chicken or the egg ?

Why the answer is The Egg, of course. A pretty easy deduction for me.

I haven't blogged about sales for some time ::.... what do U think? Am I getting rusty or do U like the conscious decision to make sales about the organization not the rep for a quirky twist on my take that it is the sales organization's responsibility to provide the proper environment for sales people to flourish, grow and be rewarded for their many late late hours sweating blood and tears towards the finish line, except intercepted by "the organization" or company in the very last minute.

I think I'm onto something ~ DO U? All this time we've wasted page after page of the wrong subject to solve an age old problem of whether the chicken came before the egg mystery.

Well, from the likes of my blog this afternoon, I would say that I have indeed solved it. Finally. Case closed. READ MORE: https://twitter.com/intent/tweet

cut to the chase II

I haven't blogged about sales for some time ::.... what do U think? Am I getting rusty or do U like the conscious decision to make sales about the organization not the rep for a quirky twist on my take that it is the sales organization's responsibility to provide the proper environment for sales people to flourish, grow and be rewarded for their many late late hours sweating blood and tears towards the finish line, except intercepted by "the organization" or company in the very last minute.

I think I'm onto something ~ DO U? All this time we've wasted page after page of the wrong subject to solve an age old problem of whether the chicken came before the egg mystery.

Well, from the likes of my blog this afternoon, I would say that I have indeed solved it. Finally. Case closed. READ MORE:

I recommend you read "Cut to the Chase" because I think it is one of the best blogs I've written in a while.  HERE 

This CUT to the CHASE II blog was a small blip on my social media scene but I got the timing all mixed up, trying out something new and jumping on to that before I had tested another Blog Post.  

The Chicken & Egg became a series or experiment if you will.  I was trying some new creative thinking.  A service per se of setting up social media scavenger hunts for brands.  This article is date stamped and saved as proof of idea for any copyright or trademark infringements.  Suffice to say The Chicken & Egg certainly was an extension of Cut to the Chase original.  Ironically, the clicks on II was brisk and I hope I didn't lose readers or followers because of my error posting the first one (oops).  I was panic'd at first, rightly so, breath sucking in and heart stopping, thinking I'd lost what I had spent a few hours coming up with:  and feeling really REALLY satisfied at the accomplishment.  

Not surprising, I'm discovering that writing about sales is something that I've probably attracted a few of my first supporters and advocates.  (Thank you by the way .... I usually write something dedicated to giving thanks to others who help me along the way).

A lot of times I will cut and paste what I've written on Blogspot disappears when I CLICK PUBLISH or UPDATE.

It is a really good idea to have backup of your content when you are doing LIVE posting because as any technologist, engineer, development, experts know:  with technology, it isn't that something will never go wrong, because part of the nature of the beast is having something shut down, not update, or any number of annoyances that have your CALL VOLUME and EMAIL or CHAT support skyrocket.  

Just ask any media outlet.  It is without a doubt that they would have horror stories to tell, saved usually for the after hours wine or beer energized conversation.

I've divided myself up into a number of personalities that I've shared at one place or another.  I have gravitated towards silos of interests that I can really relate to or feel that value could be gained from readers.  Not because I necessarily have the solution, but sometimes a conversation gets started and that is a lot more important.

I'll get my kicks if I start to see #bestofeverything start to trend somewhere and then it becomes a viral hashtag that can be used anywhere:  whether Twitter or You Tube or Google Plus.  Facebook lags in this area ... lacking in Hashtag clout.

Sometimes people just want information, or are surfing to read.  Challenging what is out there to jump into their conscious sphere, reading it and discovering a renewed passion or a solution to a big problem.  

You'll have to go over to The Publisher to see what I mean.  

The Publisher

The goal is to be an outlet for writers that is anonymous.    There is no fee for me to do this.  It will be a labour of love to begin with.  Then who knows what may evolve.

So, I apologize to my regulars if they witnessed someone who appeared to be scattered.  Not scattered per se.  Everyone has multiple facets to their views, has several interests, maybe one passion.  I guess mine has been uncorked.  I love communicating.  That means talking (which I've been decried long-winded many times), I did hone in public speaking with Toastmasters International for about 10 years ..... being able to communicate certainly speeds up results in sales.  I think that is one key ingredient that the super stars have.  They are strong communicators.  

Build a 30-60-90 day plan ::.... TAKE II

 

"Build a 30-60-90 day plan" is trending as my most read #blog ever. I attribute that to having people like you out there to show me there is a pulse. My readers tend to be intellectual and low key. Absorbing and then drifting off into the night. No fuss, just amassing more information. 

Yes, they return. Highly recognized in the United States and rewarded with a 72% KLOUT score and top 1% KRED in the entire world. 

The topics I get recognized for are marketing, gratitude and a cross-section of a bunch of other things. This blog started out mainly as a byproduct of sales to end up evolving into a leadership read.  Like learning LITE.  . There is no difference between this and any other HR or psychological tests is my hypothesis, based on experience which blended into considered fact. I study demographics (you can look up The INbetweeners on Word Press Blog. Toss in psychographics into the mix, and you have a grasp of a generation, in sync as I live along my peers. As humanitarians, we can only consider each other peers. Not one smarter or better on any one topic or specialty, if not genius. 

That is why i created #bestofeverything which Google has finally, thankfully saved it as a intuitive hashtag completion for me. 

Thank you for all you readers that just seem to pop into my sphere, here, on my blog. I resonate with many of you who demonstrate that you want to plan, plan, plan, plan.  You recognize the quality and frequency on meeting your commit-ments is a core characteristic, as others do to their name.  

You have a burning need to execute on time yet not risk quality, exceeding all expectations and metrics and benchmarks. I honestly hadn't read this for a couple of years but because it took over "Hunter or Farmer blog: What kind of sales type do you wanna hire?" as top all time read blog, I thought I would read it. 

I will likely blog later by examining the different cultures I experienced while at Xerox, HP, or a regionally influential organization whom I will not name (unless I ask permission, receive it ... or you want me to name your organization ... for a fee .... to put the test to social media klout.  To poopoo the idea that IT has more insight into social media is like saying I can program something just by looking at the jumble of symbols it holds.  

Trying to evaluate if I'm having an identity crisis having 4 different blogs. Losing the argument with myself that I am multi faceted and not of any one silo. Unique. With strong convictions on matters to me. Which, happen to be more than a few things. Back to my original point: thank you readers, followers, sharers, PINners, INSTAgrammers that have be come friends (to say fans, would be disrespectful to the high calibre you are). 

I humbly accept your endorsement by your clicks. Hopefully, I can extract more quality meanderings (oh, the fashionista fighting her 50s diva trying to inject her personality to be the center of attention, go figure), to deserve your readership.

Feedback is important, as you are my teachers and coaches, so think of your Comments as advice. Whether you hated it or thought it sub par and why. That is the only condition to feedback, you cannot just make a blanket comment without something to back it up.

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Build a 30-60-90 day plan

optioneerjm.blogspot.ca

"Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire." ~Napoleon Hill 

It's a sales thing

I wrote this a while ago on my MEANDERINGSabout blog.  It was applying how sales thoughts on how the politics of the US Presidential Election is more a battle of wits, and more likely a sales contest, with opposite factions vying for the big WIN.  Have a read, thanks if you share, and I bow to you if you subscribe to either or both Blogs.  

Sunday, July 17, 2016

It should be a woman THING!

Unrestraint commentary of the US Presidential Election
by a non-voting, Canadian, woman who represents the bleeding edge into the abyss of Baby Boomers who are starting to fade, lost a lot of their gumption, the only eye on the ball they have is when they're on the golf course or by all accounts the others are gun slinging hunters, card-carrying pistols n handguns owners, NRA card toting proud majority who fear more the threat of changing the constitution than upsetting bang bang shooting away the loss of gun wisdom.

Hillary Clinton by golly by gal
 SHOULD be leveraging the female, woman card!  She is an exceptionally smart woman who is breaking the bar and smashing the ceiling.  Who in her own right had a thriving career for many many years helping the downtrodden without any recognition back then.  As a young lawyer, her options back then would have been get married and have kids over climb a ladder to rise up among the guys and the boys clubs.  How can you even say she isn't amazing?

It must be an aging thing.
It has only been the last two elections in the US that I paid any attention to.  Not even a regular channel changer, I would have changed the channel is the news or broadcasts about the US Presidential elections, debates nor issues.

It could be sprouting from that training that I started in my early 20s when I went into the magazine field.  Yeah, Gail took a chance on me, but gruffly told me that all she needed was the right mindset, ability to learn and absorb new information quickly.   I don't really think I hesitated.  Because my first interview with Donna (the sales director) and Bob (the editor) was so relaxed, like a visit, not even like an interview.

I sure got the love of magazines back then.  In fact, really close friends of our family, my parents, then like an older sister to me said:  "Jeannette, you should be on TV doing the news" and I thought "yeaaaaahhhh right, as if that's going to happen" and "she must be really biased"

SIDEBAR

Amazing how 15 to 20 years later I say the same thing to

my daughters and the one just smiles and looks "aw

shucks" the other is ranting almost the identical words to

me.  It is amazing the life 

lessons that pop out in your 

50s.  Like all those failures

or painful experiences uncork

when you hit the ripe old age

or the young age of 50.  That

depends on your attitude.  I 

do recall hearing those words

not realizing that after multiple

times of hearing it from my 

daughter aggravated me.  Now I know

 why. I'd heard them before, they were just

displaced.  Coming forth at a time when you think

 wisdom is such a curse. If you are wise or said to

 have wisdom, it usually means that you overcame

 some unsurmountable odds of succeeding at something.

At the time you were in achievement mode, you were more likely

 in DOING mode.  They didn't always mean there wouldn't be bruises.

  Just filed away and pop out when you hit 50 and take it as wisdom.  Wishing or swear if given the day again, you'd probably do things exactly the same again.  Absurd?  Crazy you say?  Hardly, I say. 

 Think about it, you are ONLY in your 50s, not your 60s.

  Now is the wise time to burst forth.

The Wild Card

Donald Trump can't be called anything else.  Oh goodness me, can you imagine the book after this if he were to win:  "The Deal of the Century".  As a Canadian, I can only embrace, then recoil in horror, then lean in a little closer to watch the deal play out.  What deal you ask?  It's surely obvious by me, a mere Canadian gal, more preoccupied with her kids, her husband, her career spin around to see them climb high and then feel low.  I just really used to be into sales.  

Firing on all cylinders

The American Presidential Election is mesmerizing if you look at it like a deal:  two (fierce) competitors with their eye on the prize pulling out all the stops to win.  How can that not be sales-like?  Both (and I will call them this) competitors are trying to boost their own value while minimize the other contender to ashes.  In the best sales deals, both opposing parties have a undisclosed amount of respect for their competition.  They may have won one and lost one to this other entity.  Or they just knew about the other in a sphere to which neither traveled in at the same time.

Putting it all in perspective

I really admired Hillary Clinton during her quest to beat President Obama in his march to the White House.  I was rooting for Hillary, even bought the Biography which still sits on my bookshelf, back in those days.  Then she looked far from stellar a few times when dumb blondeness erruptitis struck her on the side of the head:: you forgot that the "rules don't apply" only when it's men.  I mean seriously US citizens, you don't think that any one spouse (always a woman at the Capital) hasn't blipped the security screen?  Or even worse turned a blind eye when they knew that icon of state cheated on him or mumbled top secret information after imbibing in a dozen too many?  The digital world we live in, in its ever-increasing pace, is open to mistakes.    

Where white is white

Were she not a woman would she even have the "woman card" to play?  I'd say 1000 percent NOT!  (Although rumour has it that politicians always have leanings towards cross-dressing and being dominated -- portrayed aptly in the TV hit series BILLIONS -- I can't wait until it airs again) {side note to look up next season's start date and time HERE}  

and Black is BLACK

In a country where a black man can be President

why wouldn't it by now have had a woman president? I hate to be the one to tell ya, if you don't know by now, that the UK just got its next aka 2nd Prime Minister.  

Social revolution

In a time when black and white hatred is the most unrest exploding south of my border, even ahead of terrorism attacks in far away lands.  What a hotbed of disgruntled citizens, electorate in turmoil, political virtues cynical, the big proud America is now.  You guys really have to get a handle on things.  I wrote to you on my optioneersJM blog right after the Wall Street calamity was exposed, and the financial climate going around the world was cold to icing off like an iceberg appears in the ocean.  I suggested of all things that maybe you needed some mediating, and why not from a Canadian, to get your house in order, get advice from the one country that seemed to barely shake from the earthquakes in country capital.  That was Canada.

The UK pays attention

Yet how I have no idea.  Do I have such an instinctive recollection of all that knowledge I gained from Gail, selling magazines and even publishing one?  Now that our very own Canadian Treasurer glided over the ocean to the UK, and is trying to save that country from financial devastation after the collapse of its citizenship split over a far reaching decision.  Mr. Carney is getting noticed now.  So typical of Canadians.  Immensely talented, seemingly quiet compared to so many others, absorbing, taking it all in, observing and learning from a great many avenues.  

UK's 2nd Woman Prime Minister

The US can't afford to lose its position of leader in the free world.  They are recovering, while lagging behind the UK economically.  {INSERT/FIND graph that had been published on the net on mere hours as the citizenship turned, the UK pound dropped while the US dollar climbed.

1st Woman President of the United States

It really should be Hillary Clinton.  Who comes from a dynasty that led two generations and possibly another one in the works?  Yes, Donald Trump has led two empires:  his holdings/companies and his celebrity from The Apprentice.  Both pretty competitive odds on what could be favored don't you think.

The World Revolves Around Money. 

 Yet this election is not so much about money as it is about wits.  Who is smarter, planning better strategies, on point in front of the media or rallies?  They both are.  We went from watching a number of tennis matches, the ones long before recent Wimbledon :: between Hillary and Bernie, between Donald Trump and that Bush guy (yeah, lol, I know Jebb :: but that about sums it up).  Then Donald and Mario, then Donald and Cruz (my hometown boy who denounced his citizenship and denying his roots here in Calgary).

It's Show Time

Plenty of warm up has been taken and given from either side.  They've been training and practicing against some pretty worthy opponents (not Ted-grudge-MAN).

The McCoys :: SOURCE :: GOOGLE images

Families Stacking Up on Either Side

like the Hatfields and McCoy.  Except this time they're not hillbillies in the mountains, lost touch with reality and in love with their guns.  These two BIG contenders have heavyweight family support.  Their children are successful in their own right:: with their careers, their own life partner and families, uphold strong family values.  And .... taDA ~ their kids represent the Millennial generation.  It hardly gives a much better scene than that.

The Plot Thickens

A Former First Lady versus a Wealthy Businessman.

Last time we watched anything like it, we were enraptured by Dallas and the show that Joan Collins dominated in {INSERT ... or don't bother ... let readers go on a scavenger hunt, and the first one back to comment with the right answer gets to write a blog for all THREE of my blogs as a guest}.  Seriously, since when has their been any plot nearly as good?  

Bernie Sanders, Guest Starring Role

Who certainly wins supporting cast member in a leading role.  The guy who turns things right around when you think you have figured out the climax to only be proven wrong because of the curveballs this contender brang.  A character who will never be forgotten and perhaps even remembered long after folks will remember who was against who in this election.  

Time For a New Twist

There isn't better a time to elect the United States first woman President.  For anything, one needs to examine the skillset and then the attitude.  Both hand in hand, yet independent of each other.  One always more important of the other.  

Resume resumation

Hillary Clinton has some pretty impressive credentials.  That, even compared favorably over Donald Trump.

Side Bar

Just like I did with Hillary Clinton

the last election, I let President Obama

step in.  Definitely charismatic with the

right image:  family, values with a sprinkle

of controversy that forced you to pick sides

and not dwell in the middle.

Sleeping Beauty

At the start, like I would imagine many

of us, we were captured by the Cinderella

Story of Donald Trump.  He seemed to say

more things about what people were thinking

than the usual political rhetoric.  Then it went

to his head and it went from unusual philosophy

to objectionable opinions. Where slander, slurs, shocking statements percolated the public opinion.

So I slowly and hesitantly started to turn my head

towards the other party ~ Hillary Clinton.  I started

to warm up to her when I saw her with her daughter.  Just once.  I can't even remember when.  Like Sleeping Beauty, I was kissed by that amazing moment.  I started to let her win.  Let people truly believe that a WOMAN can become anything.  Just like a black man could become President. :: or a Canadian could become the head of the largest financial institution in the world.

If you enjoyed this, please be sure to share, encourage others 

to comment or subscribe, subscribe yourself, and comment. 

 Don't forget the promise above:  first to comment on the

 scavenger question will be allowed to be a Guest on

 any or all three of my Blogs.  

For Guest Spot here:

  Scavenger HUNT:  1st one to comment with the

 names of my other two blogs gets to Guest Blog

 on the one Blog of their choice. 

 Please include in your comment which one.

tenacity TRUST follow up

I'm pretty pleased with myself because I am here once again, in my commitment to give insights to what characteristics identify a potentially top performer in sales.  

Just so we're clear, however, I want to emphasize that the three qualities identified:  tenacity + TRUST + follow-up are inter-twined.

I recognize that I may have made recruiters' jobs a tad more challenging by stating that these three characteristics go hand in hand with the ideal candidate for sales superstardom.

• Tenacity:  those that are committed to a career in sales have one common trait, that is uncommon. They don't give up easily.  If you happen to be in their horizon or sphere of targeted prospect, be ready for a ride.  They might write, call, email or post to get your attention that you should be talking to them.  They have a value proposition that will solve a business need that they just know will make your business' life easier.  Why? Likely because they have an uncanny ability to instinctively identify the ideal prospect and set out to understand everything that makes you tick.  That is before they even hit a keyboard or pick up the phone.  They more than likely know who your customers are, who your competitors are and play to that.  They may sense that their offering will be a winner for you, even if you haven't figured that out yet.

• TRUST:  they give off the air that they are not solely intelligent, charismatic enough to be on your team.  They portray an aura of trust.  You instinctively sense that they have your best interests at heart while simultaneously achieving their own goals.  They call or follow up when they say they will.  They start at the top, because really only the important top executives will recognize that this smart, pro has communicated in a fashion that mirrors your values, image and goals.  In other words, they will make you look fantastic in others' eyes for trusting this new avenue or approach ... and it pays off.

• Follow up:  Forget the over-promise and under deliver -- these keeners will do what they say they will.  And, if you think you're savvy, you've got nothing on them:  they have a diary, calendar, Outlook system that would make the most gifted project manager blush.  They may have their own system for following up, or they may utilize the tools available to make them a stellar professional:  a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool.  When they are following up, they have all the details on what they perceived resonated with you, or you told them.  They know the who, what, why and where your problem lies, or what they have to solve them.  

Pretty simple?  You'd think so.  Yet, only the very BEST have these combined attributes.  Your talent recruitment system may have some identity metrics, but not as captivating as this.   Think about it, your recruitment process is to try to fit a

square peg into a round hole.  Yes, you have search power to make it easier to cast out a web of candidates, but you haven't identified these important qualities have you?  Trust me, they're important.  

Get out of your own self-absorbed importance and open your eyes to what qualities make the best in your camp:  tenacity, TRUST and follow up!