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Added for You - How to Turn Water into Lemonade by Giving a Flavored Answer to a Fruitless Question
If you own a small business, then you know the value of affordable and effective marketing. Unfortunately, many traditional and online advertising methods are becoming quite expensive. This article will explain direct mail guidelines and methods.Direct mail is an often over-looked method that can be very effective if executed properly. There are three guidelines to follow when conducting an effective direct mail campaign:1. Catch the reader's attention immediately. You only have a few seconds to do this before your mail ad is thrown away as junk mail. Therefore, opt for postcard mailings instead of sending your offers in an envelope. If your business is relatively small and unheard-of, the reader will never open it unless your company's name is familiar to the reader. Envelope advertising is cheaper than postcard advertising, but is only effective if you have already built up name recognition.When using the postcard method, you will need to be able to print images on the card. I highly, highly recommend investing in a quality home photographic printer. You will end up saving money in the long-term, and your printer will be right where you need it whenever you need it. Whenever you have materials printed professionaly, you pay for labour, expensive inks, and expensive equipment.When searching for images to print on your postcards, remember the the point of this first guideline: catch your reader's attention. Of course you don't want an offensive image for your cards, but you do want one that is slighly "controversial". When choosing images for your card
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is reci
Your CV is a gateway to getting an interview for that ideal job. It is your opportunity to provide a good first impression but you only have two sides of A4 paper in which to do it. It is not surprising then that most people have trouble getting started.Firstly, you need to know what the employer is thinking. The employer suddenly has a vacancy. Filling the vacancy is going to take up valuable time that he would rather spend doing his normal job.He would love to find the perfect person immediately rather than plough through hundreds of CV’s. It is often a dull, thankless task.The employer has a job description in front of him. It includes experience or qualifications that are essential for the job and some attributes that are desirable but not absolutely necessary.He starts going through the pile of CV’s on his desk. He scans each one for about 30 seconds and makes a judgement.He simply hasn’t got time to read the CV that is more than two pages and all the relevant information is hidden in long paragraphs. - He files it in the bin.Fancy formatting, coloured text or multiple fonts do not impress him. Is this person trying to hide their lack of experience for the job behind an artistic CV? – He files it in the bin.He notices spelling mistakes and poor punctuation. This person is just sloppy! – He files the CV in the bin.He breaths a sigh of relief, the pile on his desk is smaller already. He makes another coffee and then starts reading………………………. This sho
Glug...glug...glug...
Ahhh! Lemonade! My cheeks tingled from the surprising tart flavor as I gulped down an unexpected swig of Country Time.
Woooo-weee! That woke me up at 6 in the morning!
When it comes to conversation, giving flavored answers to fruitless questions works the same way. Think about your responses to ritual questions like “How are you?” “What’s up?” “How’s business?” or “How you doin?” (If you live in New York City)
What’s your answer? Good? Great? Grand? Wonderful? Perhaps you use the ever popular fine.
Guess what? Your answers are BOR-ing! In fact, fine is probably the worst of the lot - it can mean anything! For example, last summer I went to a Cardinals game on a warm Sunday afternoon and felt fine until I vomited from eating 4 orders of nachos...after which I told my girlfriend I felt fine. (F.I.N.E is actually an acronym for “Feelings I’m Not Expressing)
Nevertheless, these close-ended, one syllable words are conversation killers. They offer limited spice to your encounters. And most of the time, people use them as fast getaways to be polite, say hello, and get on with their isolated lives.
On the other hand, when you offer a flavored answer to a fruitless question, it magnetizes people. It makes you more approachable. People won't be able to resist talking to you because you will be so darn sweet! In other words, you will turn water into lemonade.
Fine Doesn't Sell Couches
I first tried flavored answers a few years ago when I sold furniture in Portland. As a salesman, it was my job to greet every person that came through the store. Daily, my opener to customers was a simple, “Good morning, how are ya?”
People responded with “Good,” “Fine," “Excellent,” or whatever bland, monosyllabic pseudo emotion that disguised their real feelings which ended the conversation so the annoying salesman would walk away.
But then, they'd ask the same question back to me. I would respond with such flavored answers as “Exhausted from lifting couches,” “This place is a circus on Sundays!” or “I’m hopped up on sugar from our free donuts!”
No customer ever walked away from me! No customer felt uncomfortable! And no customer avoided eye contact so he wouldn’t have to talk to some pushy salesman.
But every customer had fun. Every customer smiled. And every customer engaged with and related to me as they eventually offered their real states of mind.
Then all of the sudden, my sales skyrocketed! Customers loved me! We got to know each other through engaging, fun conversations which made the sales process relaxed and personable. And all I did was give a flavored answer to a fruitless question. (Therein lies a mini sales lesson on building rapport with your customers!)
Your flavored answers must also have a mixture of the right ingredients. Here are seven characteristics that will lay a foundation from which you can create your own flavor. Read these, and soon you will be turning water into lemonade with only a few words!
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...original. Become known for the way you answer mundane questions with something unique and creative. When I saw George Carlin in concert, he told the audience this: “I hate answering the same stupid, mundane questions in the same, stupid way. So I’ve decided that every month, I will use a new adjective just to keep my answers fresh. This month, it’s ubiquitous.”
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...a personification of your attitude. People can learn a great deal about your attitudes and values simply by the way you reply to “How are you doing?” What’s more, flavored answers to fruitless questions are self-fulfilling prophecies: tell someone you’re “On top of the world,” and you just might find yourself there.
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...surprising. Say something completely unexpected. Say the exact opposite of what the person expects to hear. Several years ago I was wearing a Michigan Football hat the day after Ohio State demolished them 49-10. A man wearing an Ohio jersey approached me, rudely got in my face and with utter arrogance said, “Hey man - did you see the Ohio State/Michigan game last night?!”
“No, I don’t like sports.”
He was silenced. Dumfounded. A complete a loss for words! I smiled back and he ended up changing the subject after which we had a friendly conversation.
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...appealing. Use your smile, tone of voice and even touch to activate and enliven the senses. This combination of words and actions will make your answers almost seem three dimensional! My friend Samantha once suggested the idea of having “National High Five Day” in order to make conversations more fun! Now that would add some flavor to the fruitless!
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...memorable. Discover words that differentiate you. Millions of conversations take place every minute. So, what can you say that resonates in someone’s heart that they haven’t already heard 20 times today? I’ll never forget the time I asked an elderly man, “How are you?” to which he replied, “I’m old, I’m Italian, and I’m rich!”
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...honest and open. People are afraid to disclose the way they really feel in response to mundane, ritual questions because: there’s little time to do so, revealing emotions doesn’t seem worth it, or “fine” is just the first word that comes out of their mouths. This isn’t conducive to much reciprocation or flow in your conversation.
But have you ever gone out of your way to truly answer openly and honestly? Here’s an example that demonstrates the reciprocal nature of self-disclosure.
A few months ago I was working the lobby door at the Ritz Carlton when my eyelids just about closed on me. I was exhausted from working all day. As a guest rapidly approached the hotel I greeted him with, “Welcome in sir, how are you this evening?”
“Fine, how are you?” he quickly replied.
“Tired.”
He almost flew right past me, but the moment that word came out of my mouth he stopped in his tracks! He looked back with a tilted-head smile and said, “Yeah… I guess I’m kinda tired too. I had a long day of meetings and I just want to get some sleep.”
That’s odd…I thought he was “fine.”
Cherise the Waitress
About once a month I eat at a restaurant in St. Louis called Ozzie’s, named after the great Cardinals shortstop. This is where I first met Cherise. One day, after taking note of my “ready to order” behavior, she walked over to my table.
“Good afternoon, my name is Cherise - how are you today?”
“I’m awesome, how about yourself?”
“I’m blessed, thanks for asking!”
Wait a sec. Did she just say “blessed”?
“Excuse me Cherise, but did I just hear you say ‘blessed’?”
“Yes I did! I’m just so fortunate to be blessed in all areas of my life and I love to share that with all of my customers!”
Wow. Now that’s a flavored answer. I inquired further about Cherise’s “blessed” life and discovered she was not only a waitress but a musician who was in the process of signing her first record contract.
Now…in my life, I’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 bazillion waitresses. Give or take a few. But I never had anyone like Cherise. Her original answer turned water into lemonade because she created memorable presence. Once she said “I’m blessed, thanks for asking!” I no longer saw her as a waitress, but as a magnification of God’s love whom I would never forget.
Henry the Bellman
I met Henry during one of my first shifts at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis. You can’t miss the guy: fifty five years old, six-foot-six and always smiling! One evening as I waited by the front door, I noticed Henry strutting in my direction. As he passed by, I quickly glanced at his nametag and introduced myself, “Hi Henry, I’m Scott - how ya’ doin?”
I’ll never forget what he said next: “Alright! Everything is beautiful!”
Hmmm…awfully chipper for someone about to work 11 PM – 7 AM, wouldn’t you say? I later discovered that Henry had been the overnight bellman for more than 10 years. He strutted into work every night at 11:00 PM, and didn’t leave until every shoe was polished, every bag was delivered and every guest got his newspaper. And Henry always had a smile on his face.
I found Henry's flavored answer to be incredibly magnetic because it surprised me. The overnight bellman is not the most glamorous of positions; it’s not the most profitable and it’s certainly not the most recognized. But Henry doesn’t care. To Henry, everything is beautiful. Even if it’s late at night. Even if there’s a million things to do. Everything is beautiful. And to this day, Henry still says that same sentence every time I see him.
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is recip
The wellspring of confidence is belief. When you believe in something, you accept and have conviction about the truth, actuality, or validity of that thing. When the belief is about you, its called self-confidence. Self-confidence is your belief that you can marshal your physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual resources in the successful pursuit of a goal. The number one predictor of individual or team success is confidence level. Confident people tend to initiate action and control their environment - even under difficult conditions. Your degree of self-confidence will determine the kinds of risks you take, the amount of effort you’ll expend, and the strength of your perseverance in time of trouble. Your confidence will determine the amount of flexibility you creatively apply in new situations. Your confidence will promote either optimism or pessimism and will dictate the degree to which you are vulnerable to debilitating stress or depression. We’ve already said that confidence is the single most important factor in determining an individual or team’s likelihood of success. That being the case, promoting confidence is the first task that any leader should undertake. Even though confidence is a personal, intangible belief, it can be actively promoted. There are four basic ways in which we build confidence: the direct experience of success, observing someone similar to you, model success, coaching from a respected individual, and celebration. The four ways of promoting confidence can work alone or in concert. The important point for leaders to r
No customer ever walked away from me! No customer felt uncomfortable! And no customer avoided eye contact so he wouldn’t have to talk to some pushy salesman.
But every customer had fun. Every customer smiled. And every customer engaged with and related to me as they eventually offered their real states of mind.
Then all of the sudden, my sales skyrocketed! Customers loved me! We got to know each other through engaging, fun conversations which made the sales process relaxed and personable. And all I did was give a flavored answer to a fruitless question. (Therein lies a mini sales lesson on building rapport with your customers!)
Your flavored answers must also have a mixture of the right ingredients. Here are seven characteristics that will lay a foundation from which you can create your own flavor. Read these, and soon you will be turning water into lemonade with only a few words!
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...original. Become known for the way you answer mundane questions with something unique and creative. When I saw George Carlin in concert, he told the audience this: “I hate answering the same stupid, mundane questions in the same, stupid way. So I’ve decided that every month, I will use a new adjective just to keep my answers fresh. This month, it’s ubiquitous.”
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...a personification of your attitude. People can learn a great deal about your attitudes and values simply by the way you reply to “How are you doing?” What’s more, flavored answers to fruitless questions are self-fulfilling prophecies: tell someone you’re “On top of the world,” and you just might find yourself there.
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...surprising. Say something completely unexpected. Say the exact opposite of what the person expects to hear. Several years ago I was wearing a Michigan Football hat the day after Ohio State demolished them 49-10. A man wearing an Ohio jersey approached me, rudely got in my face and with utter arrogance said, “Hey man - did you see the Ohio State/Michigan game last night?!”
“No, I don’t like sports.”
He was silenced. Dumfounded. A complete a loss for words! I smiled back and he ended up changing the subject after which we had a friendly conversation.
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...appealing. Use your smile, tone of voice and even touch to activate and enliven the senses. This combination of words and actions will make your answers almost seem three dimensional! My friend Samantha once suggested the idea of having “National High Five Day” in order to make conversations more fun! Now that would add some flavor to the fruitless!
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...memorable. Discover words that differentiate you. Millions of conversations take place every minute. So, what can you say that resonates in someone’s heart that they haven’t already heard 20 times today? I’ll never forget the time I asked an elderly man, “How are you?” to which he replied, “I’m old, I’m Italian, and I’m rich!”
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...honest and open. People are afraid to disclose the way they really feel in response to mundane, ritual questions because: there’s little time to do so, revealing emotions doesn’t seem worth it, or “fine” is just the first word that comes out of their mouths. This isn’t conducive to much reciprocation or flow in your conversation.
But have you ever gone out of your way to truly answer openly and honestly? Here’s an example that demonstrates the reciprocal nature of self-disclosure.
A few months ago I was working the lobby door at the Ritz Carlton when my eyelids just about closed on me. I was exhausted from working all day. As a guest rapidly approached the hotel I greeted him with, “Welcome in sir, how are you this evening?”
“Fine, how are you?” he quickly replied.
“Tired.”
He almost flew right past me, but the moment that word came out of my mouth he stopped in his tracks! He looked back with a tilted-head smile and said, “Yeah… I guess I’m kinda tired too. I had a long day of meetings and I just want to get some sleep.”
That’s odd…I thought he was “fine.”
Cherise the Waitress
About once a month I eat at a restaurant in St. Louis called Ozzie’s, named after the great Cardinals shortstop. This is where I first met Cherise. One day, after taking note of my “ready to order” behavior, she walked over to my table.
“Good afternoon, my name is Cherise - how are you today?”
“I’m awesome, how about yourself?”
“I’m blessed, thanks for asking!”
Wait a sec. Did she just say “blessed”?
“Excuse me Cherise, but did I just hear you say ‘blessed’?”
“Yes I did! I’m just so fortunate to be blessed in all areas of my life and I love to share that with all of my customers!”
Wow. Now that’s a flavored answer. I inquired further about Cherise’s “blessed” life and discovered she was not only a waitress but a musician who was in the process of signing her first record contract.
Now…in my life, I’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 bazillion waitresses. Give or take a few. But I never had anyone like Cherise. Her original answer turned water into lemonade because she created memorable presence. Once she said “I’m blessed, thanks for asking!” I no longer saw her as a waitress, but as a magnification of God’s love whom I would never forget.
Henry the Bellman
I met Henry during one of my first shifts at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis. You can’t miss the guy: fifty five years old, six-foot-six and always smiling! One evening as I waited by the front door, I noticed Henry strutting in my direction. As he passed by, I quickly glanced at his nametag and introduced myself, “Hi Henry, I’m Scott - how ya’ doin?”
I’ll never forget what he said next: “Alright! Everything is beautiful!”
Hmmm…awfully chipper for someone about to work 11 PM – 7 AM, wouldn’t you say? I later discovered that Henry had been the overnight bellman for more than 10 years. He strutted into work every night at 11:00 PM, and didn’t leave until every shoe was polished, every bag was delivered and every guest got his newspaper. And Henry always had a smile on his face.
I found Henry's flavored answer to be incredibly magnetic because it surprised me. The overnight bellman is not the most glamorous of positions; it’s not the most profitable and it’s certainly not the most recognized. But Henry doesn’t care. To Henry, everything is beautiful. Even if it’s late at night. Even if there’s a million things to do. Everything is beautiful. And to this day, Henry still says that same sentence every time I see him.
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is reci
Great isn’t it! Competition is everywhere. Tennis, soccer, football, the Olympic Games. It is the gold medal that counts.In search-engine country the competition is also fierce. Who will win? Will there be only winners and losers? And can you compare the companies mentioned in the title? Are they focused enough to compete? Are they running at the same track?Companies compete on different elements. Airbus is taking space or volume as a target, Boeing’s answer to the challenge is velocity: “we can go faster”.And – this is where the article is about – what is your internal organization doing in this area? Do people and departments compete up to any level? And how is it with the cooperation between the various teams. Does your company value the individual hero with “the employee of the month” or do they choose for a less visible team approach giving away a team bonus.There are many ways you can organize activities. We are all familiar with competition, yet there is one problem with it (a small side effect to all the good things it also brings).Imagine that your company is opening up for others. Do not ask me why they all of a sudden want this, but it is like a trend. You should connect. And then you are talking about this system, this method, our approach and theirs. There is no fit. And we all know where the problem is: At the interface level. It is their protocol against ours. We communicate, but the message doesn’t get acknowledged.So what to do? Stay small and beautiful? But small is not an option in competition. It is bigger, faster, eas
“No, I don’t like sports.”
He was silenced. Dumfounded. A complete a loss for words! I smiled back and he ended up changing the subject after which we had a friendly conversation.
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...appealing. Use your smile, tone of voice and even touch to activate and enliven the senses. This combination of words and actions will make your answers almost seem three dimensional! My friend Samantha once suggested the idea of having “National High Five Day” in order to make conversations more fun! Now that would add some flavor to the fruitless!
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...memorable. Discover words that differentiate you. Millions of conversations take place every minute. So, what can you say that resonates in someone’s heart that they haven’t already heard 20 times today? I’ll never forget the time I asked an elderly man, “How are you?” to which he replied, “I’m old, I’m Italian, and I’m rich!”
MAKE YOUR ANSWER...honest and open. People are afraid to disclose the way they really feel in response to mundane, ritual questions because: there’s little time to do so, revealing emotions doesn’t seem worth it, or “fine” is just the first word that comes out of their mouths. This isn’t conducive to much reciprocation or flow in your conversation.
But have you ever gone out of your way to truly answer openly and honestly? Here’s an example that demonstrates the reciprocal nature of self-disclosure.
A few months ago I was working the lobby door at the Ritz Carlton when my eyelids just about closed on me. I was exhausted from working all day. As a guest rapidly approached the hotel I greeted him with, “Welcome in sir, how are you this evening?”
“Fine, how are you?” he quickly replied.
“Tired.”
He almost flew right past me, but the moment that word came out of my mouth he stopped in his tracks! He looked back with a tilted-head smile and said, “Yeah… I guess I’m kinda tired too. I had a long day of meetings and I just want to get some sleep.”
That’s odd…I thought he was “fine.”
Cherise the Waitress
About once a month I eat at a restaurant in St. Louis called Ozzie’s, named after the great Cardinals shortstop. This is where I first met Cherise. One day, after taking note of my “ready to order” behavior, she walked over to my table.
“Good afternoon, my name is Cherise - how are you today?”
“I’m awesome, how about yourself?”
“I’m blessed, thanks for asking!”
Wait a sec. Did she just say “blessed”?
“Excuse me Cherise, but did I just hear you say ‘blessed’?”
“Yes I did! I’m just so fortunate to be blessed in all areas of my life and I love to share that with all of my customers!”
Wow. Now that’s a flavored answer. I inquired further about Cherise’s “blessed” life and discovered she was not only a waitress but a musician who was in the process of signing her first record contract.
Now…in my life, I’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 bazillion waitresses. Give or take a few. But I never had anyone like Cherise. Her original answer turned water into lemonade because she created memorable presence. Once she said “I’m blessed, thanks for asking!” I no longer saw her as a waitress, but as a magnification of God’s love whom I would never forget.
Henry the Bellman
I met Henry during one of my first shifts at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis. You can’t miss the guy: fifty five years old, six-foot-six and always smiling! One evening as I waited by the front door, I noticed Henry strutting in my direction. As he passed by, I quickly glanced at his nametag and introduced myself, “Hi Henry, I’m Scott - how ya’ doin?”
I’ll never forget what he said next: “Alright! Everything is beautiful!”
Hmmm…awfully chipper for someone about to work 11 PM – 7 AM, wouldn’t you say? I later discovered that Henry had been the overnight bellman for more than 10 years. He strutted into work every night at 11:00 PM, and didn’t leave until every shoe was polished, every bag was delivered and every guest got his newspaper. And Henry always had a smile on his face.
I found Henry's flavored answer to be incredibly magnetic because it surprised me. The overnight bellman is not the most glamorous of positions; it’s not the most profitable and it’s certainly not the most recognized. But Henry doesn’t care. To Henry, everything is beautiful. Even if it’s late at night. Even if there’s a million things to do. Everything is beautiful. And to this day, Henry still says that same sentence every time I see him.
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is reci
“If your growth rate in revenues consistently outpaces your growth rate in people, you simply will not – indeed cannot - build a great company.” Jim CollinsIncreased globalization and competition combined with an aging workforce have intensified the need for talented and engaged workers. Workforce reductions have slowed down the major battles for talent, but have increased the need for the talent to remain at a high level of performance. Many companies are trying to handle this dilemma by aggressively recruiting from the outside, hoping to land some bright stars who might take them boldly into the future. What is needed is a method that will develop the current workforce and keep the leadership pipeline full. Studies confirm that organizations that invest in leadership development programs and strategies have higher retention rates. The cost of replacing a leader is 29-46% of his or her salary. These costs could include recruitment, lost productivity and business plus many other hidden costs.Increasing Leadership CapabilityCapability is the ability to perform or produce; an innate potential for growth and development. Everyone has a certain level of capacity and that level determines the opportunities that are available for that person at any given time. The important thing about capacity is that it expands. The more you help people to develop their talents, the greater their ability becomes and the more opportunities become available for the individual and the company. Increasing Capacity requires conscious effort. People don’t increase their ab
“Good afternoon, my name is Cherise - how are you today?”
“I’m awesome, how about yourself?”
“I’m blessed, thanks for asking!”
Wait a sec. Did she just say “blessed”?
“Excuse me Cherise, but did I just hear you say ‘blessed’?”
“Yes I did! I’m just so fortunate to be blessed in all areas of my life and I love to share that with all of my customers!”
Wow. Now that’s a flavored answer. I inquired further about Cherise’s “blessed” life and discovered she was not only a waitress but a musician who was in the process of signing her first record contract.
Now…in my life, I’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 bazillion waitresses. Give or take a few. But I never had anyone like Cherise. Her original answer turned water into lemonade because she created memorable presence. Once she said “I’m blessed, thanks for asking!” I no longer saw her as a waitress, but as a magnification of God’s love whom I would never forget.
Henry the Bellman
I met Henry during one of my first shifts at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis. You can’t miss the guy: fifty five years old, six-foot-six and always smiling! One evening as I waited by the front door, I noticed Henry strutting in my direction. As he passed by, I quickly glanced at his nametag and introduced myself, “Hi Henry, I’m Scott - how ya’ doin?”
I’ll never forget what he said next: “Alright! Everything is beautiful!”
Hmmm…awfully chipper for someone about to work 11 PM – 7 AM, wouldn’t you say? I later discovered that Henry had been the overnight bellman for more than 10 years. He strutted into work every night at 11:00 PM, and didn’t leave until every shoe was polished, every bag was delivered and every guest got his newspaper. And Henry always had a smile on his face.
I found Henry's flavored answer to be incredibly magnetic because it surprised me. The overnight bellman is not the most glamorous of positions; it’s not the most profitable and it’s certainly not the most recognized. But Henry doesn’t care. To Henry, everything is beautiful. Even if it’s late at night. Even if there’s a million things to do. Everything is beautiful. And to this day, Henry still says that same sentence every time I see him.
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is reci
A good question and certainly research suggests it is possible. But there is an element of chance, creative thinking and perseverance required if you are going to be one of the few that make there fortune. Alex Tew has been the most recent successful example of a young lad making his first million with his creative idea known as the million dollar web page. It is a dynamic idea selling what is known as a pixel (small dot of information) as advertising. Each pixel is worth $1 and was sold in lots of 100. His last sets of pixels were finally sold the late end of 2006, thus making him a million dollar fortune. It was so successful he has now unveiling a new project known as the pixel lotto using the same advertising principle and allowing viewers the chance of winning one million dollars.So how do you come up with the million dollar idea? The internet is fast growing with thousands of sites appearing every day. In my research I managed to find a web site that provided me with the relevant information to create and maintain my own million dollar web page. It was set up ready for business within 40 minutes (www.moneydream.co.uk). This, however, is a good example of one person having an idea and then the internet fast replicating successes. You truly need to take time and find an original concept which will appeal to a large audience.Advertising, seems to be a key way for money to be earned but to get the real money you need to create a site that successfully attracts large number of visitors, on a daily bases. My personal site will be no good to any investors unless I a
Jeffery the Salesman
Last year I attended Jeffrey Gitomer's sales seminar. During one of the modules in his presentation, Jeffery spoke about using positive sales verbiage. He asked the audience to chorally respond to mundane questions like “How is business?” or “What’s new with work?”
Most people in the audience yelled “Business is slow,” “It’s picking up,” or “Well, the economy is down.”
“Your answers suck!!” Jeffery said.
“You’re in sales to make money!” he continued, “So when people ask ‘How is business?’ say something like, “Cashin’ checks baby!”
Now, keep in mind Jeffery isn’t your typical salesman, so his answers won’t work for everybody. But his flavored responses are honest,open and funny. And I am lucky enough to call Jeffery one of my friends, so I will attest that as a person, he is honest, open and funny. Therefore his answers also personify his attitude.
Now that you have discovered which ingredients will enhance your flavor, you are ready to turn water into lemonade. Whether you're with a customer, making a new friend, on a date or networking with colleagues, here are the six benefits that you will receive when you offer flavored answers to fruitless questions.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...show someone that you care. This is undoubtedly the most important virtue of communication. The openness and honesty of your flavored answer will show someone that you value the conversation, and therefore, them as a person.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...make a good first impression. We spend so much time on our appearance, dress and behaviors that we often overlook the importance of the first five seconds. This is the amount of time during which people decide if they like you or not.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...build trust. Self-disclosure – the act of making yourself manifest – is reciprocal commensurate with the amount of information you reveal. So, whether you’re at a sales meeting, on a date or joining a club, give part of yourself to the other person immediately. They will do the same, and as a result you will feel like you’ve known each other for years!
YOUR ANSWER WILL...remind people that talking to you was worth it. Have you ever left a conversation with someone and said, “Boy…I'm sure glad I talked to him!”? Now, what if everyone starting saying that about you?
YOUR ANSWER WILL...trigger someone’s psychological need to be included. I don’t care how much of a rush, how bad of a day or how tired people are – they need be included and engage with each other.
YOUR ANSWER WILL...magnetize people to you. How could anyone hear the words "Everything is beautiful" and not be completely drawn to the person who said it?
Make 'Em Tingle
Every time someone asks a fruitless question like "How are you?" "What's up?" or "How's business?" they expect to hear you say "fine." They expect to have their level of conversational depth reciprocated. In other words, they expect water.
But you're not going to give them water, are you?
Negative. You are going to turn water into lemonade by offering a flavored answer to a fruitless question. You are going to give a surprising, honest, appealing, memorable and fun answer that personifies your attitude so they can walk away from your conversation feeling that special tingle.
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Who's got the best "flavored answer" you've ever heard?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For one week, try a new word. Keep a journal of people's reactions, email it to me and I'll post it on my blog!
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