3. Don’s Recap Three things must happen if people are going to do business with you A Repeatable Process trumps talent Set reasonable goals Create a mission statement Create a marketing plan Create a business plan A little bit about prospecting The three rules of selling commodity-type products Why so few Advisors escape the curse of the bell curve
4. A few thoughts for today: Passion “To play without passion is inexcusable” - Ludwig van Beethoven “Great dancers are not great because of their technique. They're great because of their passion” - Martha Graham “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will” - Vince Lombardi
5. Determination The hardest decision is deciding to get good. Once that decision is made, the rest is putting knobs on the radio. Most people just dream about being successful. Successful people do what unsuccessful people won’t do. “If you haven't the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you” - Poet T. S. Eliot
6. Toughness “If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place” Nora Roberts
7. Choice “The measure of your success usually comes down to who wins the battle that rages between the two of you. The ‘you’ who wants to stop, give up, or take it easy and the ‘you’ who chooses to beat back that which would stand in the way of your success – complacency. “ Chris Widener, Consultant
8. Finally, good habits over bad “The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.” - E.M Gray
10. According to Harvard Business School “Most people can be top sellers if they are willing to study, concentrate and focus on their performance.” The Selling Advantage “
11. The Eight Shared Qualities according to HBS -as reported in The Selling Advantage #1: They did not take “no” personally and allow it to make them feel like a failure. They had high levels of confidence and self-esteem. They were not devastated by rejection. #2: They took 100% acceptance of responsibility for results. They didn’t point the finger when times got tough. The worse things got, the harder they worked. The used negatives to their advantage.
12. The Eight Shared Qualities according to HBS-as reported in The Selling Advantage #3: They had above average ambition and desire to succeed. This quality enabled them to determine proper priorities. It also determined with whom they associated and how they spent their time on and off the job. #4: They had high levels of empathy. They were able to put themselves into their clients’ shoes and appropriately respond to their needs.
13. The Eight Shared Qualities according to HBS-as reported in The Selling Advantage #5: They were intensely goal-oriented. They knew exactly where they were going and were able to minimize distractions. #6: They had above average will power and determination. The always persist toward their goals.
14. The Eight Shared Qualities according to HBS-as reported in The Selling Advantage #7: They were impeccably honest with themselves and their clients. This allows them to gain each client’s trust. #8: They had an ability to approach strangers even if it was uncomfortable.
15. Today’s mission: Learn how to …. Make a compelling opening statement Address your client’s needs Explain the features and benefits of the solution to those needs Determine how they feel about the solution you are recommending Get all the objections on the table Overcome those objections Secure a commitment