Stevens Consulting Group

f you think "I just don't have time to get organized," then you NEED to attend this session!

If you're like most professionals, there are well over 100 different issues on your plate for the day, and nothing is organized.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
1:00 pm ET/12:00 pm CT
11:00 am MT/10:00 am PT
Length: 60 minutes


http://goto.businessproinfo.com/go/8686

Labels: Organizational Skills, productivity, self development, self help, Time Management

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: cold calling, Positive Selling, sales help, Sales Management Training, Sales marketing, sales success, sales techniques, Sales Training

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

It amazes me that associations cannot provide value to its members. I recently received an email from an organization that is providing a new certification program. Interesting, why is it when membership diminishes and no value is provided that associations believe certification is a terrific money maker? There are a plethora of associations and organizations that provide "certification". My question, Does this make the member any more proficient in their delivery, technique or position?

Today's market is exceedingly competitive yet the only recognized initials beyond a name are MBA, Phd, JD and MD. Too many people seek credentials in ideology and systems unrecognized by peers, managers and customers.

Even more freightening is issue that so many need place initials after their name for recognition sake. The other day a person emailed me with MBA, BA after his name. The person a professional speaker on motivational skills. Ironic, he has the alphabet after his name- appears to me that he has an esteem issue.

If you seek additional skills and trainng then review institutions recognized by peers and clients. Seek an additional accredited degree but do no line the pockets of an organization that cannot determine true methods for member value.

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

I was thinking of a great story for this eZine and an epiphany struck. I have a woman that cleans my home twice per month. Needless to say she makes a very decent income. Tina cleans my home and many others. However, the essence of the story is that Tina is somewhat impoverished. She lives paycheck to paycheck and weekly extols stories of family and friends sent to jail for drugs or alcohol. More importantly, Tina has trouble meeting all of her bills.

Each time I see her, she complains about money and how to get more. Mind you that Tina has a pickup truck that she is enamored with but costs her more than one thousand dollars per month in payments. And she goes out four times per month to play in a dart league. Recently, I asked her to work some extra days. She debated with me that the extra work cuts into her dart time and a night out with friends. I was shocked, here is a woman requiring extra income and she defaults to playtime.

How many of us refrain from accountability? How many of us procrastinate for what is important. I was asked recently about how to lead a fulfilling and prosperous life. The answer is easy but comes with hard work. Here a just a few:

Comfort Zone – The issue with creating change for yourself requires a release from the comfort zone. Habits kill creativity. Habits kill desire and habits kill future thought. We get so wrapped up in where we are we forget where we want to be. If Tina and you desire financial prosperity you need to eject from the comfort zone.

Accountability - Simply put have some. If you want to change and deplore your surroundings do something about it. Stop procrastinating and be accountable. IF you want to lose weight, eat healthier. If you want money, stop spending it. Make a plan and stick to it!

Stop complaining – No one hears you when you complain but you. Others are wrapped up in their own issues and cannot hear you above the din. Complainers are procrastinators in different clothes. Conduct an emotional makeover.

Support Group – You are the total of those you surround yourself with. If you want to make a change in you, remove yourself from those that bring you down. If you do not have the proper support find new friends. Good friends support you, acquaintances find fault.

Visualize success – Become the embodiment of what you want to be. Ask any athlete, movie star or successful business professional about this powerful technique. If you want to be different you need to visualize the difference.

Suffering – We are just upon Easter and the greatest sufferer of all time is Jesus Christ who lived and died on the cross so that he can live in us. Suffering is a part of life and learning. Many years ago I escaped child abuse and three consecutive employment losses. Rather than state “Why me?” state “Why not me?” so that you can understand how to make the necessary changes to live a powerful and prosperous life.

Living a fruitful life comes from fertilizing and cultivating your garden of comprehension. However, to create a better life you must mean what you say and say what you mean. Make the change, cut the excuses and for heaven sake- Do Something! Do not live like Tina in a world of excuses and procrastination.

©2008. Drew Stevens PhD All rights reserved.

Labels: little book of hope, self development, self help

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

The present world is too muddled with distraction and basics. The lack of articulation is bromide. People are too busy to take initiative. However, the greatest success tool for any business is differentiation. Being different captivates attention and helps rise above a crowded field. One of the best methods is letter writing.
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Recently reported in many newspapers is an announcement by the United States Postal Service to team with HBO Studios. The rationale for this decision is to assist promoting a new mini series by HBO- John Adams.

Aside from his former role as President of the United States, Mr. Adams and his wife Abigail are credited with writing over 1000 personal letters. With the proliferation of electronic inventions from the personal computer to the Blackberry, such feats as letter writing seem unfathomable. Writing a letter takes time, energy and concentration. Imagine in today’s world taking time for all three simultaneously.

Letter writing is an art. One need not only to take the time but find the proper language. Moreover, good language achieves emotion; both happy and sad. Therefore letter writing creates activity and differentiation.

The present world is too muddled with distraction and basics. The lack of articulation is bromide. People are too busy to take initiative. However, the greatest success tool for any business is differentiation. Being different captivates attention and helps rise above a crowded field. One of the best methods is letter writing.

There still exist a number of organizations and individuals that believe Cold Calling is functional for selling success. Show me a successful real estate agent, stockbroker or insurance agent that achieved financial prosperity from cold calling. This technique is an intrusion. If you want the attention of a decision maker research the organization first and write an articulate introductory letter. Then inform the person of your intention of calling at a particular date and time. The difference in writing an introductory letter must be the variable that gets you through the threshold.

A terrific mentor informed me recently that there is a “Dumbing Down in America”. I concur. While preparing for this article, I read a recent article in the New York Times that the readability index of Microsoft Word is set for a fifth grade reading level. What has happened to the power of language? Writing with distinction requires good language skills. I recently conducted a training program and no one in the audience understood the word voracious. Read books, magazines, anything you can get your hands on and learn a new word everyday. When possible use these new words in your correspondence.

Finally, one of the best methods and most succinct forms of communication is a thank you note. Clients new and old appreciate the time spent. Individually written thank you and holiday notes are terrific means of maintaining contact while illustrating differentiation. These need not be the great American novels but they should be articulate.

The ability to write a good letter or concise note illustrates your empathy for building solid client relationships. Writing takes time and commitment but rewards will come. Writing can also be completed anytime, anywhere. Unlike computers and personal digital assistants; pads and pens do not crash and require rebooting. I wrote this article for you in the first few moments of my son’s baseball practice. The power of the quill.

©2008. Drew Stevens PhD. All rights reserved.

Labels: business selling, customer service, sales help, sales techniques, self development, self help, selling skills sales seminars

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: attention management, effectiveness, efficiency, life balance, Organizational Skills, productivity, sales help, sales skills, stress, Time Management, work life balance, workplace performance

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 7:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: account management, relationship managment, sales help, Sales Management Training, sales selling, sales skills, sales success, sales techniques, Sales Training, selling skills sales seminars

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

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Posted by Drew Stevens at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments