Colleen’s Blog

Have you ever come across a corporate policy so ridiculous that it leaves a bad taste in your mouth? It’s even more frustrating when this new policy or rule doesn’t seem to serve any significant purpose. Back in 2012, Chris and I were booked at the Fairmont Sonoma on a summer package that I purchased during a charity auction. We were traveling on an "Ovation Certificate" and I had been guaranteed a nice, newly renovated room with a view of the garden. However, I decided to inquire about upgrading - at my extra cost - to a suite. I called the Fairmont Hotel with the expectation that I would have to provide some information about myself, perhaps demonstrate proof of purchase and would be off the phone shortly after with an upgraded suite.

You have the best product on the market, the best price, and the best service available. Yet, you still feel a void between yourself and your client. Emails and calls are short and to the point, and you may even feel anxious about your client ending the business relationship unexpectedly. You never really know where you stand with your client, professionally and personally. Have you felt like this before? I've said it before, and I'll say it again. What truly defines a great salesperson isn't what happens during the sales process, but what happens afterwards.

If social media went away, business would still be transacted.

We can discuss sales strategies, ideas, tips and methods to no end. However, at times even the best salesperson struggles to achieve results not because of a weak strategy, but because of little to no focus on their productivity. Let’s cut to the chase. The best way to achieve true productivity in your work day is to cut off all inbound access to you. Now, before your jaw drops too low, let me clarify that you should only do so temporarily, ideally an hour or two each day. Consider turning your phone to silent or completely turning it off, as well as logging out of your email inbox while you have important tasks to attend to. When you are focusing on your outbound business development prospecting, you should not have to deal with distracting, time consuming tasks which take the focus out of your work day. Want a perfect example of how this simple tweak in productivity can benefit you?