Las Vegas Workshops:

We Now Have One Billion Vehicles On The Planet:

How many vehicles are there on Earth?
We'd ask you to guess, except the headline above gives away the answer.
According to industry trade journal Ward's, which added up both reported vehicle registrations and historical trends, the total crossed 1 billion sometime last year.
The vehicles include...Click Here for Full Article

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Reach Out for Expertise:

You know a lot, but you can’t know everything. When you need knowledge outside of your own level of expertise, reach out to your network. Asking for help allows you to focus on the things that you do best without spending valuable time trying to figure it out on your own. 

From: Manta Tip of the Day

10 Motivational Movies:

Movies are a great way to get out of the heat and stay cool! Here is a list of 10 motivational movies to inspire you. Have you seen them all? http://bit.ly/CKWZd

How to Increase Your Income Immediately:

Sales Tip Video: How to Increase Your Income Immediately

The Golden Rule of Customer Service:

The Golden Rule Of Customer Service - Forbes

My first experience with customer service came with my first job when I was in high school. I worked at a pizza place, first as a cook, but I was quickly doing several things at once, including manning the cashier, leading shifts, and handling customer complaints. I moved on from that job to an even more intensive customer service experience, this time handing returns for a major department store.  Since then, I’ve handled customer service in a number of different capacities. CLICK HERE to read full article...

The American Car of the Future?

Clay Dean spends his days imagining the future. You might soon be driving what he dreams. Will the American car of the future look like this? It's Already In the Works In Detroit: CLICK HERE to read full article

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Friday's Motivational Quote from Abraham Lincoln

Get Noticed by Potential Customers:

Get the most out of your marketing dollars by focusing on a select group of potential customers. These prospects should be the core group that has the greatest need for your product or service. Identifying the right target market will get you the most return on your investment.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Quick Tip #6:

Quick Tip #6 for Increasing Your Income Immediately: Sales Tip Video

How to Stand Out:

Some trend tag-alongs are just lame. Nobody needs a male-centric Pinterest--though, yes, Manterest exists. Really. What's next? Twitter for pets? But even if your smart business idea is part "me, too," it doesn't have to sound like, well, one of those. It all comes down to messaging.

How to Stand Out by Keeping it Simple: Click Here for Full Article

Ford’s New-Product Show:

When Ford showed off its latest models to journalists and analysts at its annual ride-and-drive here Tuesday, the smallest engine was the biggest star of the day.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120627/BLOG06/120629917#ixzz1z6XDlLgR

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Friday Motivational Quote from Benjamin Franklin

Get a Fresh Perspective:

Need help assessing the health of your business? Find a mentor. By design, this impartial person will have a different perspective and will help identify areas of improvement that you may not have otherwise noticed.

6 Exercises To Strengthen Compassionate Leadership:

Want loyal, dedicated, and passionate employees? Be a loyal, dedicated, and passionate boss. Here are some tools to develop well-being in your workplace through better communication. Click Here for the full article...

Quick Tip #4 for Increasing Your Income Immediately:

Sales Tip Video

8 Winning Ways To Perform Workplace Wonders:

What is your attitude when you are at work?  Are you excited about the workplace culture and the people that surround you?  What is your performance state of mind at work?
Today’s workplace is changing – forcing employees to change with it.

 Click Here to read full article...

From Forbes.com

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Motivational quote from Woody Hayes.

Follow-Up With New Customers:

Always reach out to new customers after a purchase and ask for their feedback on the experience. This is a great opportunity for you to double check your level of service, identify any issues and build on your company’s image. Closing the loop with new customers is also a good way to encourage repeat business!

Dealership Websites: Not Just for Car Sales Anymore:

Are you missing out on potential service revenue? If your website is designed solely to promote your dealership’s vehicle inventory, then you probably are. Dealership websites have evolved rapidly to market far more than just vehicles. They now play an important role in promoting your service department and driving service revenue.

Click Here to read full article.

How to Turn a Bad Mood into a Good Mood:

Sales Tip Video

20 Great Apps for Small Businesses:

From SUCCESS Magazine Online:

"I won’t waste your time discussing basic apps you should have, including Facebook, Twitter, iTunes and YouTube. Instead let’s look at some apps that can: 1. increase your income, 2. decrease your expenses and 3. save time so you can do more of 1 and 2. Here’s my list of must-have apps to help you manage, meet and beat the countless business challenges of the Information Age..."

Click Here for full article...

Say Cheese! The way you talk to customers can say a lot about your business:

The way you talk to customers can say a lot about your business. A great way to sound confident and approachable is to always smile when you speak. It keeps you positive and can help your customers will feel assured they are speaking with someone who is genuine. Try it out – start smiling!

Weigh in: How do you keep your confidence when talking to customers?

http://bit.ly/LS7obv

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Happy Flag Day!

Did you know there have been 27 official versions of the U.S. flag? http://ht.ly/bA09a

Meetings Are A Skill You Can Master, And Steve Jobs Taught Me How:

Ho to Have a Great and Successful Meeting. Read the article here:  http://bit.ly/KQr5Pu

Sales Training Video:

Sales Training Video: Do What You Know Is Right!

Free Sales Training Webinar:

Jeff is presenting a free sales training webinar tomorrow, June 12th, at 8:00am Pacific Time, 11:00 Eastern Time Titled:“Why Technology, Software, Business Development Centers, and Customer Retention Programs DON'T WORK” Register Here: http://ow.ly/bsxWp

While all of these items are necessary and important to a dealership and it’s development, Jeff will explain to you the one key reason for why they routinely fail or don’t deliver the results advertised.  As always, Jeff promises that this free webinar will be instructional and NOT a 30 minute advertisement.  This webinar is a must for anyone wanting to improve their sales or anyone considering any type of training.  Training is not something you did, it is something you do.

10 Books Every American NEEDS To Read:

The following is an excerpt from Stuff Every American Should Know[Quirk Books, $9.95]
by Joseph D’Agnese and Denise Kiernan.
Most of us read for entertainment, but American thought has long been shaped by powerful works of fiction and nonfiction that help illuminate national issues and concerns. Here are 10 classic works that helped to shape a nation:

Click Here to see the Slideshow

Friday's Motivational Quote:

From Dr. Seuss

Six Military Strategies to Get What You Want At Work:

From Forbes.com 6/07/2012 @ 9:00AM 

Six Military Strategies to Get What You Want

She Negotiates, Contributor Group

"Be Inside the Other Guy's Decision Cycle"

Yesterday, I suggested that military negotiation strategies could be put to work on the job and provided our readers with the general advice given to Special Forces in war zones.
Today, I’m providing a step-by-step outline to walk you through the steps recommended in yesterday’s post.

Click Here to read the full article...

What Our Clients Are Saying:

Love our training and want to tell the world about it?! Leave your comments below on our blog and check out what others are saying: http://bit.ly/JMwxPr

Price is Irrelevant- Sales Tip Video:

Sales Training Workshops:

Upcoming Workshops

1 Day Workshop: September 18th, 2012, Las Vegas, NV
1 Day Workshop: September 19th, 2012, Las Vegas, NV

1 Day Workshop: October 9th, 2012, Indianapolis, IN
1 Day ADVANCED Workshop: October 10th, 2012, Indianapolis, IN

Very limited seating capacity.
To sign up today call 949.713.4469 / 800.248.2931

Jeff Cowan’s Pro Talk Inc. is a sales training and consulting firm that focuses on helping dealerships service managers, and advisors increase their sales revenues through time tested and proven sales techniques.
Pro Talk Inc. has trained several thousand dealerships, has visited over 1,950 automobile service drives in the United States and Canada, and was the first to offer side-by-side on-your-drive training to dealerships.
His process driven Service Advisor Sales Training Workshops, web based Service Advisor Sales Training platform, and In-House, On Your Drive Service Advisor Sales Training services have set the standard for delivering results.

CLICK HERE to see what our clients are saying!

Hooray for May on Automotive Sales Front!

Early readings of May U.S. auto sales are so strong that some analysts are raising their full-year forecasts by 200,000 units.
Forecasters are predicting a fifth straight month with an annual selling rate above 14 million.
"May sales are wonderful," said Stacey Gillman Wimbish, president of the 18-store Gillman Cos. in Houston.
Last week in Washington, sales executives for Kia, Volkswagen, Lexus and Acura described scrambling to meet high dealer demand.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120528/RETAIL07/305289966#ixzz1wHEgDwqU

Friday's Motivational Quote:

PRO TALK Partners with Proactive Training:

6 Leadership Styles, And When You Should Use Them:

"The best leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders."



Taking a team from ordinary to extraordinary means understanding and embracing the difference between management and leadership. According to writer and consultant Peter Drucker, "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."CLICK HERE to read full article...

Sales Tip Video: Peanut Butter & Jelly

2012 Indianapolis 500!

Jeff was lucky enough to go to the Indy 500 over the weekend. Here is a view from the stands:

Here's Jeff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with NCM Associates Moderator Jeff Bethel:

Happy Memorial Day!

Today we remember all of those that have served our Country with extreme bravery.

No More Slow Commuting: This Superbus Goes 155 MPH

Sure, some cities have bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors where buses can reach up to 30 MPH, but in general, buses move pretty slowly. Never has the lowly bus looked so sexy as with this Dutch "Superbus" that can hit 155 MPH. CLICK HERE to read full article from FastCoExist.com

Friday Motivational Quote:

Bobby Unser, 3 time Indianapolis 500 Winner. Indy 500 is this weekend! Good luck drivers!

Repeat Back What Customers Are Telling You:

When dealing with customers and supplying great customer service, always show that you are listening by recapping what you’ve heard. This lets the customer know that you understand their wants/needs and allows you to have a clear picture of the customer’s expectations. This way, you can make sure you have the knowledge to not only make the customer happy, but to ensure you deliver with quality. Increase you customer retention and service scores.

8 Rules For Creating a Passionate Work Culture:

Expert Perspective

8 Rules For Creating A Passionate Work Culture

BY Paul Alofs | 05-21-2012 | 6:05 AM

This article is written by a member of our expert contributor community.

Several years ago I was in the Thomson Building in Toronto. I went down the hall to the small kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee. Ken Thomson was there, making himself some instant soup. At the time, he was the ninth-richest man in the world, worth approximately $19.6 billion. Enough, certainly, to afford a nice lunch. I looked at the soup he was stirring. “It suits me just fine,” he said, smiling.
Thomson understood value. Neighbors reported seeing him leave his local grocery store with jumbo packages of tissues that were on sale. He bought off-the-rack suits and had his old shoes resoled. Yet he had no difficulty paying almost $76 million for a painting (for Peter Paul Rubens’s Massacre of the Innocents, in 2002). He sought value, whether it was in business, art, or groceries.
In 1976, Thomson inherited a $500-million business empire that was built on newspapers, publishing, travel agencies, and oil. By the time he died, in 2006, his empire had grown to $25 billion.
He left both a financial legacy and an art legacy, but his most lasting legacy might be the culture he created.

Click Here to read full article

My Mailbox Didn't Get the Memo

Top 10 Sales Mistakes

Avoid These Common Blunders

Sales can be a tough game even in the best of times. And with the recent economic downturn, it has been tougher than ever to get your foot in the door with sales prospects.
Every salesperson, regardless of his or her industry, product, or skill level, makes mistakes from time to time. To keep from missing out on profits, avoid these basic sales blunders -- and follow our tips for selling more and creating happier, more satisfied customers. CLICK HERE for whole article

Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/top-10-sales-mistakes/16568063-1.html#ixzz1vWcqcxuW

Steve Jobs' Dream of an iCar:

Steve Jobs' Dream Of iCar Revealed (VIDEO) http://huff.to/L4TSw9 via @HuffPostTech

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Great List! 10 Sales Tips from the NY Times:

From: nytimes.com

July 25, 2011, 2:00 pm

My Top 10 Sales Tips

By TOM SZAKY

My biggest sales lesson came from a good friend who is now our head of Canadian business development (a fancy term for sales), Robin Tator. Robin taught me that sales is not about what you are selling, but about making friends and about getting someone to see the world the way you do. If you do that, everything else will take care of itself.
Sales can be a melancholy job. On one hand, many people (especially nonsales people) feel that it’s sleazy and lowbrow. On the other hand, it can be the most important function of a business. Until there’s a sale, there is no business. Personally, I’ve gone from thinking the former to believing the latter and honing my skills over a decade to where today I am effectively the chief sales officer of TerraCycle. I don’t know exactly when this transition happened, but it took me a few years to embrace the power of sales the way I do today.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

How Do You Stay Organized When Talking to Customers?

It’s important to remember your interactions with customers, but it can be hard to keep all the information organized. Keep track of all the touch points you have with your customers by using a spreadsheet or online CRM tool. This will help outline the invested time, next steps, and due dates associated with each customer. Documenting and reviewing this information with the customer shows that you’re committed to understanding them and their business.

Weigh in: What tools do you use to keep organized?

CLICK HERE For Original Post On MANTA

Are You Leaving Income on the Table?

How to Get Your Content Shared More on Pinterest:

You signed up for Pinterest, the popular online bulletin board, thinking it’ll be the next great social networking platform for your business. You’ve already pinned a few pictures that relate to your company. But now what?
CLICK HERE to read the full Article from Entrepreneur Magazine.

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Will YOUR Dealership Sell These Someday?

Nevada drivers could soon be sharing the road with vehicles that don't need them.

Department of Motor Vehicles officials said Monday they've issued Google the nation's first license to test self-driving cars on public streets, after conducting demonstrations on the Las Vegas Strip and in Carson City that show the car is as safe - or perhaps safer - than a human....Click Here to read more.

"Self-driving cars set for test drive in Nevada"

By MICHELLE RINDELS
Associated Press

Can Siri Find Your Business?

With so many people using Apple's popular voice-operated assistant, Siri, it's important to make sure your business is turning up in the searches "she" conducts. One of the sites Siri references most often for local searches is Yelp, says Search Engine Land editor Danny Sullivan. Make sure your listing there has all the information a customer will need to do business with you. Also see if your customers are giving you positive ratings, Sullivan recommends. "That goes into the ranking algorithm for Yelp, which in turn flows back into Siri," he says. From http://www.entrepreneur.com/video/223487

Would Patton Be Happy With You?

Sales Tip Video:

Top 10 Motivational Songs for Entrepreneurs:

FROM: http://www.collegefallout.com/top-10-motivational-songs-for-entrepreneurs/
BY: Vivek Krishnan

Here is the list of top 10 songs that inspire, energize and even provide courage for entrepreneurs soul during the invitable ups and downs. Music is a powerful thing and good music can provide nourishment to your entrepreneurial soul. It helps in motivating the entrepreneur within you. I have seen that the songs listed below have always helped me out of any blues or platonic phase I may be going through.

This is the list of top 10 young entrepreneur anthems you should definitely listen to:

Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started

Black Eyed Peas (Songs for entrepreneurs)

Conveys: Starting up.
The Black Eyed Peas are definitely doing their bit for the world’s party goers, but they’re also throwing in nuggets of wisdom for the dynamic entrepreneurs. Words of wisdom within this song are – “To lose this inhibition/Follow your intuition/Free your inner soul/And break away from traition“. The soulful voice of Fergie and the energetic beats, gets the entrepreneur within you moving.
Buy it on Amazon.

John Mayer – Bigger Than My Body

John Mayer (Songs for Entrepreneurs)

Coveys: Push Your Limit.
Believe it or not, John Mayer, seems to know a thing or two about entrepreneurs. Mayer wrote, “Bigger Than My Body”. This song is basically a great push towards understanding the fact that entrepreneurs should always try to push their boundaries and overcome limiting factors that surround them. Lyrics such as – “Someday I’ll Soar/Someday I’ll Be So Damn Much More/ ‘Cause I’m Bigger Than My Body Gives Me Credit For” But perhaps, one of the best parts of song that imply about leaving a legacy is – “I‘ll gladly go down in flames/ If a flame is what it takes to remember my name“. This song is defintely an entrepreneurs number.
Buy it on Amazon.

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life

Bon Jovi

Conveys: Do Your Own Thing
There is no need for an introduction to this timeless song by Bon Jovi. Perhaps one of the most motivating songs for entrepreneurs. Apart from the engaging beats, th lyrics of this song take the cake away- “This is for the ones who stood their ground/For Tommy and Gina who never backed down/Tomorrow’s getting harder, make no mistake/Luck ain’t even lucky, gotta make your own breaks/It’s my life/And it’s now or never/I ain’t gonna live forever/I just wanna live while I’m alive”. This is a song that will motivate you to always do your own thing in your way no matter what other people say.
Buy it on Amazon.

Travie McCoy – Billionaire

Travie McCoy- Billionaire

Conveys: Money as a Motivation.
This is one of the freshest songs for entrepreneurs. It is a fact that most of us jump into entrepreneurship for the money. And this song “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy just seems to capture that so well. Here are a few lines from this awesome song – “I wanna be a billionaire so fricking bad/Buy all of the things I never had/Uh, I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine/Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen“. Money and fame is one of the primary reason people become entrepreneurs.
Buy it on Amazon.

Fort Minor – Remember The Name

Fort Minor

Conveys: Working to leave a Legacy.
This song performed by Fort Minor was not just for the hip-hop community. There was a lot in it for entrepreneurs as well. Here, just take a look at the lyrics – “This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill/Fifteen percent concentrated power of will/Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain/And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!“. Fort Minor does a fantastic job of pouring inspiration to the person listening to this song and get him to work towards leaving a legacy.
Buy it on Amazon.

Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger

Conveys: Will To Survive
A song that every entrepreneur MUST listen to! This song is all about survival. And the courage to fight against all odds with only the will to survive. Here are some parts of the song-”Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet /Just a man and his will to survive /So many times, it happens too fast /You change your passion for glory /Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past /You must fight just to keep them alive.” In the dog-eat-dog attitude of the business world, the only way you stand a chance is with a strong will to survive and beat the odds. “Eye of the Tiger” is a great song for motivating your survival instinct.
Buy it on Amazon.

Natasha Beddingfield – Unwritten

Natasha Beddingfield

Conveys: Uncertainity
Uncertainity is perhaps the biggest fears most startup enterpreneurs harbor within themselves. Another real deal that the song tells entrepreneurs is to let go of your mind-blocks. Here is what the song conveys -”No one else can feel it for you/Only you can let it in/No one else, no one else/Can speak the words on your lips/Drench yourself in words unspoken”. Another great part of this song is where it talks why chances are never over- “Live your life with arms wide open/Today is where your book begins/The rest is still unwritten“.
Buy it on Amazon.

Switchfoot – This Is Your Life

Switchfoot (Songs for Entrepreneurs)

Conveys: Are you who you want to be?
Switchfoot is a great band! But I was surprised how many of their songs were suited for entrepreneurs. But the most motivating song was-”This is You Life”. In this song, there is a blunt question asked- this is your life, are you who you want to be? Entrepreneurship allows you to be what you want to be without worrying about pleasing a boss or counting your holiday pay-cuts. Switchfoot pushes you in the right direction with this song- “Yesterday is a /wrinkle on your forehead/Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken/Don’tclose your eyes, don’t close your eyes/This is your life and today is all you’ve got now/Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have“. The best part of the song is- “This is your life, are you who you want to be!“.
Buy it on Amazon.

Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Daft Punk (entrepreneur songs)

Conveys: Work Harder.
The lyrics of this awesome song – “Work it harder, make it better/Do it faster, makes us stronger/More than ever hour after/Our work is never over“. This songs puts you in a mental state of pushing youself harder, better, faster, stronger – the exact requirement out of any entrepreneur.
Buy it on Amazon.

Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Green Day (Songs For Entrepreneurs)

Conveys: Journey of an Entrepreneur

A great song that aptly describes the solo journey of an entrepreneur. The long and tiring path may get lonely but the entrepreneur is ready to go through to it for the sake of his ambitions. Here is the look into the lyrics- “I walk a lonely road/The only one that I have ever known/Don’t know where it goes/But it’s home to me and I walk alone”. A truly moving song for an entrepreneur.
Buy it on Amazon.
Please feel free to suggest other songs that you find motivating in the comments and maybe I’ll put a second version of this list together soon enough.

Check Out What Our Clients Are Saying!

“Dear Jeff,
Good Morning. I wanted to take a moment to let you know the effects of signing up with your service “Pro Talk.” we were looking to have an increase in several areas in our service departments in both Salisbury, NC and Florence, SC. It was a pleasant surprise, because we were told that what we saw in just a few weeks would take several months to accomplish. Pro Talk was a well worth investment. The increase we have seen in our service departments was far beyond our expectations. What we found is that within 90 days, quicker than anticipated, there was an average increase in our ELR of $15.00. We had an increase of average hours per R.O. of .5. There was an increase of $80.00 per repair order. We also saw an increase in our monthly CSI scores. The Pro Talk process took us from doing zero walk-a-rounds to 85-90%. I wanted to let you know that this was well worth the investment to see the increases that we have seen, in a short amount of time.
The trainer that was sent to us was Todd Wooten. He did an excellent job with our staff. He was extremely knowledgeable on the workings of a service department. He worked with our staff on a one-on-one basis. He helped them to become stronger in their work habits, communication and their sales ability. He also aided in over coming any objections that customers may have. I sat through one of Todd’s training sessions, which helped clear up a lot of questions that I had about the Pro Talk process. As previously mentioned, our over all goals were met in a much quicker time frame than anticipated and our staff has become more thorough in their responsibilities which aided the process as well.
One more thing that I would like to tell you is please feel free to use me as a reference to promote the Pro Talk process as well as your trainer Todd Wooten. If one follows the step-by-step process that was set forth by our trainer Todd Wooten, then I can confidently say that, without a doubt the process truly works. Thank you for your services, assistance of the Pro Talk team!
If you have any questions or need to discuss any of this further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your services!”
Sincerely,
John Cloninger
Cloninger Ford Toyota Scion
Service Director of Fixed Operations
______________________________________________________________________________
“Just wanted to say thank you for your training class. I have been to many classes in my 20 years as a Service Advisor. I have taken technical, manager, and Service Advisor classes from Ford, Goodyear, Chrysler, Autonation, and ATCON. Your class was the most real life training out of them all. I received information that I will actually use and it was presented as not just what, but what you should do to get increased sales. THANK YOU, and I look forward to meeting with you again.”

Greg L.
Lexus of Orlando

______________________________________________________________________________

“Best Service Advisor Sales Training I’ve seen in my 30 years in the business. All of our stores increased over an hour of C.P.R.O. averages in just a short period of time!”

Bruce B.
Earnhardt’s Automotive Group

______________________________________________________________________________

“Dear Mr J. Cowan,
I attended one of your presentations at NADA, Las Vegas just over two weeks ago. I am based in the Republic of South Africa.
I am an Executive for After Sales (Fixed Operations) for our 33 dealerships of different franchises. I just found it proper just to drop you a note to say, THANK YOU for your passion! I found your presentation refreshing and very basic. It goes to show that money is made at a very basic level with an acceptable level of knowledge. Execution or implementation is important…. Much of what you said is not unknown in some ways but the way you packaged your presentation was certainly very compelling. The standing ovation you got was certainly deserved. Hopefully you return at next years’ convention in Orlando with more content and vigour!
Sir, you know your subject! Well done.”
Kind regards,
Mosalla S.
Barloworld Motor Retail
Executive: After Sales
______________________________________________________________________________
“Jeff,
I wanted to thank you for the seminar yesterday.  I have been to many service training seminars over the last 19 years in this business and I must say yours was the very best.  My Service Advisor and I walked away quite frankly blown away.  We can’t wait to apply the lessons learned yesterday.”
Ben R.
Leavens Volkswagen Londaon, Ontario
Service Manager

Friday's Motivational Quote:

LOVE YOUR PEOPLE!

This is a declaration of care for our people – those we lead and those we serve. It was written by the bestselling author of  212° the extra degree® and Smile & Move®, Sam Parker (Connect with Sam here). This video was featured on Givemore.com. CLICK HERE to view

Sell Everyday Like It's the Last Day of the Month:

Empathy Is The Most Powerful Leadership Tool

Anything we’re trying to make happen as a leader involves other people, and the fact is, most people don’t have to follow us. They don’t have to believe in our great ideas, buy our great products, or do what we want them to do. Even when we have authority--as parents of teenagers will tell you--our power doesn’t go very far without others believing that what we want them to do is in their best interests. The pull of connecting to others and their interests is far more powerful than the push of control, especially when we find the intersection between their interests and our goals. How do we know what’s truly in someone else’s interests? CLICK HERE to read the full article.

From FastCompany.com. Reprinted, with permission of the publisher, from The Zen Leader © 2012 Ginny Whitelaw.
Published by Career Press, Pompton Plains, NJ.  800-227-3371.  All rights reserved.

Can You Sell Your Customers in Zero Seconds?

In our short-attention-span age, many people are fed up with sales pitches that can't get to the point. Sales consultant Andy Paul's book Zero-Time Selling advocates for reducing the time needed for sales and customer-service processes to zero (or as near to it as possible).
If that sounds crazy, think about how we buy online. We might see an ad and buy that product with one click. We don't want to hunt for anything, and we expect retailers to show us what we want and exactly how to buy it.
Anything slower than that, and we're frustrated. If your site takes a few seconds longer to load, we're leaving.
Related: The 'Fashion Star' Guide to Connecting the Dots for Customers
The big challenge is finding ways to sell quickly and effectively offline, too. In the book Relevant Selling, Jaynie Smith offers advice on how to do just that.
First, she says, make sure what you're selling is exactly what your customer wants. Doing so will close the deal faster. Smith debunks the idea that your points of difference are always a competitive advantage. Find out what your customers prize, and deliver that -- and you've made an instant sale.
Also, she says, don't get too creative with ads. You know the kind, where you can't figure out what the ad is for until the last five seconds of the commercial? Smith's research says customers aren't impressed. It's disrespectful of my time to make me wait a full minute to find out what you want to sell me.
You may not be able to get it down to zero, but any time you can shave off your sales process will help close more deals.
How do you speed up your sales cycle? Leave a comment and let us know.
Related: Seven Ways to Keep Angry Customers (Like Me) Happy

by: Carol Tice from the Entrepreneur.com Blog http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/223422

Refuel Your Greatness!

How To Thrive in Challenging Times:

While you can’t control the economy or the other forces of change, you can position yourself to survive and even thrive in challenging times....CLICK HERE to read the full article from Forbes.com.

15 Big Little Things You Can Do in 15 Minutes:

From Forbes.com http://onforb.es/IpRhyt

This article is by Deborah Grayson Riegel, president of Elevated Training Inc., a communication skills training and coaching company, and author of Oy Vey! Isn’t a Strategy: 25 Solutions for Personal and Professional Success.


After 15 years of yo-yoing up 15 pounds and down 15 pounds, I finally realized that the long, slow, low-impact exercise routines I’d been suffering through weren’t working. I needed something different—dramatically different—and I found it: CrossFit. CrossFit is an intense strength and conditioning class that drives you to work at your maximum intensity for the minimum amount of time needed to get your workout for the day done. How long is that? On average, about 15 minutes.... CLICK HERE to read more.

 

Respond To Your Customers Changing Needs:

Why Every Monday Matters:

Why Every Monday Matters

BY Expert Blogger Shawn Parr | 04-09-2012 | 1:30 PM

This blog is written by a member of Fast Company's expert blogging community and expresses that expert's views alone.

 

How one man changed his life, and impacted thousands of others with 52 ways to make every Monday matter.

CLICK HERE to read this amazing article...

Want A Better Bottom Line? Give Better Service

Eight Ways to Make Customers to Love a Local Business. Click Here to read the article from Manta.

Friday's Motivational Quote:

This week's quote is from the amazing Dick Clark:

Two Simple Ways To Make Your Day More Productive

Two Simple Ways To Make Your Day More Productive

BY Lydia Dishman | 04-17-2012 | 2:30 PM

Instead of wishing for more hours in a day, Dinesh Moorjani, CEO of Hatch Labs, has two simple tips for setting priorities and getting things done. Click Here to Watch Video

How Do You Get Fired Up?

Motivational Monday:

A List of Some of the Best Things in Life. What we all work hard for! http://ow.ly/ajitu
Feel free to add to this list in the comment section below!

1. Falling in love.
    
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
    
3. A hot shower.
    
4. No lines at the Super Wal-Mart.
    
5. A special glance.
    
6. Getting mail.
    
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
    
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
    
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
    
10. Hot towels out of the dryer.
     
11. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
     
12. Chocolate milkshake.
     
13. A long distance phone call.
     
14. A bubble bath.
     
15. Giggling.
     
16. A good conversation.
     
17. The beach.
     
18. Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter.
     
19. Laughing at yourself.
     
20. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
     
21. Running through sprinklers.
     
22. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
     
23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
     
24. Laughing at an inside joke.
     
25. Friends.
     
26. Falling in love for the first time.
     
27. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
     
28. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
     
29. Your first kiss.
     
30. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
     
31. Playing with a new puppy.
     
32. Late night talks with your roommate that keep you from sleeping.
     
33. Having someone play with your hair.
     
34. Sweet dreams.
     
35. Hot chocolate.
     
36. Road trips with friends.
     
37. Swinging on swings.
     
38. Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.
     
39. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog.
     
40. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.
     
41. Going to a really good concert.
     
42. Getting butterflies in your stomach every time you see that one person.
     
43. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
     
44. Winning a really competitive game.
     
45. Making chocolate chip cookies!
     
46. Having your friends send you homemade cookies!
     
47. Spending time with close friends!
     
48. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.
     
49. Holding hands with someone you care about.
     
50. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
     
51. Discovering that love is unconditional and stronger than time.
     
52. Riding the best roller coasters over and over.
     
53. Hugging the person you love.
     
54. Watching the expression someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.
     
55. Watching the sunrise.
     
56. Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.
     
57. Having friends you know you can cry on or talk to about your deepest problems

Jeremy Clarkson and Bicycles

Jeremy Clarkson, host of "Top Gear" professes his love for... bicycles?! Read the article here: http://aol.it/HAsSmK

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Hello Indianapolis!

PRO TALK has been in Indy for the past few days, and it's always a pleasure for Jeff to visit his hometown. He has been conducting two one-day training workshops, and today is his second and last one. With this view, why would he want to leave?!

Seven Tips to Overcome Procrastination!

Posted by Dave Anderson on Tue, Apr 10, 2012 @ 09:00 AMon the NCM blog

Procrastination is more exhausting than the labor involved in physically completing the task you’re putting off. Perhaps this is why William James observed, “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” Procrastinators aren’t necessarily lazy, but they are oftentimes unfocused or undisciplined...   Click Here to Read More

Is Bad Advice Costing You Money?

Driving Steam Cars & Harleys with Jay Leno

We love this video of Jay Leno giving Forbes.com a tour of his incredible car collection:

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Insider List: Motivational Songs

1. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
2. Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
3. The Final Countdown – Europe
4. We Are the Champions – Queen
5. We Will Rock You – Queen
6. I’ve Got the Power – Snap
7. It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
8. Affirmation – Savage Garden
9. Beautiful Day – U2
10. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
11. I Feel Good – James Brown
12. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
13. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
14. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
15. Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
16. I Believe I Can Fly – R. Kelly
17. You Gotta Be - Des’ree
18. When You Believe – Mariah Carey/ Whitney Houston
19. Hero – Mariah Carey
20. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
21. Bad Day – Daniel Powter
22. Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
23. I’m Alive – Celine Dione
24. Tub Thumping – Chumba Wumba
25. Lose Yourself – Eminem
26. Remember The Name – Fort Minor
27. Till I Collapse – Eminem
28. Return to Innocence – Enigma
29. O Fortuna – Carmina Burana

Source: http://www.goal-setting-college.com/motivation/inspirational-motivational-songs/

How to Increase Your Income Immediately #3:

Spring Training Specials!

Check out PRO TALK's Spring Training Specials. Hurry before these packages run out! http://bit.ly/Han9WC

Insider List: Motivating Movie Monologues

Any Given Sunday - Al Pacino's pre-game locker room talk on clawing for inches (1999)
Boiler Room - Ben Affleck's speech to the new guys (2000)
Braveheart - Mel Gibson's speech for freedom (1995)
Brian's Song - Gayle Sayers speech after Brian Piccolo dies (1971)
Cast Away - Tom Hanks recounting will to live while on the island (2000)
Dead Poets Society - Robin Williams' opening discussion on making your life extraordinary (1989)
Empire Strikes Back - when Yoda asks Luke to raise the Star Fighter out of the muck (1980)
Glengarry Glen Ross - Alec Baldwin's speech to the sales force (1992)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - Sidney Poitier's discussion with father (1967)
Henry V - Kenneth Branagh's St. Crispian day speech (1989)
On the Waterfront - Marlon Brando's "I could've been a contender" speech (1954)
Patton - opening speech (1970)
Rocky - scene before the fight…talking to Adrian (1976)
The Rookie - when Dennis Quaid talks to the team about dreams (2002)
Wall Street - Michael Douglas' "greed is good" speech (1987)

The 8 Objections

Objections are a requirement to a successful sales day. In fact, without them, you’re likely not engaging your prospects and customers.
It’s the introduction of an objection that can spark a flow of information that can help you further qualify a sales opportunity and better understand the needs and current environment of your prospects. For this reason, you should work to embrace and understand the true objections you might be facing. Read More here... The 8 Objections - Just Sell®... it's all about sales®

Friday's Motivational Quote:

Are you valuable?

Are you valuable? 4 Questions to ask yourself about your sales value: Click Here to read more...

"Every Dog, Every Time" Sales Tip Video:

Insider List: Motivating Movies

8 Mile (2002) Jerry Maguire (1996)
Ali (2001) Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
Alive (1993) Legally Blonde (2001), Legally Blonde 2 (2003)
Antwone Fisher (2002) Lorenzo’s Oil (1993)
Apollo 13 (1995) The Lou Gehrig Story (1956)
Ben Hur (1959) The Matrix (1999)
Boiler Room (2000) Men of Honor (2000)
Braveheart (1995) Miracle (2004)
Brian’s Song (1971) Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) My Body Guard (1980)
Chariots of Fire (1981) Norma Rae (1979)
Chocolat (2001) North Country (2005)
Cinderella Man (2005) October Sky (1999)
Dead Poets Society (1989) On the Waterfront (1954)
Defending Your Life (1991) The Paper Chase (1973)
Door to Door (2002) Patton (1970)
The Emperor's Club (2002) Remember the Titans (2000)
Erin Brockovich (2000) Renaissance Man (1994)
Field of Dreams (1989) The Right Stuff (1983)
Forrest Gump (1994) Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982)
Friday Night Lights (2004) The Rookie (2002)
Gandhi (1982) Rudy (1993)
Gladiator (2000) Scent of a Woman (1992)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Glory (1989) Stand By Me (1986)
Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) Vision Quest (1985)
Henry V (1989) Walk the Line (2005)
Hoosiers (1986) Wall Street (1987)
The Hurricane (2000) Working Girl (1988)
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Email 3 Times Daily- From Just Sell

What if you checked email only 3 times a day?
The rules…
Check and handle email upon arrival then check and handle email at lunch. Check and handle email after 4 pm. At home, check it all you’d like (but hopefully that won’t be more than once a day).
Here’s what we’ve learned so far (we’ve been doing it at JustSell since 11.2010)…Click the link below to read more...

Email 3 Times Daily - Just Sell®... it's all about sales®

Friday's Motivational Quote:

60 Second Guide To Managing Upset Customers

Source: Templates & Tools by Score.org
Having respect for your customers will ensure their faith in and loyalty to you and your business. Studies show that it is nine times more difficult to attract a new customer than it is to retain an existing one, so it is critical to keep your customers happy. Surveys, focus groups and questionnaires are among the ways to measure your customers’ perceptions of you and determine how to improve.
If you discover that a customer is dissatisfied, take action immediately to win back their confidence in the services you provide. People like to know that their opinion counts and if they feel like you care about what they think, they will think positive thoughts about you and your business.
In just 60-seconds, you’ll learn how to manage upset customers and turn them into long-term, satisfied customers.
0:60 Stay Calm
Listen carefully to your customers' complaints without interrupting. Acknowledge that there is a problem and empathize with upset customers. Let them know what you can do for them and make them aware of all of their options. Always treat your customers with respect. Customers should sense that you are calm, but concerned. Your attitude when dealing with upset customers should be professional, mature, pleasant and reasonable.
0:46 Work at Gaining Loyal Customers
The number one reason that customers stop buying from a business is because they were treated poorly by someone. It is much more cost effective to retain loyal customers than to gain new ones. In order to create loyalty, you have to calm down upset customers and ensure them that you will work to find a solution that they deem acceptable. Let them know that their business is important. Thank them for their patience and cooperation. In many cases, it pays to reward upset customers in order to keep their business.
0:38 Look & Act Professional
A first impression is a lasting impression. Your appearance should signal that you are professional, mature and knowledgeable. Nonverbal communication also says a lot. Your body language and tone of voice should be polite and tactful. Pay attention to your facial expressions, posture, gestures and speech.
0:20 Choose Who You Want to Do Business With
There are some people who will never be happy with your products or services. Repeated complaints from a customer and terminal dissatisfaction are signs that you cannot please him or her. Your business is better off without such customers and you may want to refer them elsewhere.
0:11 Ensure that Mistakes Aren't Repeated
Once you determine the problem and how it originated, you can take steps to ensure that it does not happen again. Learning about a problem can actually help improve your business if you make sure that the problem is avoided in the future. Don't make the same mistake twice. In dealing with upset customers, you also learn about human behavior and become better at resolving similar situations in the future.
0:03 Don't Take Criticism Personally
Many discourteous customers act that way because they made a mistake and want to blame someone else. Don't let these customers get to you by responding emotionally or giving in to outrageous demands. Tears, anger and sarcasm are inappropriate reactions.
View more at Score.org