What an Economist Can Teach Us About Selling

/in , , , , , , , /by

This is the sixth in a series of seven articles outlining the need for NEW RULES in your selling efforts. In this article, we’ll look at the Dynamic of The Unseen.

Sounds a bit mysterious, doesn’t it? Well, it is.

In 1946, Henry Hazlitt wrote a book called “Economics in One Lesson.” (click here to learn more). I suggest you read it if you’re interested in public policy or in human behavior.

Hazlitt’s premise was that economists seldom look at the long term consequence of a government action. For example, if the government spends $1 trillion on make-work programs, it all sounds great on the surface. People go to work. Everyone’s happy. Or, are they? Read more

The MOST Overused Term in Business Today

/in , , , , , , , /by

This is the fifth in a series of seven articles outlining the need for NEW RULES in your selling efforts. In this article, we’ll look at the Dynamic of Value.

Anyone else get annoyed when a company drones on and on about their “value”? You’ve heard all the iterations of this: Value Add. Value Proposition. Value Statement. 

Usually it means something like this, “We bring value – and if we talk enough about how much value we bring, then it’s likely you’ll begin to believe it.” 

Well, that’s not good enough today.

I’ll share a new way to look at “value” so you can change the rules of the selling game. As I’ve done in each article in this series (click here to read the other articles), my sole aim is to help you change the entire dynamic of the buyer/seller process.

If you do it right, you’ll be the prize that others will seek. Wouldn’t that be nice? Well, it’s possible, if you read this series and begin to ACT. Read more

Stop Trying to Get Customers to Make a Decision

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , , /by

This is the third in a series of seven articles outlining the need for NEW RULES in your selling efforts. In this article, we’ll look at the Dynamic of Decisions.

Remember the good ole’ days when you were trained to ask the customer, “Who makes the buying decision on this?” (Or, some version of that.)

Well, that implied something very obvious – but wrong.

That implied that it was THEM (or someone at their company) making the decision, not you.

We also used elaborate metaphors like the Fox, the Champion, the Sponsor, the Hen (OK, maybe not the hen).

Then we would pull out the org chart and have them tell us who would be involved in the decision. And we’d get lied to. (You forgot that part, didn’t you?)

This process must change.

Today, you must alter the “Dynamic of Decision.” Changing this dynamic enables you to reap enormous rewards and stop wasting time with non-qualified prospects. Read more

Episode #412: Sales Lessons from the Olympics

/in , , , , /by

advancedsellinpodcastgraphicbootAre you staying up late every night mesmerized by the Olympics?

In this episode, veteran sales trainers Bill Caskey and Bryan Neale look to lessons sales people can learn from athletes competing at the top of their game.

How do you prepare yourself when something doesn’t go as planned in a sales call?

How can you detach from things around you that you can’t control?

In today’s episode of The Advanced Selling Podcast, Bill and Bryan give you specific techniques to take your sales game all the way to Rio.

Are you ready to compete with the best of the best from around the world? Listen in today to find out.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Episode #411: Mindset Tips from a PGA Golfer

/in , , , , /by

advancedsellinpodcastgraphicbootWhat do golf pros know about sales training? You may be surprised by the overlaps in mindset principles.

In this episode, veteran sales trainers Bill Caskey and Bryan Neale reflect on Donald Miller’s Storybrand podcast and an interview with Ben Crane, a PGA golf pro.

Do you struggle to avoid your subconscious taking over your mindset?

Are you practicing reps to help get your mind right?

In today’s episode of The Advanced Selling Podcast, Bill and Bryan share tips to help you focus on mindfulness in the sales process.  You will learn how to quiet your mind, set your own expectations and focus on your prospects instead of yourself.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Episode #402: Commission Detachment

/in , , , , /by

advancedsellinpodcastgraphicbootDo you feel like you have to win every deal?  In this episode, veteran sales trainers Bill Caskey and Bryan Neale explore a listener question from Lauren in St. Louis.

Are you (or people on your team) motivated most by money?

Do you have an unhealthy balance between your base salary and commission structure?

In today’s episode of The Advanced Selling Podcast, Bill and Bryan will help you identify what you’re attached to and why.  You’ll be able to analyze if you are more interested in solving the problem than your customer is and what to do when it happens.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

A Proven One Day Training Plan

/in , /by

Well, it’s that time of year when we plan sales meetings and retreats. I’ve gotten a lot of calls recently from companies who want me to come in and speak to their groups but, unfortunately, my time is booked through February. I don’t remember getting a call from you. Hmmm. Oh well, maybe I did and just don’t recall.

Consequently, I wanted to give you CEO’s and Sales Leaders some ideas on how you can run an uber-effective sales training meeting to kick off 2016.
Here are the steps I take both for preparation and for execution of an event.

Step 1: Get Really Clear on Your Objectives. 

I find most leaders are a little fuzzy when it comes to specific objectives for a one-day training meeting. I suggest you write out 8 to 10 things you’d like to see as a result of this meeting and then build curriculum to achieve that. Don’t try to load it up too full. Leave breathing space so that people can absorb the content.

(That’s a major fault of sales leaders and CEOs. They think that since they have everyone in the room, they need to chock it full of content. Less is more. More becomes drivel.) Read more

Dunking Seems Miles Away

/12 Comments/in , , /by

Well, I’m still at it. If you read this blog regularly, you might recall that I set a crazy goal right after my 59th birthday, back in February, to dunk the basketball by my 60th. I have 6 months left…

Plan-Goal

And it isn’t going well.

What I Forgot…

I guess I neglected to consider that after 40-something you begin to lose your quick-twitch muscles, which is a “must” for explosive jumping. You also lose any kind of glute power and your hamstrings begin to atrophy. All bad trends if vertical leap is the goal.

So, my miscalculation is now apparent.

So what should I do? Quit? Keep going? Change the routine? Set a more realistic goal?

Not sure…but here’s my thinking. I would love your input.

1. This goal is really cool to me. It’s measurable. It’s weird, I can tell when I reveal the goal to people and they say, “Well, there you go,” as if I’m a little child again, I know I’m on to something special. It’s just that they can’t fathom it…or appreciate it. And it’s a huge stretch. All good characteristics for a goal. Read more

Working Under Load. The Secret To Your Success.

/in , , , /by

Charles Poliquin is a weight-lifting coach. He’s the guy your trainer looks to for advice on proper technique, cadences and exercises. He was on Tim Ferriss’s podcast (Click Here To Listen) last week and he said something I thought was fascinating. Simple, but fascinating.

IncreaseStrength-UnderLoad

He said if you really want to increase your strength, you must spend more time “under load.”

In his world, under load means to stress the muscle throughout the entire weight bearing exercise. In other words, do the reps slow, stopping at the top and bottom for a few seconds. So instead of doing 20 curls in 35 seconds, you do 20 in 2 minutes.

More time under load = more strength.

In our world, “under load” leads to strength as well. Read more