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Bill Gibson – Don’t Burn The School

How did you get to be where you are at and know what you know? Along with some good choices and lots of hard work and possibly a little luck along the way you also made errors, you made wrong choices, you experienced pain and frustration…in other words you had to experience growing up, you had to experience learning at school, you had to experience romance, relationships, addictions, and other lessons from business and life in general. You were not just told how to do it!

The fact that you and I have learned and possibly graduated from aspects of the “School Of Life” and at times the “School Of Hard Knocks” we still have no right to “Burn The School” and not let others experience and learn from some of the same schools.

In my opinion we need to be patient, kind, understanding and less judgemental with those who are following behind us trying to learn what we have learned. We all want others to not have to learn some of the painful lessons we have learned. It makes common sense and it is reasonable to teach, guide and mentor to help others, for example…like our children, relatives, friends, employees and associates…find an easier route and learn from us and our experiences. Although, there comes a time when we have to realize each and every one of them are also entitled to learn and find their own way by going through similar “Schools Of Life” and “Schools Of  Hard Knocks” that we have graduated from.

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that some of our greatest moments of learning and positive change and growth came from some of the toughest moments and situations we experienced along the way.

Empathize, be there for them, while at the same time acknowledge that others have the right to learn from that same school and we don’t have the right to “Burn The School” just because we graduated.

Often when I’m asked for advice, my answer is, “here is my experience with a similar situation although I must say I do not want to insist that this is the answer because there are always exceptions. Consider what I’ve shared with you and then make your own decision. Don’t give your power and future to me. It belongs to you!”

The one great thing about taking into account the advice of others and then making your own decision is, “if it fails you know it was because you chose it.” I’ve found it more heart-breaking when I’ve failed following someone else’s advice. There is great satisfaction in that saying…“well at least I did it my way.” If I’m going to pay for that mistake I want it to be mine! That also goes for your successes as well. Accept the advice; accept the help while at the same time do not give your power of success and failure away. And, remember, failure is part of success…not opposite of success!

Over the years this simple statement “I have no right to burn the school” has made it less painful when I’ve had to stand by and witness others close to me going through some of the pains of learning life’s lessons…while I couldn’t do anything about it and felt helpless. By the way they also are entitled to experience the joys and highs of those schools as well. So don’t “Burn That School” either.

Hopefully this simple little philosophy will also work for you at times that you need it. Have a good week!

Bill Gibson – You Can Stay Forever Young

It is a great day for me to address the topic of You Can Stay Forever Young. Today I’m 68 calendar years young…born on May 10, 1945 to Murray and Mary Gibson (Sister Sharon) into the community of Newport Station, Hants Country, Nova Scotia, Canada. (About 300 people). Here I now live and work full time from Johannesburg, South Africa. To get to what age really is I’d like to start with the subject of change.

I’ve always found it is important to look at change as a positive influence in our lives. When we go through changes we usually have to learn new ways of doing, thinking, speaking and being. The understanding of the four stages of learning can help you see the benefits of change and it can keep you stay forever young.

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If you search back through your life and explore the process you went through while learning new things in your life, you will notice that you experienced these four stages of learning.

Think about when you:

  • learned to drive a car
  • learned the skill of typing
  • learned to use a computer
  • learned to dance
  • learned to change a diaper on a baby
  • learned a new communication skill
  • even learning to make love (LOL)

Firstly you started at stage 1 and that is where you did not even know that you really did not know i.e. unconsciously unskilled. Then you tried to drive a car with your limited experience. You suddenly realised you could not drive (stage 2). You were consciously unskilled. You felt very awkward, slow, stupid, etc. This is the stage many of us give up because of the discomfort. I mean, who wants to look and feel unskilled?

Now, if you persevered you eventually reached stage 3 – consciously skilled where you became quite happy with your driving and were conscious that you were getting skilled at it. You were alert and had an awareness of all your driving moves. (I practised on a dead end dirt road with a gravel pit at the end of the road in my uncle Reid Shanks’ old pick-up truck.) The truck was old and beat up so I couldn’t damage it!  When we become consciously skilled there is a great feeling of achievement and it creates excitement. This is the result of advancing from the consciously unskilled stage to the consciously skilled stage. You experience the winning feeling of accomplishing and completing.

The final stage is the unconsciously skilled area of learning. This is where you are driving down the road and leaning down changing radio stations or the CD player and suddenly wonder who has been driving the car and whether or not cars have passed by. If you were not consciously driving, your unconscious must have been driving. The unconsciously skilled area is where you are so experienced at doing something that you do not have to think about it.

Now, by understanding these four stages of learning it makes it easier to comprehend why you may resist change in the consciously unskilled stage of learning something new. But the real benefit is that feeling of accomplishment, exhilaration, and achievement that comes to us when we conquer this stage and end up at the next stage. Accomplishing something new creates energy and energy creates spirit and spirit is youthfulness.

We all know someone in their late sixties, seventies or eighties who look as if they are ten to fifteen years younger than they really are. These people are always out participating in new adventures and activities uncommon to their age group. In my opinion, these people have found the fountain of youth. They are not afraid to venture through the awkward growth stage of learning something new. (Consciously Unskilled). They do it continually. They are not the people that say “been there, done that, got the T-shirt…life is a bore.” They look forward to every day.

For most people it is much easier to stay secure with the old and what is comfortable. However, when you begin to master that new venture, new challenge, new skill there is a great sense of achievement, that creates energy in turn creating spirit.

Talking about spirit, if you look into the eyes of these active elderly people you see spirit. They have found the fountain of youth and it is in their attitude of always learning, progressing and trying new things. It is about openness and a willingness to try and a willingness to fail and try again.

Individuals, departments, companies, communities and countries, which are willing to accept and tackle change with vengeance, have spirit. Change is an opportunity to rejuvenate and grow. Opportunity can be found in change. So grab that opportunity to infuse a new energy into yourself and others around you. If you do this, you will always have the energy to continually develop your company and your selling, leading and learning skills and in turn helping you enjoy your business and personal life even more.

SANBS Change (2)

By the way, it is important to never judge your age or someone else’s age by the date of their birth. Age can be measured in three ways:

  1. Calendar Years: That is how many years you have been on this earth. (Society has a tendency to think in calendar years.)
  2. Biological Years: Think of five people that are all the same age in calendar years. Example 50 years of age. None of them look exactly the same age. Some have grey hair, some don’t. Some have more wrinkles than others. Some have youthful bodies, some don’t. You can affect the age of your body. Marius Liebenberg, a friend and partner, has a guest house in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa. A few years ago just before the ARGUS Cycle competition a 72 year old man showed up to stay overnight two days before the one day competition. He had just cycled 1200 kilometres from Durban to Cape Town! How old was his body? He was probably as fit as the average 36 year old. Therefore he was not 72.
  3. Psychological Years: Some 32 year olds are 104 years of age. You hear them say “There is nothing new, life’s a bore, I am getting old, there is no future, etc.” Then you have the 70 year old who says there is a lot that is new, life’s exciting and they are childlike and happy. This is the one that can have a major influence on your biological years and the way you treat yourself. Your psychological age is the most important one. Be open to change, adventure, growth, risk, learning, challenges, new ways, new places, new people, fun and excitement and you will stay forever young.

SANBS Change (2)

For me, at 68 calendar years of age, this is the day I commit to at least 3 blogs a week and in the next 60 days will launch my on-line store of “how to” products and start introducing apps for iPhones and android phones and tablets. Watch this space…it is time to inspire not retire!

 

I’m really excited about sharing, connecting and helping to build an even more meaningful prosperous joyful future for myself and as many others as possible. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. God willing, I’ll be blogging at 100 calendar years of age. Have a forever young week!

Bill Gibson – The Competitive Edge…Effective Needs Analysis!

By

Bill Gibson

(Sales Guru Magazine – December 2012)

Over 35 years ago I was earning in excess of the equivalent of R3M per year in Canada selling local radio advertising. Here in S.A. I often get asked “Bill, what is it that you do that helps close those large consulting/training contracts?” My answer in most part is “I’m Customer & Solution Focused utilising the Needs Analysis Approach to Selling.” This past year alone I have invested 40% of my time inside of one of the major banks teaching the Needs Analysis Approach to Selling. Why? Because it easily becomes a company’s competitive edge! Too often, we try to sell without knowing the client’s real needs, desires and preferences. This is a win/win method to maximise sales opportunities with a client.

Try the following:

 

  • Easy general questions in the beginning to build rapport and then ask the confidential, more private and financial questions at the end.
  • Integrate all 4 Types of Questions and use a variety of soft non-threatening openers.
  1. Closed Questions…usually with “Yes” or “No” or a limited choice.
  • “Have you started saving for retirement?”  Yes! No!
  • “What is the best time of day to see you…Morning or Afternoon?”
  1. Open Questions…usually have who, what, why, when and which near the beginning. Using Soft Openers in front make it more of a request reducing a client’s resistance or defensiveness.
Soft Openers (Form of Request)                          Open Questions
  • “Mr Botha, could you tell me…
  • “Aasifah, could you share with me …
  • “Mashudu, may I ask you…

 

who you now have your current account with?”…what you invest in Radio Advertising annually?”…when it is that you plan to trade your vehicle in?”

 

 

  1. Leading Questions…guide the conversation usually towards a positive outcome…often a yes. (A form of an Open Question or Closed Question)
  • “Wouldn’t you agree for cash flow purposes it is important to buy long term assets with a long term loan?”
  1. Directive Questions – direct the mind to a specific focus.
  • “Tell me what you heard here that your other family members would be interested in?”
  • “On a scale of 0 to 10 how effective is your media rep from XYZ Magazine?”
  • Avoid jumping ahead of the clients and listen to “how” they are saying what they are saying and listen to understand, not just to advise, sell, defend and respond. If you start selling half way through, it isn’t a Needs Analysis. Ask people to clarify, it is easier to target your presentation and meet the client’s request. Sell and/or suggest after you get all the information.
  • Write trigger words, circle things, put stars by them, underline important points and facts and write “important” beside certain things that you may utilise later to make a point or recommendation .Keep eye contact.  Don’t let your laptop build a barrier! Match the person’s body language, tone of voice and facial expression. 7% is in the words, 23% in the tone of the voice, 35% in the facial expression and 35% is in the body language. Every once in a while drop the pen, chat and listen.
  • Have a pool of questions to draw from for different situations, different market segments and different groups of people. There are also times when you will give input, do a little educating and give an answer to a client’s question. The key is to gather information, not to dominate the conversation with sales points and your opinions.  It is okay to use “self-disclosure” that builds rapport. Careful…don’t dominate. It’s about them, not you.
  • If possible, sit at 45 degrees or alongside the person and try to get the client to sit at a neutral table rather than at his/her desk. Changing locations or normal places in a room changes the person’s state of mind. Use tools, charts etc. to explain and educate. Contrast keeps their attention and helps to create energy!
  • Know all the products and services of your company and your company’s partners and divisions and actively look for and make note which one’s can be of assistance to the client at a profit to your total organisation. (Collaboration). Above all be sincere and truly look for ways to genuinely assist, coach and serve the client in terms of both his/her career challenges, business solutions and personality profile.
  • Evaluate, Confirm, Recommend and Close what business is possible at that time and/or set up a second meeting to come back with recommendations that are client focused and solution driven.

You can bust those 2013 Targets by taking the Needs Analysis Approach to Selling. Listen! Listen! Listen! And then respond! Best of success!

E-mail: bill@kbitraining.com / Blog: bill-gibson.com / Twitter: @billgibson1

Bill Gibson – Get Your Support People On Side

Let’s have a look at the things you can do as a salesperson to get your support team and other salespeople on your side. Also we will look at the actions and ideas that the entire sales team can do for themselves and their support people in the company. Many of the ideas can apply to any team member on non-sales teams.

Take The Lead
Are you on a roll, things are just falling into place one after another and you have got momentum? If so don’t flaunt it in a way that puts your other team members down. Share what’s working with your team members and then you are allowing others to pick up on the draught just like the geese do with each other when flying in a V. The geese get 71% more distance with the same effect flying as a team in a V shape pattern.

Pick People Up
Is someone on the team hitting rock bottom? It is quite common for a team member or two to be struggling while others are really performing. Quite often the only attention the struggling person gets is from the sales manager who wants to know why and maybe even applies pressure. What if the team reacted like the flock of geese do? When a goose is down and hurt two of them go down to protect and try and help. If a team member is in a slump, two strong salespeople could swoop down and try and help by having a chat, looking at what the person has been doing and then helping that person move to productive actions. The two could decide to act as mentors and coaches for a few weeks. A salesperson is less defensive and protective with a team mate than with the sales manager. Talk about the concept in your next sales meeting or at the training session. What a great way to build a powerful team!

Feedback
Sit down every couple of months with your own “personal audit form” and find out how each of your key people in administration, service, technical, etc. feel the working relationship is working with you and the clients.

Eliminate Small Annoyances
Periodically, on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting, get small annoyances out on the table with the support people. It is often the small things that build up that blow things side ways in a relationship.

Include Everyone
Encourage management to include support, technical and administration people, on most of the courses that salespeople in the company attend. “If you are alive you are in sales” so remember all these people are in sales to one degree or another. Courses on effective communications, customer service and team building are much more effective if people who work as a team performing different facets within the company, go together. They get to know each other and deal with real issues.

Position Action “After” Meeting Strategies
Spearhead the idea of a brainstorm session with other salespeople, sales management and support people on how to reduce psychic pollution. For example after a sales meeting if three people go to a coffee shop they do not sit there and talk about how bad the meeting was and how unhappy they are with things. They talk about how to make things better and how to use what they picked up.

Share Development Tools And Ideas
Share good books and tapes with your support people and with other salespeople. The best way to do this is display some new things you have learned, or talk about some new concepts or ideas for business and personal development you gained from a specific book or , CD or YouTube. If someone shows interest tell them you will loan it to them or give them the link. When you try and force the issue people often run in the opposite direction.

Understand Personality Types
Understand personality styles better. Get support people and salespeople involved. This way people working together understand each other better. Make a note of the styles of each person you work with. Think about it in advance of dealing with them, that way you will adjust your style and expectations. Remember if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is not an eagle.

Input When Hiring
Influence who it is you are surrounded with by recommending good people for the job and ask management if you can be part of the interview process to give a salesperson’s perspective, or potential co-workers impression, of the person being interviewed.

Pass On Compliments
Salespeople usually only contact technical people, administration people and service people, when they want something or are complaining. Also contact these people to thank them when they have been on time with a delivery. Pass on compliments from clients. Where possible have the client write a thank you note. Consider small thank you gifts internally with the people who help you and your clients.

Do The Unexpected
Do the unexpected. Show up on Monday with a flower for the women in administration. Pass out promotional freebies you may get from clients. These people are your internal customers. You can easily pick up a couple of extra coffees and some pastries and give them to those who help. Do not wait for them to ask. The little things make a difference!

Team Code Of Commitment
Encourage sales management and the prime influencers on the sales team to agree on a “Code of Commitments” for the team to operate better together. Be sure these include how to keep psychic pollution down.

Set Standards Together
Include the sales support and service people on developing a set of standards for dealing with each other.

Set An Example
Be the person who is on time and considerate of others in meetings. You build excellent team support that way.

Be Open
Sit down once a month with those who work closely with you and explain the results. Share targets with them. Reward with personal thank you’s, small gifts, free tickets, etc. Remember it does not have to be a lot financially. Your intent and a small gift is more than most people ever give them.

Bright Light
Be the bright light and the sprinkle of joy in your co-workers, management and support people’s lives. Project optimism and light heartedness. When mistakes are made, explain that failure is not opposite to success, it is part of success. Failures are the stepping stones. Use quick little philosophies like “will it matter a year from today.” “Let’s look at the worst case scenario.” Then, “If that is the worst scenario we have got it made.”
Forced optimism and insensitivity towards other peoples problems and stresses is not what I am talking about. I am talking about being a “breath of fresh air.” Have fun and encourage fun.

Praise! Praise! Praise!
Continually look for reasons to praise support people. Have clients send written thank-you’s. Thank support people in front of others. Let their boss know how they have helped. Send a letter to the boss and a copy to the support person as well.

Understand People
As a salesperson you already understand the psychology of handling people and helping people. Read lots of books and listen to CD’s and take courses on how people’s minds work, how to change beliefs and behaviours etc. Where appropriate, be a sounding board to support people and help them with advice on a personal level as well as the business level.

Include Your Family
Many of the ideas presented in reference to working better with your support team will also work with your family. Remember your family is your support team as well. Put a strategy together to keep them on your side.

Internal Marketing Strategy
As a member of the sales department, encourage the development of an actual strategy to really get individuals and other departments throughout the company, office or plant on-side as allies. There is a natural us versus them hurdle to overcome between sales and production, sales and technical, sales and engineering and sales and administration. Salespeople know how to utilize public relations, marketing services and selling skills to win clients, but they often forget to use them internally. What would it look like if the sales department did some of the following?

– Identify the people who are the centres of influence in the other departments and devise a series of things like lunches, invitations to functions, personal visits or solicit their advice.
– Every six months, each salesperson invests a day in the other department, getting first-hand experience of the realities of doing the actual work there.
– Every six months took the individuals out on sales calls for a day.
– Knew the birthdays of everyone and made a special thing of it, a birthday cake, a small gift, etc.
– “Helper of the Month” award for the person who contributed the most.

As you can see the list could go on and on. With the abilities and experience that resides in most sales departments (any department) there is no reason why they should not be liked and happily supported by other departments. A good strategy, sincere interest and follow through will do the job. United we stand…divided we fall.

Bill Gibson – Market Your Community…Even More Effectively

A community, town, city, region or country is just like a business…it must be marketed and developed from the inside out. How often have we heard or seen great advertising slogans describing a business, community or city, only to arrive there to find out that the “real life experience” falls far short of the expectations set by the advertising.

Media Marketing has value, although we believe it has to be “backed up” from the inside out. Following is the Marketing Your Community From The Inside-Out Model along with a few quick Inside Out Community Marketing Ideas.

 PowerPoint #1 – Attitudinal Marketing: The backbone and real power of a community starts deep on the inside of the community…it starts with having a marketing and servicing attitude. It is the attitude that politicians, municipal management, municipal employees and even citizens in general have towards business, each other, their services, their community and life itself.

Try the following community attitudinal adjustment ideas:

  • Eliminate Us vs. Them – find ways to work together, have a shared vision and look for similarities and respect the differences. Don’t get even…get ahead!
  • Incentives Through Wandering – have a person or small committee who wanders through the community giving recognition for positive things people and businesses are doing for the community. Feature a business or social group of the month through the local media.
  • Learn From The Winners – utilise local successful people to tell their story to others and demonstrate the possibilities.
  • Shop Your Community – engage credible people to give monthly positive and not-so-positive feedback and then act on it, utilise focus groups for the same purpose.
  • People and Businesses Go Where They Are Invited and Stay Where They Are Appreciated – have special weeks to create excitement and show appreciation. For example…teacher’s week, nurse’s week, civic worker’s week, construction worker’s week, Petro S.A. week, tourism industry week, small business week…the list goes on!
  • Be A Tourist In Your Own Hometown – the month before tourist season encourage local people to be a tourist in their own hometown or community. Sightseeing tours, special local hotel rates, tourist information and contests that promote tourism knowledge are part of the initiative.
  • Have the Media run programs on “Know Your Community”.
  • Respect Your Community – make a list and promote the positives of your community. I’m originally from Canada and I’ve personally got a list of Great Things About South Africa that most South Africans don’t talk about.

Here’s a few of them:

  • People are being educated in record numbers
  • In the top countries for least expensive electricity and drinkable water
  • Longest Wine Route in the world…stops at my house in Gauteng! LOL!
  • Only country bidding for the  World Cup with 3 Nobel Peace Prize Winners on the team…wow, what a country!

 

PowerPoint #2 – Face To Face Marketing: This is the telephonic and face to face interaction we have with the public and with each other and how well we interact.

  • Set up a Community Marketing Team (could be volunteer) that supports and works with the Community Economic Development Department. The wisest people, the most energetic entrepreneur, the best employer, the most innovative business person, the most community conscious individuals should be on this team. Target them and invite them to help.
  • Categorise potential businesses and projects needed in your community under AAA, AA, A, B and C categories utilising criteria. Decide on a few “Most Wanted” and get several people involved in going after the “Most Wanted” businesses and projects.
  • Select a group of high profile and frequent traveller individuals who love your community and make them Official Community Ambassadors and give them business cards that confirms this. Conduct a training session or guide on how and where to use the cards.
  • Have a community “SWAT Team” that can help businesses in trouble with free advice on how to “turn the business around”.
  • Run customer care programs for municipal personnel and the community at large…sponsored by local government. Give certificates and “pins” they can wear that say “Hospitality Graduate”.
  • Have “Format Touring” when potential citizens and potential business owners and investors come to town so they see the community in its “best light”. Without a doubt, they will discover the negatives so make sure they see the positives. Part of “Format Touring” would be the introduction to “positive”, “optimistic”, “successful” business leaders and community minded citizens. Also tour them to impressive landmarks, historical areas and exceptional facilities.

PowerPoint #3 – Environmental Marketing: How clean our community is, the signage, our buildings, the landscape, our promotional materials, our offices, our municipal vehicles, and the appearance of our “point-of-contact people” are all part of Environmental Marketing. Try these ideas:

  • Have an annual community “Trash Bash” that lasts two weeks to a month. This is where government, business and citizens alike pool all their resources to tow away old broken vehicles, repair fences, cut the grass, pick up trash and junk, paint or knock down eye sore buildings and instil pride in the community with clean up incentives. (We did this in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Amplify your community – create a community mascot that goes on all your advertising or visit trade shows, events and other large gatherings (Person in a costume).
  • Erect the World’s Largest – in Canada one community has the World’s Largest Fly Rod and Reel (the idea came out of a brainstorm session I facilitated), another has the World’s Largest Ice Hockey Stick and another has the World’s Largest Moose. How about the World’s Largest Surf Board, the World’s Largest Elephant, the World’s Largest Trout or the World’s Largest Grape. Small replicas, restaurants, post cards and many other revenue generating ideas could result from your “World’s Largest”.

PowerPoint #4: Extended Personal Marketing: It is still personal but it is where you look for ways to extend your contact with many people at one time still through the “personal touch”. This includes sms, Facebook, Twitter, a Blog, direct mail, e-mail, trade shows, workshops and community events. Here are a few more:

  • Develop “Speaker Packages” that can help Community Ambassadors and enthusiastic citizens speak on and present the great things about your community and the opportunities available. Also consider a “Community Public Speaking Team”. (This strategy was used with great success to promote the World Fair in Vancouver, Canada in 1986).
  • Promote and Advertise “Potential Opportunities” in your community on a monthly basis.
  • Conduct Workshops and publish “how to” pamphlets on such topics as becoming a supplier to government and effectively interacting with government.
  • Identify the Types of Franchisees you need in your community and then direct mail or e-mail an “invitation” to the appropriate S.A. Franchiser to investigate the opportunity.

PowerPoint #5 – Media Marketing: By Maximising the first four PowerPoints the experience people will have with your community will more closely match the advertising messages created by your advertising professionals.

  • With Media Marketing understand that it is better to reach 5000 of the right people 20 times with an effective message than 100 000 people only once with a message. Think frequency (repetition) first. Reach comes with the amount of money you have to spend.

Remember, communities need lots of successful businesses contributing to the tax base to support the infrastructure and community services that help communities grow and prosper. This is a big reason for attracting, developing and keeping good businesses in your community through effective marketing from the inside-out.

 

About Bill Gibson

Not only does Bill Gibson focus on sales and marketing within corporations. He has also spoken to dozens of communities in Canada on the people side of economic development (Marketing A Community From The Inside-Out), spoken at economic development conferences, spearheaded “Strong Communities for The 90’s” in Canada, Co-authored “Communicating Economic Development” with Neil Godin, was declared Canada’s #1 Business Speaker by The Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada, and over 5 years his company graduated over 5000 Business Owners in Canada from his in-depth 6-10 Month Business Owner Development Programs. He can be reached at +27-11-784-1720 or bill@kbitraining.com.