17 Ways to Have a More Organized Life

17 Ways to Have a More Organized Life - www.v4all.org

Nothing is better than a home that’s easy to navigate with belongings that are even easier to find. Don’t forget about your office, too—there are plenty of ways to keep your space neat for the most productive of workdays. Check out all of our resolutions for systemization, and get to organizing!

1. Throw away extra things you don’t need.

We’ve got a useful list of things to get rid of for a de-cluttered space.

[Related: How to Have the Most Organized Year Ever]

2. Create a goal list.

Keep yourself on track with our rotating goal list DIY. You can easily change and update your goals with Post-its for an up-to-date board.

3. Organize your closet.

All it takes is three simple steps to get your closet in tip-top shape.

[Related: How I Survived a 6-Month Shopping Cleanse]

4. Specify a daily junk basket.

Putting a basket in your home where you can throw items that you would otherwise scatter all over the house is a great way to keep your home or office feeling clutter free.

5. Make assignment lists for everyone.

If you live with multiples people—be it kids, significant others, or roommates—make sure you create weekly assignment lists so that everyone can play their part in keeping your home orderly.

6. Craft a pegboard.

Our ombré geometric pegboard is a no-brainer that can be put together in an hour, tops. It’s a stylish way to keep small items in their place.

7. Install bars on bathroom doors.

Nobody likes damp towels lying all over the bathroom. Install some sleek bars on the back of your door so you have a place to hang towels without taking up space on your walls.

8. Place dividers in your drawers.

You can buy plastic dividers at stores like The Container Store, or you can even cut up old cardboard boxes to create sectioned-off spaces in your desk, kitchen, or bathroom.

9. Print out a free calendar.

One of the most obvious tasks that people always forget is to get a calendar for the New Year. Luckily, we have a list of free printable calendars you can get a hold of right now!

10. Make these mason jar organizers yourself.

Our adorable DIY mason jar organizers will keep your kitchen in order as well as looking cute.

11. Organize your pantry by food group.

You will be able to quickly grab whatever you need.

12. Paint your keys with nail polish.

Color-code your keys by painting them with nail polish so that you can easily tell which key goes to what.

13. Use ice cube trays as organizers.

Bet you never thought of this one—ice cube trays are ideal for organizing small items like earrings, sewing materials, or office supplies.

14. Upcycle a plastic bottle for a charging station.

This DIY for a charging station will keep your electronics in accessible places.

15. Use washi tape on your planner.

Color-code you life by utilizing washi tape. It will stand out better than highlighters.

16. Make an emergency drawer in your desk at work.

Setting aside a space where you can grab items for any possible disaster will put you at ease and leave you feeling prepared.

17. Create these fabric-covered bulletin boards.

You can place these DIY bulletin boards all over the house for easy access to papers, documents, and schedules.

Six Verbal And Nonverbal Tips For Selling Products, Services Or Ideas.

If you think that these tips aren’t for you because don’t have “sales” in your job description, I’d ask you to think again.

I believe that the science and art of selling should be taught in every high school and college in the country. Because, regardless of what profession students eventually enter, a key factor in their career success will be the ability to convince people – to “sell” their ideas (and themselves when interviewing for a job) — as well as their company’s products or services if they’re hired into a more formal sales role.

So I turned to sales expert, Tom Hopkins for advice. Tom is the author of 17 books, including “How to Master the Art of Selling™,”and he has trained over 4 million people. I figured he’d given the subject some thought. More specifically, I asked him: What are the top 3 verbal and top 3 non-verbal mistakes salespeople make — and what can we all learn from those errors?

Cover of How to Master the Art of Selling

Tom’s reply: Since the salesperson’s mouth is the tool they rely on primarily in business, it’s essential that they learn first of all to use it in the proper proportion. We all have two ears and one mouth. In sales, it’s critical to master the ability to listen twice as much as you speak. When you get this proportion wrong, you will talk yourself out of more sales than into them.

Verbal Mistake #1 – Becoming too familiar too soon. That’s the stereotype for pushy sales people. It’s always better to err on the side of formality with people’s name. When you meet people named Robert and Judith, don’t call them Bob and Judy. If you hear them call each other those less formal versions of their names, you may ask their permission to use them.

Verbal Mistake #2 – Jumping in with a solution before you hear their entire challenge. Sales people are eager to please. Unfortunately, some don’t wait until the entire situation has been spelled out before saying, “I know just what you need. My product is the best solution for that.” When the buyer finally explains all of their issues, that original product is not the best answer and the sales person looks foolish. Even worse, they’ve lost credibility with the buyer.

Verbal Mistake #3 – Saying things that sabotage the sale such as “Let’s just jump forward here,” or “You don’t need to know that” when going through their visual aids. Skipped information leads to questions in the mind of the buyer. An uncertain or confused mind will almost always say “no.” Instead, customize your presentation or at least explain content that you feel is not relevant to the buyers’ needs.

There are also non-verbal mistakes a plenty in the selling world.

Non-Verbal Mistake #1 – Poor grooming. As a representative of your company or your product, you are always “on.” You are being visually and mentally judged the moment you come within sight of a potential client. Their perception of your competence starts then. If you are presenting to the staff of a high-level corporation, it would behoove you to dress the way they dress – or slightly better. The idea is to dress like the person your potential clients turn to for advice – because that’s what you want – to be perceived as an expert they can trust.

Non-Verbal Mistake #2 – Poor body language. Stop looking at your watch, playing with your pen and touching your hair. Those are all distracting from your presentation. They make your buyer feel like you’re either in a rush to be elsewhere or that you’re bored. Your goal is to make them feel important. Give them your full attention and they’ll give you their business.

Non-Verbal Mistake #3 – Not being well-prepared. I’ve had salespeople drop by my office who didn’t bother to find out what we do. Note: Most of them leave having purchased our sales training. Learn as much as you can about a company before approaching them, ensure you have business cards, pens, and something to write on with you at all times. When buyers see that you are well-prepared that translates in their minds that you are competent (competent to serve their needs).

The main point of this information is that when trying to persuade others, every little nuance counts. The science of selling involves every word you utter and every move you make. The art of selling is how you engage with potential buyers as a person. They have to like you first. Then, trust you – before they will listen to what you have to offer them.

Like I said, this should be taught in every school!

www.v4all.org 

Change Your Chicken Habits

Change Your Chicken Habits - www.v4all.org 

“I’ll have the CHICKEN please!” said the salesman.

Salespeople wanna make sales – and for the most part feel alone in the process.

One of the challenges all salespeople face is: What’s the best way? What is/are the way, the path, the words, and the actions that will lead me to the promised land? The sale.

Well, the one path that all salespeople want to avoid is the one that leads to “no.” Better known in the business as rejection, salespeople will go to great lengths to avoid “no.” Sometimes, many times, they will actually lose the sale by avoiding a situation where ‘no” is a possibility.

NOTE  WELL: I’m trying to be nice and write this in the third person, so as not to make you feel less than whole. But these conditions in the main refer to and apply to YOU. And I recommend that as you read them, you take specific notes as to how you can improve the weaknesses I’m addressing.

In no particular order, here are the examples and pitfalls of the actions you take or omit to avoid “no.” And here are the grim reality bites of what you will and won’t do:

•  Try to please everyone, without following the fundamental rules of salesmanship.

•  Willing to give a proposal without demanding an exact time and place for a face to face follow-up meeting to go over it with all decision makers.

•  Won’t ask to change or modify the terms of a bid or a proposal that would put you in a more favorable condition (years in business, video testimonials to prove your claims, financial worth).

•  Failure to get to a decision maker for fear of going around or over the person you’re meeting with. Sometimes you won’t go over someone’s head because you have nothing of value to give them other than your sales pitch.

•  Won’t start higher up the ladder on a sale, because you’re afraid to go beyond your comfort level of sales.

•  Accept the first no or I’m not interested as a final answer, and leave, rather than try to be rejected three or four times in the same call.

•  Call reluctant on cold calls instead of being prepared with a value message and confidence based on deep belief that the customer is better off having purchased from you.

•  Call reluctant on follow-up because you don’t want to get rejected. Reality: you have nothing of value to say or offer and just want the money.

•  Have five big customers but no ideas to call them with other than to ask for more business. So you don’t call (and you miss an opportunity that your competitor grabs).

•  Won’t call to confirm an appointment for fear it will be canceled. Because you have given no perceived value.

•  Won’t leave a voice mail. You know your call won’t be returned because you have/had nothing of value to say.

•  Will email when you should call, and wonder why it goes unreturned, or worse, unopened.

•  Will phone or email when you should visit. You think it’s “safe” when in reality it’s delaying the sale.

•  Taking the wrong approach. Looking for pain, because you don’t understand any other way. Why not look for pleasure?

•  Not using testimonials as final proof.

And then there are the 4.5 game changing elements of a sale that require your courage and intestinal fortitude. (Also known as having the guts to do, say, or pull it off.)

1. You won’t demand to be in on the final meeting – where the decision is really made.

2. You won’t call an angry customer back – and pass the complaint off to someone else, making the customer even angrier.

3. You will let accounting handle collections, and damage your relationship.

4. You don’t have the guts to tell someone “no,” when the situation just won’t work.

4.5 You don’t do what’s best for the customer. Offer a different product, a different service, even a different company, because you’re afraid to lose a sale or a commission.

Salespeople develop these “chicken” habits as they mature (or immature) in their career, based on their actions and reactions, and the actions and reactions of others.

• You walk on eggshells so as not to offend.

• You get stepped on and pushed aside by prospects.

• You take it on the chin from all people all the time.

• You try to mirror instead of harmonize.

• You’re scared to lose the sale (money) rather than doing the right thing, and helping the customer.

• You’re scared to ask for the sale for fear of rejection.

• You think you’re alone in the selling process.

• You’re asking for referrals rather than earning them.

Well, that’s enough evidence for you to change out of your chicken suit, and put on some designer clothes. Look the part, act the part, prove the part, and you’ll get the part – and the order.

key to mastering any kind of sales - a big sales principle

The key to mastering any kind of sales - a big sales principle - is switching statements about you – how great you are and what you do, to statements about them – how great they are, and how they will produce more and profit more from ownership of your product or service.

Here’s the Secret: Take the word “we” and delete it. Delete it from your slides, your literature, and ESPECIALLY from your sales presentation. You can use “I” but you can’t use “we.”

Here’s the Power: When you stop using “we,” you have to substitute it for the word “you” or “they” and say things in terms of the customer. How they win, how they benefit, how they produce, how they profit , how they will be served, and how they have piece of mind.

“We” is for selling. ”You” is for buying.

Mandate for Understanding: Go through your entire presentation and  record it. Listen to it actively – which means take notes. Count the amount of times you use the word “we.” Take out the “we,” and begin to make value statements instead of selling statements.

Here’s the reality in plain English:

1. The buyer, the prospect, and the customer expects you to have knowledge of their stuff, not just your stuff. To transfer that knowledge, the prospect needs to understand and agree with your ideas, feel your passion, feel your belief, and feel your sincerity beyond the hype of your sales pitch.

2. You have to know their industry, not just your product.

3. You have to know their business, not just your product.

4. You have to know what’s new and what’s next, not just your product.

5. You have to know the current trends, not just your product.

6. You have to know their marketing, not just your product.

7. You have to know their productivity, not just your product.

7.5 You have to know their profit, not just your product.

Yours 

www.v4all.org 

9790044225 

key to mastering any kind of sales - a big sales principle

The key to mastering any kind of sales - a big sales principle - is switching statements about you – how great you are and what you do, to statements about them – how great they are, and how they will produce more and profit more from ownership of your product or service.

Here’s the Secret: Take the word “we” and delete it. Delete it from your slides, your literature, and ESPECIALLY from your sales presentation. You can use “I” but you can’t use “we.”

Here’s the Power: When you stop using “we,” you have to substitute it for the word “you” or “they” and say things in terms of the customer. How they win, how they benefit, how they produce, how they profit , how they will be served, and how they have piece of mind.

“We” is for selling. ”You” is for buying.

Mandate for Understanding: Go through your entire presentation and  record it. Listen to it actively – which means take notes. Count the amount of times you use the word “we.” Take out the “we,” and begin to make value statements instead of selling statements.

Here’s the reality in plain English:

1. The buyer, the prospect, and the customer expects you to have knowledge of their stuff, not just your stuff. To transfer that knowledge, the prospect needs to understand and agree with your ideas, feel your passion, feel your belief, and feel your sincerity beyond the hype of your sales pitch.

2. You have to know their industry, not just your product.

3. You have to know their business, not just your product.

4. You have to know what’s new and what’s next, not just your product.

5. You have to know the current trends, not just your product.

6. You have to know their marketing, not just your product.

7. You have to know their productivity, not just your product.

7.5 You have to know their profit, not just your product.

Yours 

www.v4all.org 

9790044225 

Tools Of Successful Selling

One of the most powerful keys to success in selling is your own expectations! When you confidently expect positive results and good things to happen, you will be amazed at the results you get.

Part of it is how we see ourselves—our beliefs! Great athletes understand 100% the importance of their own beliefs! Great salespeople do as well!

Our expectations also have a major influence on the people around us (including our prospects).

5 ways to Improve Your Expectations:

1. Have written goals and review them daily (or multiple times a day).
2. Visualize yourself succeeding (daily) and hold on to that vision even when times get tough.
3. Read and listen to self-improvement and motivational material. Being a student creates confidence and skill!
4. Have mentors who have succeeded and can help encourage you along.
5. Change how you talk to yourself and others. Step back and become more aware of your own attitudes and words. Then make a conscience effort to be more positive.

Expect greatness!

details - www.v4all.org 

Build your Business 90 minutes at a Time

One of the most important lessons I learned is about procrastination, and I think accountants suffer from this more than most….our high intelligence can mean we miss the simple imperative to get the job done.  When I was at TDG PLC we used to joke about our ‘accountants piles’, which were stacks of papers on our desks, maybe up to 12 inches (OK 30 cm) high.  But it’s no joke in your own business, ‘accountants piles’ are in truth just piles of procrastination – to be avoided.

Here are a couple of tips to avoid wasting time

Your computer is your greatest tool to drive your efficiency, BUT it is also a games console on your desk, be really careful to monitor the time you spend on social media – it can get you business but it can also waste your time.

It’s so easy to ‘sit’ on your email and just spend too much time in email conversations.  Here are a few rules I’ve developed:

•             Try to check your email less frequently, 3 times a day is sufficient.  If something is really urgent they’ll phone you.

•             Just because someone sends you an email you don’t need to reply to it.  They have no right to hijack your time.

•             Minimise the number of emails in each email conversation by wording the email carefully.

I’ve also included a number of other top tips to save you time in the pack so please take a look.  But the greatest tool I use is my 90 minute sessions.  Each day from 7:30am to 9:00am I spend 90 minutes working on my business.  That’s 7.5 hours a week or 45 days a year.  Just think what you could get done working on your business for 45 days solid.  I use this time to:

Write these pages.

Write marketing material.

Write my Newsletter.

Write sales emails.

Set out forms and procedures.

Work out my avatars I want to market to.

Check the results from my marketing.

Pay per click review set up and management (that’s google advertising)

Draft adverts.

Write, review and update my websites.

My business is built in 90 minute chunks, yours can be too!