Take the Lead: Are conversations making you money?
Wendy Harris
Guiding You to Reach new clients, Inspire engagement, Nurture relationships, and Grow your business authentically. Elevate your impact - by leading conversations your way. LinkedIn Local Ayrshire Host
Welcome to 2023 and the 1st Take the Lead of the Year!
Right off the bat, I want to apologise to you wonderful subscribers, all 5103 of you.
It was November the last time I wrote one of my Newsletter articles for you and it was called 'Are you Starting Conversations for Business Growth?'
I opened with 'change in the air'.
When penning that article I had little knowledge just how true that statement was for there has been a great amount of change.
Consolidate the last few years, throw in a pandemic, a BIG house move and you've got the makings of lots of questions.
Why am I doing this? Or that? Is it bringing me joy? Is it time well spent? Is it bringing me money?
Enter a dose of self reflection and, unusual for me, a period of quiet.
The time came for me to consider if I was indeed walking the talking.
I asked myself all these questions and found that there was a better, smarter way to live.
So work life is changing.
For starters, the podcast and the newsletter will be monthly to allow for creativity in keeping them relevant and interesting.
Being sure that it's worth your time and energy in reading or listening to what's being shared. Too many time thiefs out there!
Then there's getting back to doing more of the things I love; making sure the conversations were counting for people in business.
So I apologise if you've missed the regularity of the podcast or this newsletter.
And thank you for sticking with me!
You may also find the newsletter increases from a 3 to 10 minute read! Tell me if it gets too much!
Ready?! Let us begin with me repeating the headline from my last newsletter:
It's the quality not the quantity
Are your conversations making you money?
How do you even measure that?
Seriously, when was the last time you answered a 'cold call'? And I am talking in the B2B world now.
Imagine, you hold a responsible role and 9 times out of 10 will have an influence over what is bought in your company.
Sure, we can all research and make our own informed selection of supplier BUT
What if you received a call from a helpful, relevant person that does not expect you to hand over the money in the first few minutes?
Someone who will want to understand the challenges and solve your problems allowing you to do a better job.
Automation & E-sequences are no longer reliable as strategies
I hear A LOT about AI Chat, Cadences, Email Nurturing etc. and I can tell you that, in the B2B world, the majority of your emails are likely to be blocked (the new Gatekeeper)
Or your Buyer is so savvy that they're immune to your technological advances.
Inbound vs Outbound
I also hear A LOT about Inbound marketing.
Get sticky so your customers will come to you, and I get it.
Wouldn't we all love to set up a shiny landing page, post about it with links on social media and sit with our feet up waiting for the messages to flood in?!
We're all looking for the Holy Grail, since pre-Christianity (so Google told me).
However going Outbound will also yield results.
Now more than ever
Because when was the last time you received a cold call that was relevant?
Now add up how many irrelevant emails you've had since this morning.
That's my point.
Making your conversations count assures you of filling up your Holy Grail.
The winning recipe is not one or the other but a smart use of both.
It's about finding out what works best for YOU.
Not the noise you read that is largely overinflated for impact.
When all is said and done, everyone I know touches the skill set that is Selling. You, Me and Them over there.
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There's no going back from a bad first impression
My belief is sales is an unconscious energy in all that we do. How much focus it gets depends on your values and your part to play.
Every conversation, to the balance sheet of the CEO, costs money.
There's three groups of people I want to help improve their business through conversations:
Ultimately, let's get everyone making relevant conversations count in order to earn more money to live the life they aspire to.
You won't find me offering an Academy.
Nor will you find me offering a group cross company Programme.
I have a book that you're welcome to work through on your own, at your pace.
I have the podcast that aims to bring you experts from lots of industries and fields offering their advice and experience.
When we work together, I get to know you, the company, the people.
No two sessions are the same. Not even close.
That's what brings me joy is helping bring about the best in the people to allow the company to do well and creating a culture and environment were everyone loves to talk!
When people are valued and feel they are contributing it sets up a natural high. Add a sprinkle of being rewarded with money to take that happiness home? A winning combination, wouldn't you agree?
How much money is enough?
Good question.
Is it ￡￡￡'s or $$$'s in the bank, the house, the cars, the yacht or the villa abroad?
Or is it as I eluded to, being happy at work with enough money to enjoy your downtime however you please?
Money can prove a difficult conversation for some.
It's why I invited Brandon Neely to share his insights in the latest podcast episode.
He uses a method called S.T.I.L.L.
It's explained in full throughout our conversation and was a welcome reminder to me to put the magnifying glass to my own circumstances.
We may all know this stuff but it's like making a cold call, do we do it?!
As Brandon says:
"So setting your sights is important, right? And again, most people are just reactionary. They are not asking those questions of themselves. Cuz that means you have to like, turn off the TV and sit with it, right? "?Brandon Neely
How do you treat your money? It's a serious business.
Grab a brew and use this link to take you to the listening platform of your choice.
I'd really love to hear from you on this topic of money and how conversations count. Drop me a comment or message me privately. I answer them all, personally.
Do you need help putting conversations back to the heart of your business to serve your customers? Head to my?ChinWAG ?diary link to find a good time to chat.
LAST, THANKS A BUNCH FOR READING, SHARING, LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!
Remember, you never know where a conversation will lead...it's up to you to take the lead.
Stay Curious & Speak Soon,
Wendy
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Who is Wendy?
With 35 years making conversations count for others, 17 of those years running her own business, she's started approx. 2 million conversations, helped 1000's of people through her training sessions and lined up billions of ￡￡￡'s in potential opportunities.?
"Don't let worry get in the way of your business building new relationships with customers."?
Fancy a?ChinWAG ??Explore how she can help you.
Buy her?Book , a best seller on Amazon, how to sell over the phone that shares making conversations count.
Listen to Wendy's story ?Wendy shares why she loves helping others start conversations.
Excellent article Wendy Harris. I was asking a banker a question at a branch, he quickly steered me to check for the answer online, he didn't care to take the time to handle my question, nor explain or ease my concern / didn't answer me. He disregarded me as if I was just " An account number" nothing more. A few minutes later I closed my accounts that I have had with them for 25 years. He, and his trainers were brilliant, it took them 25 years to build that banking relationship and 8 minutes to lose it, and lost my Rolodex of who I know, and more importantly " Who knows me?". a few days later one of my client who owns a very successful corporation, heard my story, asked me which bank has handled my business in such a less than a stellar way, I told him about it. He concurred, and said he had the same experience with the same bank the week before. He said which bank would you recommend? I referred him to my new banker. Later that day $18.6 million dollars banking relationship moved to the new bank. One simple conversation, can worth more than a mine of diamond.People have sensors to recognize who is genuinely helping them, and who is not. Don't under estimate people word of mouth. It can make or break your business. ??
??? Podcast Host + Producer ?? Pro Aging Advocate - I am 68! ?? 4x Founder ? Host of New England Podcasters Group ??Shattering Ageism Everywhere I Glow #dontbecagedbyyourage
1 年I love all the clarifying questions you asked yourself Wendy Harris ... Happy 2023!
Helping B2B sales teams increase sales with less effort! | Sales Trainer & Coach | MBA | Author: How to Sell Virtually
1 年Interesting read, Wendy Harris!