Tenacious, I thought this would be a great word to ponder on. What is Tenacity?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines it as: persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired.

“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Franklin Roosevelt

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent can’t take the place of tenacity;Truly the world has many unsuccessful people with talent. Education will not will not take the place of tenacity; as of this post, there are more educated people out on the streets without jobs than ever before — the U.S. government states that the unemployment is at 9.1% (I suppose they have not stepped out of their comfy offices and taken a walk through the major cities of America… if they took some real numbers to include those that do not report into the system and the women that opted to become care providers, I’d say that the unemployment rate would be closer to 12%).

ah! alas, this is about Persistence and determination which combined are omnipotent.

You can accomplish what you want perhaps not in one swift act of achievement — but you can do it gradually, day by day if you want to do it, if you work to do it, possibly over a long period of time.

Which would you prefer? Committed and Tenacious or Detached and Indifferent.

Truth be told, it is hard to achieve ANYTHING if you are not 100% committed to its accomplishment.

Yet the answer and the choice is in your hands. Indeed, you DO hold the key to achieving your goals. It’s in the Want and in the Work (pursuit, for those that find the word “work” offensive).

The pursuit will take you through the experience which in turn will become your journey. Have you put your dreams on paper? When you write your dreams down they begin to take shape, I have found myself erasing and redoing my dreams. What I have found more magical is that when I go back to my dream journal on several occasions I’ve had to expand my dream because as I had journeyed my dream expanded too!

The writing process helps turn your dreams into goals which you can schedule and track. The power of commitment is awesome. If you can dream it, you can think it… and yes… you can Will it to life!

Daisy Says: Take a deep breath and keep on holding!

It would go without saying that each of us is in the business of selling every single day.

Each one of us (including the little tykes) are communicating, persuading, negotiating and influencing. Each one of us are trying to get people to cooperate with us in order to accomplish the things that we want them to accomplish. From the time we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed at night we are selling.

So the question with regard to selling is not if you are doing it, but are you good at it?

Let’s go from good to great at something we are already doing.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practice with real people all the time. Practice one thing at a time in small steps. Notice how people’s attitudes toward you change as you progress.

2. Quantity Of Practice Is More Important Than Quality
Quality and understanding will follow as you get more familiar with the process. In the beginning you don’t have to get it “right”, but you must get it started!

3. Keep Your Conversations Relaxed
It’s not always what you ask or say, it’s when you ask or say it. Keep your conversations, … conversational! Don’t let your enthusiasm overwhelm people.

4. Let Go Of Your Attachment To The Outcome!
The outcome is a result of the integrity of the process. It’s the process that will create the relationship and, ultimately, the sale. Let go of your outcome and your income will increase!

5. Do Not Start “Selling” As Soon As You Glimpse An Opportunity! (people that do this are real tacky)
Do not jump in with your solution as soon as you hear someone say something like “I wish I had more money”! Instead, find out what is behind this kind of statement.

6. Go Slow To Go Fast
Take your time and look at this as a “journey of discovery”.

7. Invest Time In People
If you only meet one person a week, and that person is prepared to do what is necessary to take action, join your cause, change their circumstances – and each person did the same thing and rally others to the cause, and so on, all within the same 12-month period, how many people would you have in your cause at the end of the year? (do the math, YES… you can move mountains!)

Daisy Says: Discover the problems, gain the sale.

Let’s face it there are some things you can not control… like the weather and the economic crisis. Yet there is good news… there are things you can control.

These could mean a slow death to your business if you are not vigilant.
1. Dishonesty. (Overt and White Lies) There has been so much dishonesty that consumers not only need but are looking for somebody they can trust, not someone that will tell them what they want to hear. They need an advocate.

2. Lack of Professionalism. This come in various forms like talking down about your competitors. Taking phone calls while talking with someone else. Not admitting that you don’t have an answer to a question. (you’re not expected to know everything, policies and rules change you can tell your clients that you will find the answer and get back to them). Here’s a big one: Ignoring problems. Problems don’t go away, actually they seem to get bigger when you ignore them. The best thing is to address them when they arise.

3. No follow-up. You spend a good of time and probably money in marketing your business. How much time and money do you think you are throwing out the window because you don’t have a follow-up plan on how to stay in contact with prospects, leads and clients?

4. Not listening to your customers. You are dealing with real people with real problems. When you are talking with your prospects and clients take out a notebook and just take notes. They’ll respect you for that; don’t talk, just listen and write. Your notes will help you address issues and keep them fresh long after the meeting. Also, it sends out a loud message that they are important to you. Make sure to repeat the conversation to clarify what they said.
A few pointers of things you can ‘listen’ for:
-Why they contacted you
-What are their objectives
-What are their objections
-What are their expectations

5. No manners. This really should go without saying. Being a lady or a gentleman will never go out of fashion. Say please and thank you, shake hands and make eye contact with people. Send thank you notes or emails. Avoid the use of profanity, be mindful and respectful of others.

Daisy Says: Intensify your life … it will shine!

As I write this there are many in our country that are experiencing some real tough times. I myself have had my ups and my downs and like many there were moments that I mused and wondered ‘there’s gotta be a better way’.

I believe… ‘slow and steady wins the race’. I have found that too many people are looking for a short cut and forsake the lesson along the way.

The first tip is that the greatest value you give to yourself is Time.
The second tip is welcome the Challenge because NOTHING can replace Experience.

As you go through your day make EVERY moment count. Respect other peoples time and they in turn will respect you.

Give no excuses. Ask yourself “how can I be better”. I am not talking about competition here, just simply you pushing yourself to be better. You can not demand the best of others if you yourself are not willing to GIVE the best of yourself.

Third tip is about service and contribution; service is about results minus the excuses. Open your heart and embrace the opportunity to serve. The joy of giving can only be experienced by opening your heart and doing, the result is you enjoy more of life.

Fourth tip is that – in your pursuit of your dreams remember where Happiness begins. Maintain your course with POSITIVE Attitude and POSITIVE Action.

Fifth tip is to connect with each other: listen, watch and ask questions. Above all be thankful for the opportunities and the challenges. Strive for EXCEPTIONAL results and tell yourself NOTHING less will do!

Daisy Says: Choose to make an impact: GIVE, LOVE, DO MORE … all with a smile!

Twelve publishers turned down harry potter. In her commencement speech at Harvard, Rowling shares the benefits of failure.

ROCK BOTTOM BECAME THE SOLID FOUNDATION ON WHICH I REBUILT MY LIFE; IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FAILING AT SOMETHING UNLESS YOU LIVE SO CAUTIOUSLY THAT YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE LIVED AT ALL. ~ J.K. Rowling

Daisy Says: Success is the ability to resist failure.