Sales by 5 Blog

Why Tradeshows Are Crucial...

We go to numerous tradeshows and conferences annually. We sometimes forget what it's all about before we get there, because we get excited about the speakers and the new things to see.  Then we remember, it's about the relationships.  Let me be more clear -  IT'S ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS.  It's not about the schwag, new gadgets, ideas, products, services - that's salt and pepper.  The people you connect with and whom you provide value to is the most important thing.  Take the time to invest in the most important thing when you go, the people.  Everything else will take care of itself.

My new friends from Viigo and I.  Viigo is an excellent (free!) mobile application that lets you read our blog and other sites on your BlackBerry or Windows Mobile device.  Download it now!

Check out more pictures from WES.

Why Go to WES? And What is WES?

WES is the Wireless Enterprise Symposium, the largest BlackBerry conference of the year.  Why am I here?  We average 150 hours a year of continuing education at SalesBy5 per person.  We are looking for the next best thing to give our clients a competitive advantage so they can focus on their business.  That includes great communication - with and without technology.  The one who learns fastest wins.

I had a little fun too, though.

(John Mayer)

The Little Difference in People

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. That little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

W. Clement Stone
American Businessman, Author

Is your attitude remarkable enough to make a big difference in your company?  What if you made the choice to be remarkable tomorrow?  How many lives could you affect?

Photo by JustUptown - Flickr

Wayne Gretzky and Skating to the Puck

Wayne Gretzky said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”

So, if point A is where you are and point B is where you want to be (the goal),  ask the question: "How do we get there?" everyday. Why?  Because things change on how you are going to get to B everyday. Go forward to where you need to be and less of where you have been. Thanks Wayne.

Photo courtesy of Hakan Dahlstrom -Flickr

Do Your Customers Wish You Had A Smartphone?

According to Gartner, fifty percent of traveling workers will leave their notebooks at home in favor of other devices, such as BlackBerrys, by 2012.  41 minutes of time per day was saved a year ago by BlackBerry users, now it's up to 60 minutes per day. How much extra time would you like to spend with your family or making money?

Take the Smartphone Challenge and see what you're missing.  There will be a waiting list as soon as we announce this in less than a week. Sign up today and tell them SalesBy5 sent you. Do you know a vendor or client who needs to communicate better? Send this to them!

Playing to Your Strengths Sometimes Means Volunteering Your Strengths

Nan here... My fiancée is a spectacular photographer.  She is passionate about it, reads about it, and has unlimited energy to learn more.  We are active at our church (her pictures there too).  And, of course, she is the photographer for the church.  Recently she was asked to take care of the children one weekend a month.  As much as she likes children, she was dreading taking on this task.  Even worse, she was dreading saying “no.”

Why does this matter?  It is important to remember that no matter what team you’re on, you need to pay attention to your strengths.  One of the three myths is that a team member does whatever it takes to help a team.  The truth is, a team member is most effective when they offer up their strengths.  This is where you’re team gets the most out of you and you remain the most fulfilled.  Next time you are asked to take on a task that isn’t the right fit, try offering up your strengths instead.  You may end up better off.

The Things That Get Measured Get Done!

What can you begin measuring in your company or organization that will lead you to greater success, profits, fun and freedom?  Is it the reduction of overtime hours?  Is it the number of positive remarks your employees receive?  Find the one, not 10 or 50, thing(s) that matters and measure it. Then talk about it every chance you get!  The things that get measured, get done! 

Picture courtesy of aussiegall on Flickr

Quarterly Meetings

SalesBy5 had our quarterly off site the last two days. It was awesome. We went to Kerrville, Texas and got away from our office with the purpose of thinking big. We walked away with ideas that will grow our clients businesses by adding a ZERO! If they are doing $2 million the point is $20 million. We got it!

How soon can your company go on a facilitated, structured break that they can “get it." How well are you competing against those companies that are making the time do this?

Photo courtesy of The Rocketeer - Flickr

Triple the Size of Your Company...

What if your company grew double or triple this year? How would you keep the culture alive and perfectly in balance? We visited Rackspace today, as stimulus to our growing team. Here are two of many elements of our take away:

1. If your immediate team cannot eat lunch with two large pizzas (14 people) they are too big. Rackspace's core teams are 14 people or less to keep relationships between team members AND clients personal.

2. Rackspace has a clear understanding of their values - they live them daily.  They treat each other like family.  Many of the VPs maintain cubicles with the rest of the team instead of being on an executive floor.

We are on our quarterly advance (why call it a retreat if you're moving forward?) in Kerrville, Texas, contemplating what the world would be like with thousands of people at SalesBy5!

P.S. Thanks for the tour Sugarbear! ;)

The Right Questions...

How are things?

When were they best?

When was the company/organization most fun and most profitable?

When did you have the best people?

What were you doing different then than now?

How fast can you make changes to get there again?