Adequate Thinking Will Result in Adequate Results

By Bray Strickland

Could today's economy have an effect on the way we do business? It seems like since the year 2000 there has been dramatic changes in our business economics. There has been substantial drops in the stock market, continued corporate scandals, the closing of many banking institutions, almost double digit unemployment and a housing market that has plummeted. This has caused a major disbelief in our society of what's to come.

Unemployment, hiring freezes and spending freezes in businesses seem to be commonplace. We are starting to question our stability as human beings. We are becoming more and more apprehensive about the security of our nation. These feelings have clouded our mindset for any individual whether on a personal or business level. It doesn't matter what industry or geographic area we live in, our behavioral traits are changing. As a business professional, it is evident our customers and clients are more cautious when it comes to making any type of decision. They are weighing their options more closely. The public in general, in my opinion are just sitting back and waiting it out, hoping things will eventually change for the better.

Every action requires a reaction. There are many things we can't change as individuals but we can monitor and control how we react to circumstances that confront us in our daily lives. As experienced salespeople, it is time to rise and meet these new challenges head-on. We already have the skills and knowledge required. Let's embrace these traits and build them to our advantage.

Remember, success always awaits us. We need to trust and believe in ourselves and our surroundings and we will prosper. Yes, there will be struggles and challenges but with the right mindset we can overcome them. Customers are changing their beliefs and priorities but we can mold ourselves and be flexible with their wants and needs. We can control the way we do business. Below are a few examples of how we can grasp success for the long term:

Consistent prospecting keeps our pipelines full giving us a greater chance to make sales and protect our income streams. Many people in the sales workforce are required to cold-call to set appointments that lends itself well to our Initial Benefit Statement. We simply have to make more contacts during the day to arrange a meeting than the hit and miss process of simply cold calling 100% of the time.

We already know that the postcard prospecting system can be productive. We may need to improve our frequency and volume. Additionally, using the IBS in email format can get to potential sponsors quicker and for less cost. There are numerous ways to obtain the addresses, usually by visiting company or industry websites, as well as current print advertising sources. Be sure your subject line has strength to avoid being deleted before the message is opened. You can reach hundreds of prospects in a short period of time. The result is usually an appointment, and in my experience, I have found that our closing ratio improves on an appointment versus a cold call. We need a mixture to keep energized and productively busy all day.

US automakers didn't grasp customer needs quickly and as a result lost market share. Customer needs were different 10 or 20 years ago then they are today. Let's learn from their experience.

The business world is concerned with economic challenges and constantly changing rules. There is only one question we need to ask ourselves in reference to our roles: Is "good enough" really good enough? - 31387

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