Core Business Solutions Advice

I'm sure we've all thought about this question once in our lives.
What makes successful people successful?
It's easy to think that those at the top know something the rest of us mere mortals do not know, especially now that we're all trying to critically hang onto jobs, find clients and increase market share. We're on a quest for that missing ingredient or "special something" or a secret business formula that guarantees success.

Quite simply, what sets successful people apart from the competition is their ability to connect.

Relationships are the real secret to business success. If you can build strong genuine relationships and connect with your customers, business friends and colleagues, you will get your piece of the proverbial business pie. If you can't, you'll be scrambling for the left-overs.

So, here are 8 concepts that are used by the world's most successful people:

1) Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that reads, "Make me feel important." This was the life philosophy of Mary Kay Ash, the well-known cosmetics mogul. Her genuine concern for others catapulted her out of poverty and was the secret to her success.

2) Resist the urge to be a one-upper. Perhaps you feel compelled to share that you battled the flu for twice as long as your colleague. Or maybe you're dying to tell your client how great your vacation to Hawaii was after she mentions her trip to the lake. Three words: Don't. Do. It. When you're always trying to top other people, you're ruining communication and any chance to build real rapport.

3) Don't work from a script. Be sure to memorize your elevator pitch or your sales presentation so it's natural. You'll seem more at ease, more genuine and authentic-plus your prospect will be less tempted to think that you're fluffing up the facts.

4) Remember the remarkable. Entrepreneur Sunny Bates makes a point to identify and write down the things that stand out to her in every conversation. She then references those statements in future interactions or presentations-and has been amazed by the reactions she's gotten when others realize that she has paid attention to and valued what others have said!

5) Cultivate curiosity. According to Lee Iacocca, former Chrysler CEO, "A leader has to show curiosity. He has to listen to people outside of the 'Yes, sir' crowd in his inner circle. Businesspeople need to listen at least as much as they need to talk. Too many people fail to realize that real communication goes in both directions."

6) Seek out a common interest. People want others to be like them. Establishing that you and a client root for the same baseball team or volunteer at the same charity will go a long way in making you relevant in their eyes!

7) Ask effective questions. When you're communicating, remember: garbage in, garbage out. If you ask the wrong questions, you'll get the wrong answers-or at least different answers from the ones you were hoping for. Think about what you're hoping to learn, and remember that an open-ended question is always more effective than one that elicits a simple "Yes" or "No" answer.

8) Act like a good listener. (Don't let your body image betray you!) We're constantly bombarded with information, so it's almost instinctive to tune it out. When you're interacting with someone, you need to consciously change your body language to reflect that you want to receive information; otherwise, it may appear that you're trying to get away from it. Keep in mind that your face always says it all.

Remember, Connecting With People:
A- Takes Time
B- Takes Effort
C- Means putting others before yourself

Those who follow through with these steps above, find it's worth every second of time and every ounce of energy. Do not let yourself settle for a spot on the sidelines when you could very well be at the center of productivity and success.
Your business relationships can proliferate and will be more rewarding. Bottom line- You will be more successful in your business no matter what you are selling.

In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.

Until Then Please:
1- Live Simply.
2- Speak Kindly.
3- Care Deeply.
4-Love Generously.

All The Very Best...Always,
Walt Morey -
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
www.corebizsolution.com

Do the top people in their business segment, who need to find something, do they run a classified ad for it? Of course not. They call people they know. They have developed contacts over time that they know to be the best at what they do and have them in their networks.

Networking, when done right, can be one of the most powerful tools in your business arsenal. The power of a network can take a person from a new player on the business scene to a leader and much admired success in a very short time. Some people misunderstand the power of their own network and leave it to just sit there and never be updated, while other enlightened and positive people make it hum like a finely tuned engine.

Consider this: Say that you know at least 100 people and each of those people knows 100 people. By making 2 calls, you can reach out to 10,000 people. When calling the person at the "second level" of that network, you each know a common person and developing rapport can be a quick process.

Take this network to the "third level". Assuming that each person in the second level knows 100 people, your network is a cool 1 million people who are no more than two phone calls away. Just 2 phone calls away! Within that network are customers, supporters of your charitable pursuits, hiring managers for a new and better job and even someone who has a tool or something you could use collecting dust and would be willing to lend it to you. And now with the power of email & social media (FaceBook, LinkedIn, etc) you can easily contact your network without the phone call.

Is it any wonder that the most successful people in business and politics are surrounded by people who have been in their networks for years? A good network is a gold mine. It's simply waiting for you to pick up a shovel and to start digging.

What are you waiting for? Collect the contacts you've accumulated over the years. I highly recommend the Master Networkers Guide and Seminar by Dave Doerges, the Free Networking International Founder and CEO. Don't judge your contacts. Take the time to have 1 to 1's with them. They're simply contacts unless you get to know them some. I know people who have found great clients because they happened to know a receptionist from the client's company. Results come from the action and with a big network it's so easy. The person you contact next may not be the final stop in your search, but there's a very good chance they have a clue to help take you another step.

Why you should start networking today? Because if you don't, someone who wants it more will.
How bad do you want it? Are you willing to invest in other people and develop a network?

So get out there! Meet for those 1 on 1's and grow your network.

I hope this helps you to kick start your business just a bit.

I welcome your comments and feedback.

In a few weeks another Core Business Solutions Advice blog article will be published.

All The Very Best...Always,

Walt Morey -Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Businesswww.corebizsolution.com