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Close the Sale, Not the Door!

April 3rd, 2008 · No Comments

The Close doesn’t have to be a big event that’s intimidating or uncomfortable for the prospect and the sales person. It shouldn’t be treated as a major occasion that you approach after overcoming painful hurdles and then confront the prospect in an adversarial way. The Close is actually the opening of a new relationship and [...]

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Tags: Closing · Expectations · Process

Well-formed questions are irresistible

February 12th, 2008 · 1 Comment

If you could have three wishes right now, what would you wish? Think about it. A question like that would make the most closed-off person open up. Like most good questions, it’s irresistible.
The main reason questions are so effective is that most people are compelled to answer them. Questions stimulate the mind and offer people [...]

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Tags: Attitude

Looking Forward - What new habit will I create?

January 25th, 2008 · No Comments

I plan to strengthen habits related to building and deepening relationships.
Included in this area are:

sending more (and more timely) thank you notes.
intentionally connecting more often - with colleagues, clients and other cool people.
making time for friends, creating meaningful memories and conversations.

The key to making these happen is to take action. I have been and will [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Back - How am I different now than at the start of the year?

January 25th, 2008 · No Comments

I recently heard one of the presidential candidates asked about why their view had changed on an issue. Their response was something like: “I don’t think we want a President who never changes his mind, who doesn’t listen to new arguments, who isn’t open to change.”
This is an incredibly valuable question, because while you have [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Forward - What will I learn?

January 24th, 2008 · No Comments

I believe this question is extremely powerful because it makes us intentional and conscious as learners. In many ways this is the necessary follow-up question to the
second in this series - What are my goals?
Why?
Because when we set goals by definition identifying gaps in our knowledge.
In my experience most goals require more than just [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Back - What were my biggest challenges or obstacles?

January 24th, 2008 · 1 Comment

The answer for me is clear - I need to get better at execution and implementation. At
The Kevin Eikenberry Group we are excellent at surfacing ideas and opportunities, and while we do get a lot done, we don’t do as well in this area as we could. Let me rephrase that and put the [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Forward - How will I best use my skills?

January 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

My answer to this one is simple. I will use my skills to serve others.
I believe this approach I allows me to not only serve others, but reach my personal and business goals, and ultimately make the world a better place.
I plan to do this by writing, speaking, listening, consulting, and training. I plan to [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Back - Knowing what I know now, what would I have done differently this year?

January 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment

From a business perspective this one is pretty easy. I would have focused more on execution. My team and I are pretty good at coming up with new ideas and figuring out how to use and leverage those ideas. We aren’t quite so good at execution.
An outsider might say that we do get a lot [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Back - What did I accomplish this year?

January 22nd, 2008 · No Comments

As I will do with each of these questions during this journey, I won’t bare my soul with my complete answer, but I will share items that are true for me and perhaps hold a message for all of us.
The immediate accomplishment that comes to my mind is the publishing, and so-far successful marketing of [...]

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Tags: Goals

Looking Back - What did I learn this year?

January 21st, 2008 · No Comments

I learned tons this year! I don’t have time to write everything here (nor would you want to read it all)!
Two things come to my mind that apply to me and might be useful to you as well.
1. Don’t judge an event too quickly. One of the most traumatic events of my life happened May [...]

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Tags: Attitude