I heard a fascinating story recently at a dinner party that perfectly illustrates why.
I met a friend of a friend who runs a decorating business, and his frustration was obvious as he was enduring a slow start to the year – the phone had just stopped ringing. [click to continue…]
It’s amazing how often people are nervous about asking for referrals. It’s as if we are scared of being a burden to our networks rather than taking pleasure by enabling them to do something they enjoy.
Yes, something they enjoy. Because, in my experience, most people seem to derive more pleasure from making a connection that makes a positive difference to someone else than they do even from receiving such introductions.
Stop thinking about referrals to you, as an imposition on others. As long as you add value to the person you’re being referred to, as long as you are providing them with a solution to a problem they face, or satisfying a desire they have, then you are anything but. [click to continue…]
Comedian Bob Monkhouse used to say the secret to a good presentation was ABC and XYZ: Always Be Confident and eXamine Your Zipper!
To be honest, that is just about the best advice there is.
But, the initials ABC can also be used to signify something else critical to our success: the three steps of winning a sale… [click to continue…]
The room was slowly filling with business executives, some were clearly long standing acquaintances and others were meeting one another for the first time. As people met the first thing they did was to present business cards to each other with both hands as if they were priceless pieces of art. It felt rather strange but within the predominant culture of those gathered this is when and how they give business cards. [click to continue…]