What is your commitment?

Relationships are a testing ground. You are measured as a professional, and as a person, by your willingness to follow through on your commitments. Trying is not enough, good intentions are not enough, excuses are not enough.
The only thing that matters, after all is said and done, is that you did what you said you would do. There is no more powerful way to build trust, solidify relationships and separate yourself from the competition.

Commitment? doing what you say you will long after the mood has taken you.

Yoda said it best "There is no try, only do, or do not."

What is your interest rate?

You'll see the headline and think mortgages, savings, credit crisis , Northern Rock etc.
wrong...this is nothing to do with money, it's to do with networking!
when you meet people ( new and existing contacts what is your interest rate when you communicate with them. Are you listening carefully to what is being said or are you merely waiting for your turn to talk?
I suggest there are 5 levels of listening
1 We don't listen; very rude when we are out there building or reinforcing relationships
2 we pretend to listen. 9men are particularly good at this!)
3 Most of us, most of the time selectiviely listen
4 We listen attentively
5 We listen with our full body. We not only listen but we watch the other person's body language and listen for the tone of voice. People can lie with words but not with their body language and tone.

To become an effective networker we have to spot opportunities. The only way to do this is have our interest rate high!

Have a look at our site for lots of free and useful information

No land in sight….

When Christopher Columbus woke up on day 66, he said “Today we’ll find land.” Of course, this wasn’t the first time he had said this. As a matter of fact, he said it more than his crew wanted to hear. But his clarity and certainty were over-powering, even to his shipmates.

See, when you are 66 days at sea and your crew is mounting a mutiny and forcing you to turn back, they need leadership; they need confidence…most of all, they have to trust and believe in you!

We have all heard the phrase, “you have to sell harder internally than you do to the customer.” Here is great tip on how to sell internally when you have obstacles standing in the way from you and the sale.

It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with IT, management, the legal department, operations or any other area that assists you in delivering your solution to the customer. If you start any conversation with the “we can’t do it” attitude, you are shot from the start.

These departments want to trust you. They have to see confidence, an OUTSTANDING attitude, positive thinking, a “moving heaven and earth” mentality. Simply put, a “can do” attitude.

You will always have hurdles internally in your organization. But the key is for all involved to stay positive. Everyone!!! One non-positive person can tarnish any progress trying to be made for the entire group. Get everyone on board to have a clear mind, step back, and start saying, "Why can’t we?" instead of “We can’t.” And even when you come up with reasons why you can’t do something…challenge them. But challenge them positively…not negatively. That is the difference. Simply say, “Is there a better way?” And, yes, even you can discover a "New World" within your own organization. Have fun and good selling.

Great stuff from John Costigan