Productivity Tip For Your Sales Force
January 7, 2008
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S SECRET OF SUCCESS
Benjamin Franklin, just a small printer in Philadelphia, found himself badly in debt.
He thought of himself as a simple man of ordinary ability, but believed he could acquire the essential principles of successful living, if only he could find the right method. Having an inventive mind, he devised a method so simple, yet so practical, that anyone could use it.
Franklin chose 13 subjects, which he felt were necessary or desirable for him to acquire and try to master, and he gave a week’s strict attention to each subject, successively. In this way, he was able to go through his entire list in 13 weeks, and repeat the process four times in a year. It was to this one idea that Benjamin Franklin felt he owed all his success and happiness.
Frank Bettger took Franklin’s idea and applied it to selling. Frank Bettger wrote several classic books on selling.
I have taken the liberty of adding my own energy-boosting thoughts to those of Bettger and Franklin.
Here’s my Outrageous Energy version of Franklin and Bettger’s lists:
1. Enthusiasm
2. Breathe deeply and slowly
3. Think in terms of others’ interests
4. Ask More Questions
5. What IS Their Key issue?
6. Silence: listen
7. Sincerity: deserve confidence by being authentic
8. Knowledge of my business
9. Appreciation and praise
10. Smile: happiness
11. Remember names and faces
12. Service
13. Closing the sale: or opening a relationship, which action is best now?
Franklin used what he called a Pocket Reminder and kept it with him at all times. I suggest that you follow his example.
Please write the words below on a 3×5 index card. Carry simple this Pocket Reminder with you. Read it several times a day. Memorize it. I believe you’ll boost your performance!
POCKET REMINDER #1Enthusiasm
• Force yourself to act enthusiastic, and you’ll become enthusiastic.
• Enthusiasm puts your fear to work for you.
• Enthusiasm is contagious.
• Enthusiasm sustains you in the difficult times.
• Commit to double the amount of enthusiasm that you have been putting into your work and into your life.
Remember — Enthusiasm builds Outrageous Energy!
************************
Two Frogs, A Lesson In Energy
January 7, 2008
Two young frogs fell into a bucket of milk. Both tried to jump to freedom, but the sides of the bucket were steep and no foundation was to be had on the surface of the liquid.
Seeing little chance of escape, the first frog soon despaired and stopped jumping. After a short while he sunk to the bottom of the bucket and drowned.
The second frog also saw no likelihood of success, but he never stopped trying. Even though each jump seemed to reach the same inadequate height, he kept on struggling. Eventually, his persistent efforts churned some milk into butter. From the now hardened surface of the milk, he managed to leap out of the bucket.
The moral of this little inspiring story:
–Those who don’t give up and persevere may be in for a pleasant surprise! –
– Energy is often rewarded with success from unexpected sources. –
From a teaching story by Paramahansa Yogananda
P
Too Tired, No Time
January 6, 2008
HelenMarie’s Outrageous Energy Living is dedicated to all of us who have ever not done what we really wanted to do because we were too tired or didn’t have time or both.
I think of it as the TTNT, Too Tired, No Time
TTNT blasts the joy and spontaneity out of your life and mine.
I come from a long line of “A” type personalities. In my family, work is an acheivement in itself. A man carring rocks back and forth even with no purpose, is better than a man sitting on a rock thinking about the project and how he will acheive the efficient transfer of the rocks. Planning is something you do on the job or when you are too exhausted to stand up anymore, sitting is avoided.
I was called lazy as I child, cause I liked to daydream.
I could float away on a snowflake, disappear into a cloud, dance with the leafs in the wind, in the blink of an eye. I worked diligently to prove that I was not lazy. My cousins and I often went to Auntie’s farm to help during the summer holidays. I tried so hard to keep up with my energetic cousins.
One day we were haying. I was on the wagon behind the baler stacking the bales as they came out. These bales were alalfa they weighted about 80 pounds, it was 86 degrees F in the field and I passed out. That was the end of my baling career I was banned to the homeplace were instead of baling I did the morning and evening chores and all the cooking and cleaning for the crew which was about 10 people, this was considered light duty.
I thought it was.
I felt guilty that while I was preparing food I could listen to the radio that I was slacking off. I enjoyed being alone and working in my own way. I got the work done on time; although not exactly as Auntie would have done it. She was liberated for the kitchen and out in the fields working with the crew which she loved. My fainting on the hay wagon turned into a win.win for all of us.
As an adult I did a very good impression of working till I dropped, often driving myself so hard I ended up in the hospital or in bed too exhausted and sick to do anything but sleep. I was driven and never questioned that way of life until I became pregnant.I finally figured out that it was not that I did too much.
It was I did that which I had no interest in doing and I did not know how to stop.I taught myself yoga, I had done 5BX for years (5BX was the women’s version of an aerobic routine developed by the RCAF). I saw Karine a Swedish woman on TV and she opened the door to a new kind of movement yoga, that I really enjoyed.
My best freind signed me up for a vipassana yoga class as a Christmas gift, we had no idea that this was not hatha yoga, well…… vipassana is about sitting in silence and not movement. I had brought my “ride ‘em” back chair to the class as I had recently had acute back pain. I learned during that class that it was impossible for me to sit still and that the chair squeaked everytime I moved. I was faced with the prospect of sitting still all day and not talking.
What a challenge!
My friend and I stayed for the entire day in that old nunnery building down by the Elbow River in Calgary. That vipassana day was a turning point. I didn’t realize it at the time however it was the first step in learning about mediation and the eastern philosphies and using those “looking glasses” to view myself and my world.
So now I meditate often and I still squarm like a worm and suffer from restlessness when I sit. A wonderful man taught me Tibetan hand meditation for when I cannot even stand to sit for one blessed moment and that has saved me from giving up entirely.
I sat a N.S. Genoka 10 day and it was torture and a delight. I am so proud to have done it. It is a wonderful course and I would recommend it to anyone. I have friends who sit that 10 day at least once a year somewhere. The course is a miracle experience and offered around the world for dana.
If you don’t know what that is google it!
I noticed when I sat for 11 hours a day in silence and ate three huge meals and 2 snacks a day that I didn’t gain weight. I pondered this when I came home and weighted myself I had lost three pounds. How could that be, I mean the vegetarian fare was delicious and I ate as if I might never see food again. The food was cooked by laughing, smiling people I could hear them in the kitchen. I was hungry not only for the food, I was also hungry for the sound of their voices.
These two experiences were the beginning of my search for the peace of mind which would allow me to have the energy to do the things I wanted to do.
Namaste.
I would like to suggest just for today you practice a piece of peace that I read about in one of Deepak Chopra’s books.
I call it the Namaste Day, just for one day say namaste silently to every person you come in contact with. Made eye contact if possible and say silent a silent namaste. (I do it to animals too.) As you pass a stranger on the sidewalk a brief glance and a silent namaste. A colleage comes into your space eyecontact and namaste at the beginning or at the end of the conversation or both. It has a marvelous effect in the world.
Thank you Deepak.
Have a namaste day, eh!
<3
The Key is Energy
January 5, 2008
Do you want more healthy energy?
When I ask my clients and friends this question, the answer is always “YES”! Of course we all want more energy. That’s why I’m revealing my entire toolbox of healthy energy-building secrets at the next Outrageous Energy Living seminar.
Call me if you want to learn more about this exciting, energizing experience.
The Secret
January 4, 2008
Everybody’s seen the book and the movie.
What I know for sure is the secret is thankfulness.
It is impossible to be depressed or angry or resentful or whatever if you make a habit of being thankful, I phone my friend Sue and tell her what I am thankful about every morning, actually I usually tell voice mail cause she is a later riser than me.
I do it even if I don’t feel very grateful.
I write the things I am thankful for in my journal, I thank my customers, make eye contactand just say thanks. I have come out of one of the worse depressions I have everexperienced just by noticing all the things I have to be thankful for and the more I noticethe blessings I am showered with every moment of every day the more there seem to beIt is magic.
Thank you for reading my posts, for your friendship and love, your feedback, thank you for sharing you with me. I am so thankful for the digital world that allows me to communicate with you.
<3 HelenMarie
The key
January 1, 2008
There was a holy man named Nasruddin who lost his key. Nasruddin was crawling around on the ground under a light looking for it, when one of his followers noticed him and ran to help the master. Soon 40 people where crawling and peering at the ground under the light standard looking for the lost key.Finally Iman said to Nasruddin, “sire are you sure you lost your key here? perhaps you dropped it somewhere else”.”Well actually I lost it our there in the dark but it is so much easier to see over here that I thought to look for it here in the light.”
Soul Care and Miracles
January 1, 2008
Out beyond right doing and wrong doing there is a field I will meet you there……..
Jelaladin Rumi
It tickles my soul that a 15th Century Persian mystic is the best selling poet of our time. These poems are translated by a burly man named Coleman Barks, he and Rumi are so good together, it is truly a miracle.
Get your Head Straight About Weight! - No more die-t only live-it
January 1, 2008
I had thought to retire from helping people lose weight.
Then people who saw me asked how I had lost 85 pounds in the last 18 months and they kept asking so I started answering. “Bring together a group of between 6 to 12 people who are willing to work with me for 6 weeks and I will show you my Outrageous Energy Living Process.
If you follow the process with your whole heart you will NEVER need to work with me or anyone else around weight again.
Guaranteed!
If you are not satisfied just say so and you will get a full refund anytime until I cash in my chips. I am that confident that you can change your life by changing you mind, that you can make the positive change and live the life you desire with the body of your dreams.
HelenMarie’s Outrageous Energy Living is a 6 week process.
In that six weeks my partner Ingrid and I both veterans of the diet wars will teach you everything you need to know about building and maintaining your optiminum energy state so that you can have the body and the energy level you desire. It’s totally OUTRAGEOUS.
I have never offered this program before for such an outrageous low price and it is packed with everything I have learned from a lifetime of studying weight loss and more importantly permanent weight loss, as in lose once more and this time keep it off, without starving yourself.
Keep it off and love your body while you are doing it. Get your head straight about weight!If you want to know more about Outrageous Energy Living call me at 403-671-3939.
I will be delighted to tell you all about it. I am revealing all the details HelenMarie’s Outrageous Energy Living on January 12, 2008 at a special New Year’s price so……..call me at 403-671-3939 as space is limited!
Stress&Productivity: Company’s don’t run on paper they run on people
January 1, 2008
Canadians are some of the least productive workers in the G7.
The G7 workforce is the most educated and materially blessed in the world. Productivity in the work place is directly related to job satisfaction. Many of us believe that money is the most important fact in job satisfaction.
Money can translate into benefits, pensions, as well as salaries and bonuses of all kinds, and yet…….. what people really want is the chance to contribute to the company through their own gifts and talents. People want to know they make a difference at work and the first step toward excellence aka productivity is the ability to have input into the way you do your job.
One of the geniuses of Microsoft and founder Bill Gates is the stock purchasing plan. If people own stock they feel that they are part of the management, they have a say in the operations of the company.My friends in the USA are telling me about a new term “presentism” being at work physically without any commitment to do the job. People are coming to work without any passion without any buy-in, they put in their time like prisioners and go home exhausted. Their work performance is effecting their entire life.Think about enforced indolence for 8 hours a day. If you spent 8 hours a day listlessly doing work that bores you, work you my think is not worth doing, you are creating an energtic path away from passion.
I was once told I would not fit into the workplace in Toronto because I laughed to loud, had too much fun at work, this stunned and amazed me. It was true, I would have been noisy. I would have also been energetic and commited to what I was doing. I have worked for myself for the past decade and am now working at a paid position 40 hours a week, it is a low level job and what constantly amazes me that my co-workers are so commited to doing a good job. The resources to suppport them in excellence are small. Often unskilful leadership, exemplified by poor to no communication stand in the way and yet these low status, poorly paid workers, soldier on, caring about the customers and the company. The furnace doesn’t work in the warehouse, it has been repaired numerous times it still doesn’t work. No manager knows the status of it’s repair, the warehouse staff do there work in freezing conditions and are still told they aren’t productive enough. No one has even offered a space heater or seemed to care if there is no heat. One manager as heard to say he liked it he was alway to hot on the floor and was happy to come and work in a cool place. He seemed unaware that he spends perhaps 2 hours out of 8 in the cool and then returned to the warmth. The worker who spends 8 hours in the cool doesn’t find it so charming. Contests are set up, staff participate and no on ever hears who won. Sales promotions are explained differently depending on which manager is asked for details.
The information from the morning meeting is left to trickle down to anyone who is not present. And yet…….customers are served, as a matter of fact, these workers deserve awards for customer service, everyday at least a dozen times I see someone go above and beyond making the sale and making a difference for this customer.These workers are discouraged. They are not told what they need to know to do the job the company expects. They are often called on the carpet because some other worker tattled on them, training is negligible.
On the job training has transformed to “with the customer waiting training”.
Dedicated workers watch some other workers not do their job and see that managers don’t speak up because it’s hard to find people or it’s a busy time and we need him/her we’ll talk to him/her after the rush is over. These same unproductive workers get the same bonuses as those who have worked with dedication and commitment. What message is being send here? It seems that those who are dedicated are on the same level as those who literally couldn’t care less about their work.
So what is the answer? More discipline, more money, more training, more checklists, more workshops, more Coke in the fridge?
The number one thing you can do is to acknowledge people and listen to them. People would rather have you critize their performance than ignore it. It reminds me of my family doctor telling me my son was simply trying to get my attention by acting so badly. It was true as soon as I set some rules his behavior improved.The number one thing we need to do in Canada is talk to our co-workers, realize that we are in this together. Imagine that everyone you work with went home……. How would you do your job? If you are a manager or an executive or a board member, when was the last time you had coffee with your c0-workers? not your fellow executives but the workers the people who make it happen in the cubes and corridors of your organization, you no the ones we think of as lower status? I will guaruntee you that if it is longer than 30 days ago since you had face time with the”little people”, you are out of touch with the operations of your company. Companys do not run on paper they run on people.Paper makes people think you don’t trust them. People make a company one you can trust.
Energetically if you withhold your attention from your co-workers you are a blockage and a blockage of energy causes stagnation. It’s the law.
In my next article in this series, I will talk about building an energetic workplace.
