This blog is dedicated to all my friends that are in any company that may require them to sell a product or service.

Sales is not for everyone, yet each one of us at some point though-out our day attempt to persuade others to understand our point of view. It all starts with asking questions and a lot of listening.

If you joined a company to “help” people whether you are selling a product or service that would benefit your customer please understand that you are in the profession of SELLING.

Tell yourself that you will be successful as a sales professional and that you will learn something today that will make you even more professional tomorrow!

Asking the right questions and listening to the answer is a great relationship builder and important to the persuasion process. Zig Ziglar once said: Talking is sharing, listening is caring.

In life, some people will treat you rudely, on occasion many will let you down, some people may even avoid you. With all the negative externals out of the way one benefit about the sales profession: You get to be your own boss, you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself.

Wouldn’t you agree that it is time to take your sales profession seriously and begin developing the skills that will make a difference to your customer and your bottom line?

If you feel that you have aligned yourself with a company or product that you can endorse there could be no greater satisfaction of being able to save someone time, money and frustration because of the services you have to offer.

I will share with you a couple of points that will make a difference in your sales profession: conduct yourself with honesty and integrity.

YOUR:
Values determine behavior – behavior determines reputation – reputation determines advantages.

Remember – people with a job could walk in and get their pink slip, you “as your own boss” create SECURITY by creating activity. Creating activity starts with PROSPECTING, without prospecting you will never have a chance to develop your sales skills. Prospecting is an all the time activity.

One of the most dreadful words for an ‘unprofessional’ sales person is the word: NO
Yet, when your prospects say no, they most often are conveying a message to you letting you know that they ‘do not know’ enough to say yes! Your job is to empower your customer with knowledge so that they have new information (reasons, features and benefits) that will guide your prospect to the YES decision today!

Begin today developing a genuine interest and concern for other people and you will be on your way to becoming a professional in sales.

Daisy Says: There is no greater mountain to climb than to the peak of your infinity.

I’m sure by now you have sat down and put together your goals for the New Year, this may include also your Resolutions.

I propose that your resolutions include tying up lose ends, finishing up with old projects. It is a bit daunting to embark on new projects with old ones lingering. Like many of us, I am sure that you had all good intentions to accomplish all the things you had set forth in the beginning of the year.

When we have things we do not finish there is a part deep within our core that nags at us.

What are some of the things that you have left undone or unresolved?

Get a paper and pencil right now and write them down… yes, even if you may think they are insignificant:

• an unsent thank-you card
• not having changed the oil in the car
• a disorganized desk, car, closet or drawer
• desiring to spend more time with your family, but not making it a priority
• not making time for self-care
• needing to leave a destructive relationship, but lacking the courage to walk away

As you create your list of UNFINISHED BUSINESS it is important that you “check-in” with your feelings. Our body tells us when we are not comfortable with something, and unfinished business can create unbalance in our being.

As tasks build up and errands go unfinished our life becomes less manageable, sometimes we even become stressed and out of balance. The best analogy I can use is a desk… how slowly it becomes cluttered with paperwork and before we know it we can’t locate anything.

When things go unfinished we may experience any of the following:

• feelings of guilt, anxiety or depression
• irritability or anger
• distractions and disappointments
• procrastination
• diminish our self-esteem and self-confidence
• unable to enjoy more out of life

If you take a few minutes to truly go deep into your feelings you may discover that your unfinished business has caused more damage than you had planned…because as human beings we tend to turn to something physical to block anything that makes us feel uncomfortable such as over eating, excessive drinking, sleeping or some other behavior that allows us to cope with the situation.

Now that we understand that balance is important, let’s go back to that list you wrote and focus on what you can do to FINISH those task you had started. When you finish those old projects you will open new possibilities, ultimately you will enjoy more balance and success.

• Go though your list and determine how you will handle each item.

What can be dealt with immediately?
What can be delegated?
What needs to be scheduled for a later date?
What resources do you need to accomplish certain tasks?

Next…Write down your plan of action.

• Remove things from your list as you accomplish them. Most important you may discover that some of the projects you had started no longer serve you – Remove them!

By RESOLVING to start with UNFINISHED BUSINESS you can start the New Year with a clear picture of what is important to accomplish and what you are willing to let go of.

Among your greatest accomplishments for the New Year – Balance and success will be a bi-product of your journey.

Daisy Says: On your mark, Get ready…. FINISH!

The word whine means to complain in a childish fashion, (you may know some people that “want some cheese with their whine?” –while revile means to condemn, despise, berate.

When we whine and revile we give power to that which we revile and whine about. We cease to be in charge of our life.

If you are not successful don’t blame your mother, father, culture, education etc!
If you are overweight don’t pawn it on genetics, mother, father, illness.
Please, step out of the dark ages…. don’t fool yourself any longer!

So you are not making the kind of success you want… ?
Do a self evaluation… assess what skills you have and decide you are going to put them to their highest use!
If after your evaluation, you realize that your income is equal to the lack of skill development… then my friend, it is time to re-invent yourself and learn – acquire – and put to use the skills that will allow you to earn greater income.

Begin today to develop the necessary character to make your circumstances instead of allowing the circumstances to make you.

Know in your being that you influence the whole of your life, stop and consider the ‘WHY’ you created a situation, rather than saying, “why me?” This heightened awareness will direct you to look inside of yourself for answers.

The ‘why me’ people, fail to truly answer the question … they fail to challenge themselves to go from average to fortune… they fail to do the uncomfortable until it becomes comfortable.

A quote from George Bernard Shaw: “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”

Daisy Says: Begin today to take responsibility for all of it, remember you are in control of it all.

I remember the first day I learned to ride a bicycle. It was a beautiful afternoon, summer was almost over. The leaves on the trees were beginning to welcome Autumn.

My dad ushered me onto the bike. Gently he encouraged me to keep my eyes ahead to the horizon and let my feet do the pedaling. It is amazing that years later his wisdom of riding a bike still sticks with me: keep my eyes ahead to the horizon and let my feet do the walking.

He held the seat of the bike and stayed by my side… the handle bars wobbled as I tried to keep straight, attempting to maintain coordination my feet peddled away. All the while my dads soothing voice of encouragement was by my side: “you’re doing great!”

I was so focused in the moment, enjoying the thrill of the experience, the wind gingerly blowing by…the sound of leaves cheering me on that I totally forgot that my father was by my side. For a moment I forgot that I ‘didn’t’ know what I was doing and wanted to tell my dad that I was ‘doing it’: “Papi, I’m doing it!” I shouted with glee.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder thinking I would find my dad there and the astonishment that I had been peddling all by myself startled me so that I lost control and ‘bam!’ I hit the pavement! Ah the memories!

My dad smiling sheepishly started running towards me all the while saying, “Get back up, you can do it!”. Yes, he was right… and I did!

Life is like riding a bike, if you don’t peddle you’ll miss the adventure.

Yes, some days it will be hot and the sun can be unbearable, you may get caught in the middle of a rain shower – but what the heck! That’s what towels are made for… to dry up! You may fall, but that’s okay get yourself back up. Sometimes you may have to stop to adjust the chain, perhaps add some oil to keep the parts running smooth, maybe take a break to look around. But most important, ride your bike. Keep riding.

The promises of the horizon are so beautiful and the journey well worth it, remember… there will be wonderful adventures along the way. My dad always said: “Once you learn how to ride a bike you never forget”.

Daisy Says: Keep your eyes ahead of the horizon and let your feet take you there.

It does not matter who you are nor what is happening in your life right now, what matters is.. that it IS… that LIFE IS and that all experiences no matter how we label them good or bad serve as catalyst in personal growth.

I’ve had a few challenges that tested my WILL and CHARACTER… challenges that hurt so deep that while I was going through the experience it felt like I was in the darkest tunnel. Despite the loving voices on the outside, the journey was very personal and solitary. When I was at my lowest, when I thought I could not cry any more, when the darkness had completely enveloped me – in the silence of my anguish I found the strength to get back up and face the person in the mirror. I got up and looked at her from a different point of view, from the angle of experience; I looked at her and saw that despite the challenge and the grief… that I was there….’alive’. Alive to move on and start a new chapter.

Welcome the challenges for they help you build your character, experience the fall and know that you will rise again stronger and bolder.

Daisy Says: Be grateful in the falling and victorious in the living!