The problem most entrepreneurs have is they focus on their weaknesses instead of their strength. Through the years mental files have been collected focusing on shortcomings. It is this very file that holds one back.
The challenge is hereby on for you to turn Negative Comments into Gold!
Create a one-of-a-kind folder that documents all of the heart-wrenching, fool-hearty and head-scratching negative comments told to you. In fact, put a smiley face on top of the folder and here is why:
The reason these comments make our skin crawl or that anger creeps into our mind, is because there is a teensy element of truth behind each. Your challenge, should you be up for it, is to begin with the comments that upset you most. Face the devilish remark from all angles. What can you do to turn the situation around to prove to yourself and the world that it can be done?!
Be forewarned: this exercise may become motivating! As you fix one situation and the next, you may wish to go through the entire list. And now you have a brand new mindset of welcoming negative comments. The best part is, the very people who tried to put you down seem to fade away never to bother you again. So it’s a win-win – the definition of a good sale. In this case, you sold yourself. You put doubt to rest and will have achieved more!
The next step is to recognize you can do the same for the hurdles that stopped you in your tracks. Go through the same exercise as if someone told you, “You can’t because…”
A major hurdle for most is the process of negotiating proposals. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, it is very good to practice negotiating offers from the other side of where you normally sit at the table. For example, if you are customarily the presenter, the next opportunity you have, do your best to negotiate from the buyer’s point of view. Likewise, if you normally purchase, then the next time you are the presenter, do your best to sell value.
By practicing negotiating from the opposite viewpoint of what’s “normal” for you, better insight will be gained as to what is most important to the people who normally sit on the other side of the table. View the first round as a starting point. As a seller, suggest you are seeking a meeting of minds to find the best solution available. Continued conversation without emotion will encourage the other party to similarly seek a solution where all parties benefit.
At the core of the practice is to find understanding, compassion, and finally, heart. By the time you put heart into your conversation, you will turn heads and minds that keenly listen to you.
Putting these practices into everyday activity increases confidence and communication skills. Trust in you builds. This is key for business development and increasing sales. In the process, you will develop a well-recognized and admired personal brand.
Finding benefit for all concerned will lead you to the Smooth Sale!
