RainMakers on Sales & Marketing Integration / 21st Century Sales: Recent Comments

Comment on Ball Buster!

Rick Roberge — 2012-02-15T16:00:01Z

Interesting story about Steve. One day, several years ago, he came over my house and we talked about several things, but mostly about growing his business. We had a beer while we talked. Later, after he left, I followed up with an email that laid out the plan that we had discussed to work together and that the cost would be $50,000. A couple of days later, I asked him what he thought. His reply was classic 'Steve'. He said, "That was an expensive beer!"

Steve has a great sense of humor and isn't afraid to laugh at himself.

We decided to move ahead and start working together. A few weeks into the project, I asked Steve why he decided to work with me. His response wasn't Steve-esque. It was more like something that Socrates would say. He replied,

"I figure that there's enough room outside my comfort zone that's inside your shadow,

so that as long as we stay in that area, we'll get results."

Wanna step outside your comfort zone?

Comment on Ball Buster!

Carole Mahoney — 2012-02-14T21:48:24Z

We're your ears ringing Steve?

Comment on Ball Buster!

Stephen Crowe — 2012-02-14T21:15:52Z

Guess he got that right!
Isn't that why we have the right to fire clients. Although, if we sell the project correctly in the first place, then we wouldn't be dong business with the client from Hell. So whether we are the ball buster or the client is the ball buster, it comes down to how do you want to spend your time?

Comment on Business Lesson from The Artist

Carole — 2012-02-14T01:19:02Z

I just reading the book "Switch: Change when change is hard'.

Here is what has stuck with me so far 'Self-control is an exhaustible resource...When people try to change things, they're usually tinkering with behaviors that have become automatic, and changing those behaviors requires careful supervision...the bigger the change you're suggesting, the more it will sap people's self-control.'

Maybe the reason that people resist change isn't laziness, but exhaustion?

Comment on More Sales Leads?

John McTigue — 2012-02-10T22:21:48Z

Excellent Rick. I hope no one accuses me of being a marketer. I am a Renaissance man and a gentleman farmer first, although my day job might indicate otherwise. Thanks for the reference and welcome to the revolution.

Comment on Divorce and Sales

Dale Berkebile — 2012-02-05T02:59:15Z

Rick first off, congratulations on 38+ years! My wife and I are complete opposites and I thought this was a bad thing early on even though we had some core common beliefs. What I have learned though is where I am weak my wife steps up and fills the gaps, likewise I fill in where she has weaknesses. This makes us a well rounded strong machine.

I am wondering your thoughts on this type of a relationship in business. Do client/vendor relationships work better when we are opposites or when we are very much alike? Does this matter as long as the client realizes they want to be better and they know you can help make them a better man (company)?

Another thought is it easier to define what you Do want in a client or what you DON'T want in a client? How many people actually do this in order to qualify and disqualify prospects? Should this be an exercise we all do to quickly define a good client and start disqualifying prospects quicker?

Comment on Sales Goals

Frank — 2012-01-31T20:38:32Z

I wonder - maybe he just knows Mahoney and Berkabile and figures you can fix anything!

Comment on 3 Things That Anyone Can Do To Grow Sales Immediately!

Carole Mahoney — 2012-01-31T02:09:54Z

If you are a salesperson who lies, then I am a petite blond supermodel who married a NFL quarterback.

Numbers don't lie, even if sales people do. Even marketers can't make numbers lie for too long.

Comment on Sales Senses & Awareness

Lynn Miller — 2012-01-30T18:39:36Z

I was just having some fun by asking a question (point of your post, after all).

Later I remembered that you had told me you drove a Fusion Hybrid.

Comment on 3 Things That Anyone Can Do To Grow Sales Immediately!

Rick Roberge — 2012-01-30T18:16:03Z

Lindsay, you have to remember that I am a salesman and everybody knows that salespeople lie every time they open their mouths!