5 Motivational Sales and Leadership Quotes from Sam Walton

“There is only one boss. The customer.   And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”  - Sam Walton Quote #1

“We let folks know we’re interested in them and that they’re vital to us. cause they are.” - Sam Walton Quote #2

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”  – Sam Walton Quote #3

“We’re all working together; that’s the secret.” - Sam Walton Quote #4

“Capital isn’t scarce; vision is.”  - Sam Walton Quote #5

Be Progress.

Business Networking Book Advice – Get an Introduction!

(excerpt from Cracking the Networking CODE  by Dean Lindsay)

“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.”   – Japanese Proverb

An introduction is an implied endorsement.  Try to get introduced by the most respected person at the event with whom you have a relationship.  Solid CODE crackers are always happy to play a part in your success and you look like a winner by association.

Who are the people who have established a good reputation?

Who loves to network and knows a lot of people?

These people have a large circle of influence and understand the power of networking.  They are quick to bond and make the most of relationships.  (Be sure to ask them if there is someone you can introduce them to.) 

Who are the solid networkers inside your network? 

Find out what they do.  Study the techniques of a successful networker.  Try to tag along with a well-connected person in your network to some of their normal networking functions and ask them to introduce you to a few of their contacts.  Give them some insight and direction by letting them know the kind of person you want to meet – the more specific the better.

A slight modification on the same strategy — Look for someone you know who is chatting with a couple of people you do not know. Approach the group and stand to the side within view of the person you know.  This serves as a subtle cue for your contact to introduce you to the group and bring you into the conversation.  Try it.  It works.  If someone invites you to join the group but forgets to introduce you, take the initiative and introduce yourself. 

Be Progress.

Business Networking Book Advice – Get an Introduction! is excerpt from Cracking the Networking CODE  by Dean Lindsay)

Practical Sales Training Tip:  Practice Empathy!

(an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)

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Empathy is knowing and feeling where the other person is coming from, walking a mile in their shoes, seeing things from their point of view.  Empathy involves understanding that people make decisions for their own reasons, not ours.  There are always reasons.  Customers have reasons, prospects have reasons, employees have reasons, coworkers have reasons.  They might not be our reasons. 

To enhance our level of empathy, it is paramount to focus on understanding others’ parameters for progress.  We may never fully uncover where another person’s motivation, their “motives for actions,” are coming from, but those motives, along with their parameters for progress, are uniquely theirs. 

To be a Business Attraction Magnet, always think, and say: “What that means to you, Mrs./Mr. Prospect, is…”  Commit to doing what is best for the customer, ever striving to help provide the right product or service to meet their needs.  Sure, we want to profit, but the customer’s profit is key to ours.  Practicing empathy includes understanding that customers do not want our products and services – they want what they think our products and services can do for them. 

One of my client companies is among the largest trade show booth manufacturers in the USA.  They design, build, and transport the huge trade show booths you see at the big conferences around the country and world.  At the very beginning of a program I was conducting for their sales teams, I stated bluntly, “No one wants a trade booth.”

The room went silent.  The reps looked at the Vice President of Sales and each other as if to say, “What?”

Finally, one of the sales managers in the back raised his hand and said, “No, Dean.  They actually call us up and order trade show booths.”

I said, “You bet.  They order trade show booths, but a trade show booth is not really what they want.”

Again more silence.  Then the Vice President of Sales spoke. “You’re right, Dean.  Our customers don’t want trade show booths – they want profit.  We must be able to show them how investing in our trade show booths will help them to profit.” 

Business Attraction Magnets know it is not the goal of having the product or service itself that creates the momentum.  It is the perceived benefits (feelings realized) behind having or utilizing the product or service that creates the momentum.

Be a BAM (Business Attraction Magnet)!

Be Progress.

(Practical Sales Training Tip:  Practice Empathy! – is an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)

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Eight Great Mark Twain Quotes

#1  “The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.”  — Mark Twain Quotes

#2  “The lack of money is the root of all evil.” — Mark Twain Quotes

#3  “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. ” — Mark Twain Quotes 

#4  “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” — Mark Twain Quotes 

#5  “Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.”   – Mark Twain Quote

#6  “The main difference between a cat and a lie is that a cat only has nine lives.” – Mark Twain Quote

#7  “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” — Mark Twain Quote 

#8  “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”  — Mark Twain Quote

2010’s BEST Stress Management Tip! – Say Yes to NO.

(an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)

In 2010, most of us take on too many responsibilities, try to do too much, and even own too much.  Being too busy is a big source of stress in today’s get, get, get and go, go, go world.  Often, we are so chronically over-scheduled that we never give ourselves a chance to offer our best or to enjoy the moment. 

 Are your days fulfilling, or are they merely full?

It is possible that we could get more out of life by doing less. When we internalize the difference between full and fulfilling, we realize it’s not how many events we attend, activities we get involved in, or how much stuff we have that’s important.  We do not have to say “yes” to every demand on OUR time.  And we shouldn’t feel bad, since we are saying “no” to the event or project, not the person.

 Being busy can wear us out.  If we are committed to working and winning in this world of change, we must know our limits and not limit our NOs.

-  Consider your well-crafted goals and your schedule before agreeing to additional work.

-  Simplify – get rid of the clutter and baggage in your life and in your house.  Say NO to clutter.

-   Start your own Just Say NO campaign to regain quality time.  Review priorities and see if a request fits.  When you see things that waste time or hinder your progress, speak up.

-   Stop trying to make everyone happy. (We can’t do it anyway.) 

A polite way to say NO to a request for YOUR time:  “I’m quite committed.  I can be your backup, but please keep searching.”

Be Progress (not busy).

(2010’s BEST Stress Management Tip! – Say Yes to NO is an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)

Motivational Benjamin Franklin Quote on Happiness

“Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.” — Benjamin Franklin

Click for Funny Motivational Speaker Video Clip

Funny Sales Cartoon on Remembering Names!!

Click link for Funny Video Clip on how to Remember Names!

Effective Business Networking Tips on Presence Power

(excerpt from Cracking the Networking CODE

How you hold your physical body communicates a tremendous amount of information about you.  Be aware of presence power.  Studies suggest that a person will unconsciously interpret approximately 55% of the meaning of your message from physiological cues from your attire, body position, stance, and facial expressions. 

Body language, demeanor, and dress are important elements in making a lasting impression .  First impressions are often lasting impressions. So take pride in your appearance. Be fun and sociable. You are the number -one element in your success strategy.

How you look and present yourself matters.  You want to look smart and with -it.  You should not look untidy.  No messed up hair, wrinkled shirts, or loose ties.  In fact, the ideal wardrobe for a networking event is slightly better dressed than the other attendees.

Effective Business Networking Tips #1  Check yourself before you go out.  Do a 360 in front of a full -length mirror.  Would you want to talk to you?  Would you want to be seen talking to you? 

Effective Business Networking Tips #2  Ask someone’s opinion .  Take the advice of others about your appearance.  I ask my wife.  She has saved me from more than a few bad shirt/tie combos.   

However, do not rely on your “ together” look to cover up for sad puppy behavior or poor conversational ability.  Stand, speak, and act as if you were self-confident, attractive, vital.  If you have flair, use it.  Make sure you will be remembered in a positive way.  Be enthusiastic.  An enthusiastic attitude distinguishes the really cracking networkers from the so-so networkers.

Effective Business Networking Tips #3   - Speak with a positive countenance, exhibit confidence, and display a natural enthusiasm about your life and your work.  Be a walking-talking representation of life, in all its excitement and possibility.  How you say something means as much or more than what you say.  You are your best public relations representative.  You are the person who knows best what you do and what you have to offer others.

Effective Business Networking Tips #4 - Sit or stand up straight.  Gesture with power and confidence.  Be fully engaged.  Nod in agreement.  Smile.  Do not fold your arms or let your eyes wander off into the distance; look like you are having a good time.  People trust people who look them in the eye.  Do not shift focus.  The more you change your focus, the more new information your brain is taking in.  If you change focus frequently, you can overload your brain to the point where you are “at sea” and unable to focus on the issue at hand. 

Effective Business Networking Tips # 5 Be careful about shifting your weight while chatting with someone.  It communicates a lack of interest and confidence, and it can result in your contact feeling a lack of TRUST. 

Also, do not keep your hands in your pockets the whole time and jingle-jangle-jingle your keys or change.  You are not there to provide musical backup or percussion for the event.

 Think about this: 

Each positive first impression has the potential to turn into a priceless business relationship.  People want to do business with professionals who are excited about life and who look like they have their act together.

Be Progress.

(excerpt from Cracking the Networking CODE  by Dean Lindsay)

Sun Tzu Quote on Positive Thinking

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
– Sun Tzu

 Customer Loyalty Speaker Video – Humorous Customer Loyalty insight

Dean Lindsay, Customer Loyalty Speaker

Professional Speaker and Author of The Progress Challenge: Working and Winning in a World of Change and Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships 

An authority on harnessing human potential and creating authentic business growth, Dean Lindsay is an engaging and highly sought-after business consultant and speaker. He is an active member of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy and the American Society of Training and Development.

Dean Lindsay sees an important connection between sales, motivation, solid customer care and leadership. All are achieved by effectively positioning ideas, recommendations, solutions, products, services – even ourselves – as PROGRESS in minds of those we wish to inspire to action. All must be positioned as Progress and NOT Change. It is natural to resist change but we embrace PROGRESS. All progress is change but not all change is PROGRESS.

Dean is a featured contributor to Executive Travel, Sales and Service Excellence and the American Management Association’s Moving Ahead magazine as well as the nationally distributed audio publication Selling Power Live. He has been spotlighted as an Outstanding Speaker by the International Association of Speakers Bureaus and recognized as a ‘Sales-and-Networking Guru’ by the Dallas Business Journal.

“Dean Lindsay is an outstanding thought leader on the subject of developing priceless business relationships.” — Willis Turner, President of Sales and Marketing Executives International

Dean has served as Guest Lecturer to International Customer Management Institute as well as both the UCLA and University of Dallas MBA programs. He is a Cum laude graduate of the University of North Texas and serves on the Executive Advisory Board for UNT’s Department of Marketing and Logistics and the Board of Directors of the UNT Alumni Association. Dean’s first book, Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships is Recommended Reading by United Professional Sales Association and Profit magazine.

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