The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Unless you live under a rock, you should be familiar with that title. The book, written by Stephen R. Covey, was named the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century, and has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. Covey’s seven habits can certainly be applied to sales. Here’s a quick overview of the seven habits:
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Take responsibility for your choices and the consequences that follow.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Create a mission statement for yourself. Clarify your important character values and life goals.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Prioritize and execute your weekly tasks based on importance versus urgency.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Strive for solutions and agreements that are mutually beneficial.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Use empathic listening.
Habit 6: Synergize
Take advantage of the strengths of the people around you through positive teamwork.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Live a balanced life and renew your resources, energy and health. Exercise, mediate or pray and read for mental stimulation.
Continue Reading »A Checklist for Hiring a Face-to-Face Sales Partner
In today’s fast-paced world, consumers are bombarded with so many different marketing messages it is difficult to break through and reach customers. Add to that marketing restrictions such as do-not-call and do-not-mail lists and the hurdles to reaching customers grows ever higher. That’s why so many organizations are turning to face-to-face sales. One of the oldest sales tactics is enjoying a new found resurgence as companies begin to recognize the opportunity in face-to-face sales.
The challenge for companies looking to launch face-to-face sales tactics is that it is one of the most difficult channels to staff and operate effectively. That’s why so many companies are turning to companies such as C4 Connections, because they have a proven record and process for running successful face-to-face campaigns.
If you are considering face-to-face sales and are looking for a partner who can help you to succeed, it’s important to carefully select that partner. Here’s a checklist of items to consider as you go through the process:
- Experience. This is probably the single most important aspect to consider. When considering partners, reach out to their past clients and references. Look at the industries they have supported in the past. Do they understand your business and your customers?
- Staffing and Training. The sales reps and sales management teams that a partner puts in place will represent your business directly with your customers. Discuss a company’s approach to recruiting and staffing. Plan to work jointly with your partner to develop a thorough training program. Better informed reps, mean better performing reps.
- The Numbers. This one’s obvious; this is after all an effort to increase sales. What kind of results have they generated for other companies? What are their expectations at each office and with each team? Set goals and then work jointly to reach them.
- Scale. Can the face-to-face team meet your needs? Do you need offices nationwide? Can the partner show they can ramp-up quickly and be where you need them to be?
If you are looking for a proven face-to-face sales partner, we would be excited to show you our process and our results. Contact us today to learn more.
Continue Reading »Success Takes Perseverance – Stories of the Famous How Failed at First
Continue Reading »Gateway 2013 Conference Scheduled for February 24th in St. Louis
C4 Connection agents and managers from across the country will descend on St. Louis, MO on February 24th for this year’s annual conference. This year’s conference will give everyone an excellent opportunity to congregate with some of the industry’s top leader to discuss innovative new strategies to unleash your success in 2013.
Some of the topics at this year’s event include: implementing creative incentive programs, secrets to effective sales meetings that produce results, and turning sales obstacles into opportunities. Look for additional information in the coming months.
Continue Reading »Overcoming Obstacles Leads to Success
At C4 Connections, we are always looking for sources of inspiration and examples that keep us motivated to generate success. Many of us face circumstances and obstacles in our daily living, but I doubt many of us have had to face challenges of the magnitude faced by Louis Zamperini. During his life, Zamperini:
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Was an immigrant, who could not speak English
Was poor
Was bullied, fought back, and faced a troubled youth
Enlisted in the Army during WWII
Crashed a plane in the ocean, was stranded 47 days, and survived (the longest survival at sea on record)
Declared missing at sea and killed in action until the war ended
Was a Japanese POW for 3 1/2 years
Was brutally beaten and tortured for the entire time of his detainment
Suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder following the war
Could not keep a job
Was an alcoholic
Was suicidal and abusive to his wife
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Here is Zamperini accomplished in spite of the hurdles mentioned above:
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He won a California state track title and received a scholarship to USC
Qualified for the 1936 Olympics
Attended the Olympics and shook Hitler’s hand
Traveled to Japan to forgive those who tortured him
Started a camp for troubled youth
Received numerous awards and lifetime achievement awards
Appeared on Jay Leno in June of 2012 at the age of 95 years old
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In Laura Hillenbrand’s book “Unbroken,” Louie’s improbable life and story plays out. While he faced overwhelming, life threatening and life changing events he never gave up hope. While his circumstances certainly molded his life, they did not define who he was or what he wanted to accomplish.
Can you say the same about yourself? Do you let your circumstances, both past and present, define today’s outcome? Don’t. Today is a new day. It holds its own outcome. While your circumstances don’t disappear, if you let them define who you are or could potentially become…then they will. This can seriously put your potential for success at risk.
Here are the attributes that Louis’ credits with his overwhelming desire to overcome his obstacles in life:
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A deep desire and curiosity to experience life
A great sense of humor
A love of people and a desire to help others
An ability to self-motivate
Always taking responsibility
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Maybe we can’t all be as successful as Louis…but we can sure use him as an example and try.
The 10 Greatest Sales People of All Time
Think you’ve got what it takes to succeed in door-to-door sales? Maybe you do. For inspiration the Inc. Magazine has a great feature on the 10 Greatest Salespeople of All Time. As you read the article, it’s interesting to note how many of these individuals started out in door-to-door sales. Check it out and see if you agree with their selections.
Continue Reading »Door-to-Door Sales Jobs – Are they a Path to Success?
Anyone who has ever gone door-to-door to sell products can tell you that the work is challenging. It takes self-motivation, the ability to withstand rejection and a whole of lot of door knocking. Door-to-door sales is simply not a job for everyone. Over the years at C4 Connections, we’ve employed thousands of sales reps – some good, some bad and some just amazing. Many many times we get asked, “Is a door-to-door sales job a good path to future success or advancement?” We believe the answer is absolutely, “Yes!” But that noted, it also includes a follow up, “it depends.”
So why the dual answer? Well, we know for a fact that door-to-door selling can lead to bigger and better things down the road. All of our top executives each began their career in door-to-door sales. Also, one of the top executives in our parent company also got his start in door-to-door. The, “It depends,” comment points back to where we started this blog post. Those who succeed in door-to-door are the ones who give it all they have, who have the commitment to stick with the difficult process of learning the ropes during those especially difficult early days. Far too many would-be sales reps throw in the towel after one or two tough days. Door-to-door sales is a numbers game. You have to stick with it, and you have to push yourself and strive for success. We firmly believe that sales is 1% selling skill and 99% hard work. If you can succeed in door-to-door, you absolutely have what it takes to succeed in other areas of the business world. So what are you waiting for? If you want to give it a shot, contact us today.
Continue Reading »An MBA that Teaches Door-to-Door Sales
Door-to-Door sales is one of the earliest sales tactics, but it’s clearly one that people can still learn from. The Acton School of Business in Austin, TX has made door-to-door sales a mandatory part of the curriculum. The school, founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2002, offers an MBA program. Each winter, the school breaks its class of 25 students into teams for the Acton Sales Challenge. Each group has to go out and sell at least three dictionaries door-to-door as part of the competition. If the students can’t reach their quote of three dictionaries per team member, they are expelled from the program. You can read all about the program here.
Continue Reading »The 9 Best Sales Tips for Great Door-to-Door Sales Results
Over at the Sales Giant Training Web site, you find a variety of useful article and sales tips. One example is this article covering 9 great sales tips for high performing sales people. Here’s a quick overview of the list:
- Talent is a myth; effort is what makes salespeople successful.
- Attitude is the most important element in consistent sales performance.
- Start every sales conversation by asking the prospect what they need to know about your company and product.
- Dress and groom yourself exactly as you want to be perceived.
- Practice every day.
- Get comfortable with talking to yourself in the mirror.
- Be meticulous with your follow up.
- Set goals that you look at every day.
- Sometimes it’s OK to give yourself a rest.
Understanding the FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule for Door-to-Door Sales
When you make a sale at the door, the customer has the right to cancel the order within three days. This is the result of a forward thinking regulation from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC’s cooling-off period let’s customers cancel orders for purchases of $25 or more with a full refund. You can see all the specifics on the FTC’s Facts for Consumers page.
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