments. How often do we do that? 

You’ve heard of the gratitude books – where you write down what you’re grateful for – so that more of it comes. Same with this. Each week, write down your list of accomplishments and revel in them for a bit. Don’t let that stop you from growing by reading the next great book – but smell the roses occasionally.

-B. Caskey

Be Careful Before You Pick One

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Role model…be careful before you pick one. We get the request often to ‘create a mentoring program.’ It all sounds good in theory. But there are many things you have to look at before you select one. Unconditional interest’ in your success is one. They can’t care about you more than you care about yourself, but they have to have some kind of interest in your outcomes.