Sales Tip: Overcome Objections by Leading with Them

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Take a Tip from PR Specialists

Fired Up presenterIf you’ve ever watched a scandal unfold, you’ve seen how well or poorly it can be handled.  Most PR professionals believe in breaking an imminent story first, so that they can control the message and lead with the truth.  That’s good advice for sales as well.

If you know there is an obvious question or objection to your product or service,
after you have carefully listened to your prospects needs and concerns, control your message by overcoming any objections up front.  Lead with them, show why they are not true and give real case studies that back up what you say. Be relaxed and confident about any objections, not defensive or reactive.  That’s a position of strength and integrity, which positions you well versus your competition.

Take the time to truly study your competition, know your strengths and weaknesses and anticipate any possible objections. Overcome them with courage and data; it will serve you well.

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in authenticity, business relationships, Communication, goals, sales, Success | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Power of Choice: Stand in Your Power

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Snowden McFall
Say No

There are so many times in our lives when we can choose to be courageous, strong, and live in our integrity, and there are times when some of us do not.
Regardless of peer or political pressure in any situation, you ultimately have yourself and God to be accountable to.  Live in the authentic nature of who you are, make decisions and take actions that resonate with you  and your values, and you will always be able to respect yourself.  There are infinite opportunities to do the right thing and be the best you can be.  Choose wisely.

 

“To win or lose,
To love or hate,
To try or quit,
To risk or withdraw,
To accelerate or hesitate,
To dream or stagnate,
To open or close,
To succeed or fail,
To live or die.
Everyone of these starts with a CHOICE.”
Snowden McFall

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in authenticity, goals, inspiration, relationships, Success | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What To Do When You Are Overwhelmed

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Take Control of Something Small

When you have too many projects going on and suddenly another lands in your lap, when your kids’ activities seem too onerous on your already hectic schedule, and when you can’t imagine where you would find time to exercise, stop.  Take a few minutes to yourself and breathe.

Stressed out Woman from Fired Up! and Stress ExpressOverwhelm is very common in  American society. We are on 24/7 with cellphones and computers and that means for some of us, our brains never stop.  The danger with that is you never get the critical rest your body and mind desperately need, and you don’t have any resources to fall back on.

Next time you are overwhelmed and feel out of control, try this.  Take control of one small thing that has immediate visible, tangible results.  Like clean off your desk.  Or file the mountain of paperwork sitting on top of your file cabinet.  Something you can see right away.  Afterwards, you will feel a sense of power and accomplishment and you can handle the next task. You’ll feel more balanced.
Then you can prioritize your highest leveraged activities and start managing them in peace and quiet with your phone off for a good 90 minutes, for maximum productivity.

You can conquer overwhelm and gain control of your time. Try it.

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in enthusiam, goals, life balance, Stress Relief, Success | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Give Your Clients Information the Way THEY Want It

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Snowden McFall

 Everyone Is Different: Pay Attention to Their Needs

Fire Up your business with global connectionsDo you know how your clients prefer information?  I recently learned that one of my important contacts really dislikes the phone, and prefers skype or face to face meetings. That was a big surprise to me. And a little challenging since she lives on the West Coast and I am on the East Coast.

Some clients are not auditory- you can tell them things over the phone but the data is lost. (Most people are not auditory- they are visual.)  Visuals prefer the written word, whether by fax or email. Some don’t want attachments other than PDF files.  Some folks want reports set up in a specific way, followed by a confirming phone call.

Ask your customers and key contacts how they would most like to receive information and then change your work habits to suit THEIR needs. A recent client said she rarely checks email, so that if I send her something important, I should call so she checks her email.  That was very useful to know.

Find out what works for your key clients.  It can often dramatically improve communication effectiveness and ensure a smooth working relationship.  

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in business relationships, Communication, productivity, relationships, Success | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Be a Better Networker: Focus on Them

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Endless Referrals by Bob BurgAsk Questions About Their Work & Interests

When you meet someone at a networking function, the temptation is to share all your latest new products and services. That’s the wrong move. What’s much more effective is to ask a series of questions that get them talking about themselves, such as:

1. How did you get into that line of work?

2. What do you like best about it?

3. What changes have you seen in your industry?

4. Please describe your ideal client…

5. What advice would you give to someone entering this field?

6. What do you see as upcoming trends in your industry?

These questions are suggested by my friend, author Bob Burg in his book Endless Referrals.  If you spend your focus on the other person, learning as much as you can about them, referring them to others, introducing them to others, you are adding value first, and becoming much more memorable than any other people “selling” at those events.

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

  

Bookmark and Share
Posted in business relationships, Communication, networking, Success | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Are You Badmouthing Yourself?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Stop Judging and Criticizing Yourself

Stressed out Woman from Fired Up! and Stress ExpressOne of the most destructive habits so many of us have is judging ourselves when we make a mistake and badmouthing ourselves. It’s been said we have between 40,000 and 50,000 thoughts a day and that 75-85% of those thoughts are negative.  Everyone has some kind of voice that tries to hold them back. Replace that voice with positive self-talk and take action anyway, no matter what the negative voice says. When you catch yourself berating yourself, say “Stop” or “Deflect” and replace it with a positive thought or statement about yourself.  Recall past successes, times when you felt valued and appreciated, were effective at work.  Focus on those good thoughts and drown out the old judgmental voices, whether yours or from your childhood.  You can overcome anything and be as successful as you choose.
 
” To discover your potential, reject the negative programming
all of us are exposed to.”
Robert Schuller

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Communication, enthusiam, Happiness, Motivation, Success | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More Vacation Days = Better Productivity

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Stress Tip: Take More Time Off

At the company Red Frog, the CEO gives his employees unlimited time off.  That’s right- unlimited time off.  AnAnd it’s never abused or taken for granted.  Because more time off means greater productivity.  You have time to recharge and renew; creativity abounds and you return to work with a good attitude, ready to take on challenges.In 2011, 70% of Americans did not take all their allotted vacation time (Right Management).  Managers: take note – this is not a good idea. Encourage your people to take all their time off, and consider giving them more.  You may just find you have even greater success and better results.

 

And if you are an entrepreneur, you may be afraid to take time off, but that’s the opposite of what you should be doing. Dan Sullivan runs a Toronto company called Strategic Coach and he requires his clients to take several vacations each year. In a survey of 3000 clients, Sullivan found that after 3 years, each client had doubled their annual free days and doubled their income!

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Burnout, Happiness, Health, life balance, productivity, Stress Relief, Success, vacations | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Do Make A Difference When You Volunteer

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Building a garden at a local schoolPlus It’s a Great Stress Reliever    

One of the last things you might think of doing when you are very stressed is to take the time to help someone else. But it can truly be the best thing you can do. The value of volunteerism is that it gives you perspective, awareness of how blessed your life really is, and away from the anxiety of stress.

Volunteering:
• promotes connection and sharing
• decreases stress and depression
• improves interpersonal skills
• increases gratitude and empathy
• improves understanding of community issues
• strengthens your ability to cope
• makes you feel good about yourself and your gifts and talents

Cornell University studied  the impact of environmental volunteerism on seniors, and discovered  those who volunteer  outside became more physically active and benefitted from being in nature. They had more energy, a greater ability to cope, and stronger emotional well-being. Younger nature volunteers had increased concentration, reduced aggression, decreased stress and improved self-esteem.

If you have not volunteered lately, there are so many groups who need your talents and ideas.  Check your local listings for area non-profits and get started. You DO make a difference.

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share.

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Burnout, business relationships, enthusiam, life balance, Success, Volunteerism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What You Focus On You Create

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Snowden McFall

Choose Wisely

From Stress Express, image of messy home office

Energy follows thought so you really want to be careful where you put your thoughts.  If you are worried about paying bills and all you see in front of you is a mess and a stack of bills like those shown here, it’s hard to focus on anything else.  And the problem with that is you attract more of the same.

Instead, clear off your desk, put the clutter away, put the bills in a file and focus on what you are grateful for.  Focus on your health, your friends and family, your loved ones, your home, your pets. your gifts and talents.  Put your attention on WHAT YOU WANT.  Create a dream collage and imagine yourself living in better circumstances, being happy and able to pay your bills with ease.  Shift out of the negative into the positive and then take action accordingly.  It can make a huge difference in your life.

 

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share with others!
Follow me on twitter, Facebook and Linked in @snowdenmcfall

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in enthusiam, goals, Happiness, inspiration, life balance, Motivation, Success | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

I’ll Do it Later, & Other Reasons We Procrastinate

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Snowden McFall

The Illusive Someday….

Clock from Stress ExpressWe all have things we put off, whether it’s the laundry, key tasks at work, filing, etc.  And we have perfectly good reasons, like “I work better under pressure,” “I’ll get to it later,” “It’s not high priority.”

The thing is, enough of those things we have not done pile up into large incompletions, which sap your energy and pull away from what could be much more significant.  Incompletions are a form of self-sabotage which can create anxiety, worry and tension.

Why do we procrastinate and what can we do?  Here are three reasons and solutions….

1. Perfectionism. Let that go. As my friend Paul Evans says, “Done is better than perfect.”

2. “I work better under pressure.”  Most of us don’t really, and it creates unnecessary stress. Map out 90 minutes of uninterrupted time and get the high level high leverage activity done! 

3. Overwhelm. Chunk the project into small steps that you can easily tackle.  Note your progress, record your successes each step of the way and the project can get done smoothly and efficiently.  Learning to manage your time more effectively can have so many benefits, from greater personal satisfaction to increased income to more time with your family.

 

©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved.  No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Bookmark and Share
Posted in productivity, Stress Relief, Success, time management | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment