You’ve Screwed Up - Now What Do You Do
Posted on October 27, 2008 - Filed Under women\'s eye care | Leave a Comment
OK everyone - even the Sales Diva is not immune to screwing up royally every now and then! I can’t believe I am actually going to tell you what happened to me recently… but it will give you a laugh!
I was recently asked by a local college to do a tele-class call. No problem. Booked the date. Booked the time. Was completely prepared for the 8 pm call.
Went for dinner at 5:30 pm. By 6:50 pm I was on the road and only 10 minutes from home.
Then it happened…
Boom!
One of the rear wheel tires on my car started making that “thumping” noise that we all dread.
The problem? I am on a major city freeway with traffic whipping past me at 100 miles per hour.
Problem #2?
Cell phone battery has barely enough juice to make one call.
Problem #3?
I don’t have the number of the facilitator - I only have her office number!
You know what happened - I called a tow truck - left a breathless message for the facilitator and then sat in my car on the freeway for an hour- and missed the tele-class entirely..the one I was supposed to appear on as a guest!
Screw-ups Do Happen - So What’s The First Step?
1. Act quickly. This is not a time for putting your head in the sand, getting defensive and not accepting responsibility!
What did I do? I left 2 messages for the facilitator, e-mailed her and then also called immediately the next morning. (You can imagine the sleep I had!) I apologized profusely for the stress and embarrassment I had caused her and asked her what I could do to make the situation better.
2. Do Whatever Needs To Be Done - Quickly. The facilitator was fabulous. She had been worried about me as she knew I would never leave her in that type of situation on purpose.
Her students were very understanding and they were also worried about me! We set a date for a second call the following week and recorded a fabulous session.
3. Over-Deliver. Don’t just meet the needs of your customer…over-deliver. I sent an apology note to the participants of the call and I also sent a gift - a report they could use for their businesses immediately.
We have all screwed up at one point or another - however - the true mistake is when you don’t handle it properly!
Who do you need to contact today to solve a problem that you have caused? As my mom would say ” SNAP OUT OF IT” and get your act in gear - you will feel soooooo much better and so will your customer!
Copyright© 2005
Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report “The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make” at http://www.salesdivas.com
Tags: diva, marketing, sales, selling, womenAre You A Chicken
Posted on October 16, 2008 - Filed Under women\'s eye care | Leave a Comment
There are many traits/habits required to be a successful sales person. Determination. Creativity. Negotiation. Superior customer service. Risk taking. Integrity.
You know the one trait that isn’t required?
Being a chicken!
This is one of my 7 year old niece’s favorite phrases - she likes to challenge people by saying “Don’t be a chicken!”
I have no idea where this phrase comes from- do you? It always makes me laugh though!
One thing I do know - no one likes to feel chicken, look like a chicken or be called a chicken.
So what in my twisted Diva mind constitutes being a chicken?
- Avoiding conflict.
- Going with the flow even when you know the flow is headed over a waterfall.
- Waiting for perfection to happen.
- Never taking a risk.
- Having a wishbone instead of a backbone.
- Excuses are your middle name.
- Scared of making a mistake.
Hey look - we have all been chickens at one time or another. But EESH - it just doesn’t feel good.
We are headed into one of the biggest sales periods for most businesses. These businesses will make over 50% of their annual revenue in the next few months.
How are you positioned to take advantage of all the opportunity?
Have you created a pilot project? Raised your rates? Treated your clients with amazing customer service? Tried something new? Taken a chance?
Remember this line from your Diva:
Chickens Don’t Take Chances.
But Divas Do!
So ask yourself:
What have I been avoiding/regretting/denying?
What small positive step can I take to move me forward?
A great book that I read in 1994 and still love today is ” Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers. Hit the library - go to a second-hand bookstore or your local bookstore and get it TODAY.
It is time for you to SHED the chicken skin and move in the directions of your dreams!
Copyright© 2005
Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report “The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make” at http://www.salesdivas.com
Tags: diva, sales, selling, womenThis Is Your Year To Be BOLD!
Posted on September 20, 2008 - Filed Under women\'s eye care | Leave a Comment
WOW!! Can you believe it is 2006?
Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that we were drinking champagne bringing in the new century??
6 years have gone by since then. What have YOU filled them with?
This Is Going To Be Your Felt-Marker Year!
You’ve seen them - those fabulous huge felt markers that little kids love coloring with. They leave a BOLD mark!
One thing this Sales Diva knows - that unless you plan something BOLD every year- life has a way of tip-toeing past you.
And all you are left with is bills, excuses and the odd gray hair (Ok - a heck of a lot of gray hair!)
This decade is almost 60% over - wouldn’t you like to KICK IT UP A NOTCH?
Why Is Selling About Being Bold?
Listen - being “vanilla” in this world gets you absolutely nowhere.
Your customer - and potential customers - want to buy from people/companies they trust, admire, respect and overall LOVE!
If you are blending in with the crowd, copying what others are doing and basically COASTING - I have some tough news for you.
You are going to keep STRUGGLING.
However, if you make a BOLD impact with your customers on what you deliver, how you HELP THEM GROW, how BOLDLY easy it is to work with you - they will start lining up at the doors.
I don’t know about you - but I only buy from businesses that have heart and passion and who show me VALUE.
I simply don’t have time for anything or anyone who pride themselves on being “vanilla”.
I DIVA-DARE YOU!
Quit being average. Quit being so afraid of taking a chance. Quit playing it so damn safe!
Your business and your customers need you to be EVEN MORE of who you are.
You are already pretty amazing. But you know what I am talking about - deep down there are some things you have been coasting on…and they bug you.
Bring your ideas to the light of day. Expose them - do a pilot project - fly the kite! You will be THRILLED at what being BOLD will do for you - and the wonderful OPPORTUNITIES that will be attracted to you.
This BOLD DIVA believes in you!
Copyright© 2006
Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report “The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make” at http://www.salesdivas.com.
Tags: marketing, negotiate, sales, sales divas, selling, women keep looking »