Are you harnessing the power of gossip, communities, and social networking to promote your brand? Whether your brand is a product, a service, or yourself, this is the era of connectivity and belonging. The Internet has become a powerful medium for connecting people with more than information access. It is creating communities and relationships by making it easier to find individuals with similar interests and preferences. Tapping into this communication is the new face of marketing, and it has a new set of rules to go along with it.
The benefits of word-of-mouth endorsements have always been difficult to calculate. However, a study by Koen Pauwels of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College quantified social networking as 20 times more effective than traditional marketing efforts like print and television. The study concluded that social networking and communities are at least 30 times more effective than media events.
LinkedIn, Face-book, and MySpace provide powerful opportunities for social media and groups of online communities to share opinions and meet users with similar interests. "You can track how many invitations are being sent out, how many users responded, and when," said Pauwels. "Quantifying word-of-mouth like this couldn't be done before."
Can word-of-mouth create a contagious appetite? In 2007, the estimated number of legal online music downloads exceeded 1,700,000,000. That is up 53% from the year before, 2006. The online music industry reached the $3 Billion mark. Artists are finding new ways to release songs, by marketing ringtones, video downloads that can be shared and forwarded to friends, or mobile tracks on the web. Of the 115 products that sold for 19 million units worldwide for Justin Timberlake, less than 20% was sold on CD.
Social Networking enables individuals to communicate and connect with one another. Community marketing engages audiences in non-intrusive conversations, activities, and benefits. Community marketing turns customers into advocates. Blogs, Wikis, Forums, and other online tools empower communication within the community of socially networked users.
One of the fundamental commandments of marketing in communities and social networking is to avoid marketing. Yes, that's right, you must avoid marketing slogans, ploys, or tricks to market effectively to your advocates. Customers trust and respect other customers of similar opinions and tastes. Therefore, to market effectively, you must provide your advocates with information, facts, and a forum to exchange useful tips with one another. Mavens and Gurus will rise from among the ranks to espouse your products, your services, or yourself, if the facts are accurate and worthy of the support. The target market is always better at communicating your message and benefits than you are, so empower them and enable them to do so, then get out of the way.
It is estimated that by 2010, more than 60% of Fortune 1000 companies will have some form of online community for relationship marketing. Unfortunately, many of these companies may miss the mark by merely building and monitoring a forum for remarks. Many companies are wary of blogs, and the connotations of uncontrolled ranting and raving that has become synonymous with disgruntled employees creating blogs on the Internet. As the awareness of relationship marketing in social media and communities continues to increase, so the tools for connecting users must also evolve.
In the meantime, while we wait for online communities to evolve, there are opportunities for businesses and individuals to leverage a combination of tools available today. Create and maintain a web site as a means to communicate and share information. Sharing meaningful information is a good way to give something to your audience. Quoting endorsements, testimonials, and comments on your web site is a great way to demonstrate your awareness, acceptance, and appreciation for the community feedback. Your web site does not enable social interaction, but you can contribute to it, and demonstrate your support of it, by the information and feedback that you post.
In addition, leverage existing tools that enable users to post comments and interact with one another. You can keep these utilities completely separate from your web site. Blogs are a forum for users to communicate with direct and exposed feedback. Rather than avoid such unencumbered communication, you should cultivate it, even if at a distance. Monitoring the feedback on blogs may help you to determine the effectiveness of the communication on your hosted web site. You can measure the positive or negative unsolicited feedback, and use this insight to modify your messaging and strategy accordingly. This is much more effective than paying for expensive print advertising, and finding the results long after the investment is spent. Blogs can create some risk by the very nature of the open forum, so keeping a relatively safe distance may be appropriate to avoid some inappropriate or controversial topics or conversations.
LinkedIn, Face-book, and MySpace offer opportunities for controlled messaging, groups, communities, and communications for businesses and individuals. These utilities offer independent controls to mitigate the risk of inappropriate or controversial communications interfering with the user community experience. The reduced risk also reduces some of the flexibility for open communications, but that may be a small sacrifice in exchange for the structured environment, ease of use, and wide spread acceptance.
You may be promoting a brand, a product, a company, a service, or promoting yourself for another career. Whatever the purpose of your promotion, you will be more effective if you promote your advocates, and allow them to be the ones to promote you. Quote your advocates, build the credibility and awareness for your advocates, and support their success. It is by promoting, sustaining, and empowering your advocates as experts, that their opinions and support for you becomes even more credible and valuable. You will be 20 - 30 times more effective and successful by promoting your advocates, than you would be promoting yourself. Let your advocates do the communicating for you.
Remember to thank your advocates and let them know that they are appreciated. After all, they are the keepers of your reputation, your relationships, and your community.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Relationships of trust depend on our willingness to look not only to our own interests, but also the interests of others."- Peter Farquharson
"I'm not afraid of facts, I welcome facts but a congeries of facts is not equivalent to an idea. This is the essential fallacy of the so-called "scientific" mind. People who mistake facts for ideas are incomplete thinkers; they are gossips."- Cynthia Ozick
"Gossip needs no carriage."- Russian Proverb
______________________________________________________
"John is the most qualified person to write about authenticity and integrity. I have learned the importance of being a trusted advocate for my co-workers and clients from John on a personal level and from his excellent new book. I would recommend this book to any business person, whether or not they are a sales executive, because it will teach and reinforce how important it is to act with integrity in the business world. Acting with integrity and authenticity will give you a competitive advantage and allow your clients to look to you as a trusted advocate."
Mike EasterbrookDirector of Environmental Compliance, ARC International Corporation
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback from www.Amazon.com (Hardcover), www.Amazon.com (Paperback), www.BarnessndNoble,com, www.Borders.com, www.Target.com, www.Buy.com, ,www.iUniverse.com, and many other fine booksellers.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, the fundamental guide to achieve extraordinary sales and sustain loyal customers. John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, and educational articles. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Showing posts with label Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. Show all posts
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Trusted Advocate Awarded Editor’s Choice Award
The Trusted Advocate, by John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon, receives recognition with the distinguished Editor’s Choice Award for editorial integrity.
John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon break new ground in literature by delivering a refreshing blend of leadership skills, management tools, sales techniques, and entertaining storytelling.
The Trusted Advocate uses proven cutting edge management techniques and leadership skills to unlock individual potential and empower personal success. This book contains entertaining stories and easy exercises to customize the insightful reflections to virtually any sales environment.
“I just finished reading The Trusted Advocate, and I must say I am impressed? Your book rivals those written by the best in the genre and is a delightful blend of solid sales technique, personal development, and effective storytelling,” proclaims the Editorial Review by iUniverse.
The Trusted Advocate is a revelation of fundamental principles that empower maximum success through authenticity and integrity. Eliminate fear and sustain customer loyalty by aligning with customer aspirations.
Learn to use individual strengths as the competitive edge. Spend less time prospecting, and more time earning.
“Congratulations on writing a book that is sure to be a seminal in the field of sales,” concludes the Editorial Review by iUniverse.
Kirkus Discoveries had this to say in a formal review of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, “John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon have packed years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals. The straightforward writing style is also accentuated with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales.”
“The feedback and enthusiasm are overwhelming,” responded John Mehrmann, co-author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. “It is a testimony to the genuine, honest, and hard working individuals who relate to the fundamental principles espoused in the book. It is heartwarming to see how many people recall similar stories of sharing mutual commitment with clients.”
Read more reader reviews at http://www.Trusted101.com
John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon break new ground in literature by delivering a refreshing blend of leadership skills, management tools, sales techniques, and entertaining storytelling.
The Trusted Advocate uses proven cutting edge management techniques and leadership skills to unlock individual potential and empower personal success. This book contains entertaining stories and easy exercises to customize the insightful reflections to virtually any sales environment.
“I just finished reading The Trusted Advocate, and I must say I am impressed? Your book rivals those written by the best in the genre and is a delightful blend of solid sales technique, personal development, and effective storytelling,” proclaims the Editorial Review by iUniverse.
The Trusted Advocate is a revelation of fundamental principles that empower maximum success through authenticity and integrity. Eliminate fear and sustain customer loyalty by aligning with customer aspirations.
Learn to use individual strengths as the competitive edge. Spend less time prospecting, and more time earning.
“Congratulations on writing a book that is sure to be a seminal in the field of sales,” concludes the Editorial Review by iUniverse.
Kirkus Discoveries had this to say in a formal review of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, “John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon have packed years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals. The straightforward writing style is also accentuated with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales.”
“The feedback and enthusiasm are overwhelming,” responded John Mehrmann, co-author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. “It is a testimony to the genuine, honest, and hard working individuals who relate to the fundamental principles espoused in the book. It is heartwarming to see how many people recall similar stories of sharing mutual commitment with clients.”
Read more reader reviews at http://www.Trusted101.com
Kirkus Review of The Trusted Advocate
THE TRUSTED ADVOCATE: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity
Author: Mehrmann, John and Mitchell Simon
Review Date: JUNE 10, 2008
Publisher: iUniverse (272 pp.)
Price (paperback): $22.95
Publication Date: March 2008
ISBN (paperback): 978-0-595-47467-7
Category: AUTHORS
Classification: NONFICTION
Mehrmann and Simon have packaged years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals.The authors emphasize the importance of developing trusted relationships while pursuing a career in sales. They discuss topics such as preparation, networking, cold calling, designing strategies and effective communication, among others. Mehrmann and Simon address each subject with an eye toward developing integrity and reliability to lay the groundwork for a thriving business. Chapters are organized into sections which begin with real-life examples, followed by detailed discussion or reflection. Sections conclude with activities designed to guide readers toward a deeper understanding of where they stand in relation to the topic, and how they can develop further. While some of the ideas and advice seem obvious, (“It takes much more effort, and expense to win a new customer than it takes to keep an existing one”) readers will take notice because the authors have clearly relied upon their years of experience in developing these lessons. Mehrmann and Simon place the customer—and his or her needs, wants and experiences—at the center of the sales equation, and demonstrate the necessity of taking a genuine interest in the client at every level of sales. Rather than presenting a collection of famous inspirational quotes, the authors sprinkle the text with their own sayings. The straightforward writing style is also accented with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales. While the book is aimed at salespeople, professionals from many different industries will find the ideas and suggestions helpful and transformative.Useful advice for professionals looking to move to the next level of success.
- Kirkus Reviews, Nielson Business Media
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/discoveries/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003814278
Author: Mehrmann, John and Mitchell Simon
Review Date: JUNE 10, 2008
Publisher: iUniverse (272 pp.)
Price (paperback): $22.95
Publication Date: March 2008
ISBN (paperback): 978-0-595-47467-7
Category: AUTHORS
Classification: NONFICTION
Mehrmann and Simon have packaged years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals.The authors emphasize the importance of developing trusted relationships while pursuing a career in sales. They discuss topics such as preparation, networking, cold calling, designing strategies and effective communication, among others. Mehrmann and Simon address each subject with an eye toward developing integrity and reliability to lay the groundwork for a thriving business. Chapters are organized into sections which begin with real-life examples, followed by detailed discussion or reflection. Sections conclude with activities designed to guide readers toward a deeper understanding of where they stand in relation to the topic, and how they can develop further. While some of the ideas and advice seem obvious, (“It takes much more effort, and expense to win a new customer than it takes to keep an existing one”) readers will take notice because the authors have clearly relied upon their years of experience in developing these lessons. Mehrmann and Simon place the customer—and his or her needs, wants and experiences—at the center of the sales equation, and demonstrate the necessity of taking a genuine interest in the client at every level of sales. Rather than presenting a collection of famous inspirational quotes, the authors sprinkle the text with their own sayings. The straightforward writing style is also accented with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales. While the book is aimed at salespeople, professionals from many different industries will find the ideas and suggestions helpful and transformative.Useful advice for professionals looking to move to the next level of success.
- Kirkus Reviews, Nielson Business Media
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/discoveries/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003814278
The Two Minute Attitude Assessment
Rate the following ten statements to conduct a personal attitude assessment, and then try it on friends, colleagues, clients, and peers. How do your attitudes relate?
Rate the Statements, Using the following scale:
0 = Strongly Disagree
1 = Disagree
2 = Neutral
3 = Agree
4 = Strongly Agree
Rate each of the following statements on a scale of zero to four based on the extent with which you agree, or disagree, with the statement.
1. In uncertain times, I would expect the best results . . . . . . . . . . _________
2. It's easy for me to relax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
3. If something can go wrong with me, it probably will . . . . . . . . . . . _________
4. I am always optimistic about my future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
5. I really enjoy my friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
6. It's important for me to keep busy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
7. I hardly ever expect things to go my way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
8. I don't get upset very easily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
9. I rarely count on good things happening to me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
10. Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad . . . _________
Score Your Answers
Quite often, this is the result of bad experiences in previous relationships that create caution, and a desire to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Unfortunately, focusing attention on undesired circumstances or interactions in a relationship is almost guaranteed to make them occur again. Anticipating or looking for unwanted behavior will yield the desired results, you will eventually find it. Watching for unwanted activity in others will most certainly create the perception that it is occurring. Even more alarming, the other individual is typically unaware of the specific attributes or activities that you may find so disturbing, and therefore be completely unable to do anything to positively allay these concerns. If the other individual tries to act in a different manner to correct the perception, then the situation may continue to deteriorate. The only way to end this continuous cycle of disappointment is to communicate openly, honestly, and clearly. While the communication may not be immediately effective every time, it will be effective over time with those individuals who share a commitment to participate in the relationship with you. This enables you to identify the other people who are committed to relationships with you, and simultaneously improves those relationships. Overcome the reluctance to communicate, and you will overcome the barriers to identifying and participating in the right relationships.
Score Less than Twelve
Individuals with a score less than twelve have a tendency to focus primarily on disappointments and perceived failures with much greater attention than achievements. Stop doing that. Analyzing defeat for the purpose of identifying areas that need improvement is a commonly accepted practice. The intent of analyzing a mistake or failure is to avoid repeating them. Once the areas of improvement are defined, then focus on how you can utilize your experience going forward. Reach out to other individuals for motivation, optimism, and guidance. Don't be embarrassed to ask for advice or to share your experience. Sharing your experience is a gift if it helps someone else avoid a similar mistake. Asking for advice or suggestions is regarded as a compliment, and will help to build your relationship with a desired mentor or coach. In other words, when you ask for suggestions of assistance, both sides benefit.
Regardless of your score, there will be obstacles, and there will be challenges in life. The way that you respond to these obstacles, the way that you respond to subsequent victories, and the way that you handle occasional disappointments, define you. If your score is less than twelve, begin by challenging yourself to take small risks. Stretch out to try new experiences, or test the limits of your capabilities. Make a conscious effort to spend more time analyzing your successes, your victories, and the things that make you have accomplished. Gain a deeper understand for the reasons that you win, rather than the reasons that you think that you have lost. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, legitimately care for you, and who celebrate your successes.
Score Greater than Twelve
Congratulations! You have the vision to see opportunity, and the realization that it can be achieved. You are optimistic, enthusiastic, and ready to reach new personal heights. The higher the score, the more confidence that you have in yourself. What should you do with this confidence? You should continue to challenge yourself to achieve more than you expected possible. Take a few chances on yourself, and you will rarely be disappointed. Even a temporary set-up is never a failure, but merely a learning experience to apply to the new approach that you take to overcome your obstacles. Obstacles are merely challenges and puzzles to be solved, and you know that you can solve them with enough time and effort.
Temper the attention to your own perseverance and goals with a balance of attention to those individuals who can also benefit from your attitude. Look for the other individuals who may have assessed themselves with a score of less than twelve, and share some of your confidence with them. You share your confidence by helping them to find the confidence within themselves. Take a little time to point out their successes, their talents, and the value that they bring to others. Share your appreciation for what they do to contribute to you, and to your success. Nurture the capabilities and aspirations of those people who perceive their glass as half empty, but letting them know how much they mean to you, and how much they contribute to others. As you help those people to accomplish more, the results will naturally benefit both of you.
Score Greater than Twenty
If your score is over twenty, you are extremely confident in yourself, and ready to tackle any project. No task is too great for you. You can overcome barriers, create solutions, and inspire the people around you. Everything will work out eventually, if not sooner. Life has many delicious experiences, and you have likely tasted many of them. By most standards, you truly live a charmed life.
However, it is also very possible that you may have occasional conflicts with other individuals who have a score over twelve. In other words, your own enthusiasm knows almost no bounds, but it may also have very little appreciation or understanding for enthusiasm or optimism that is founded in ideas that are different from your own. This can result in sometimes severe conflicts or miscommunications. While you have limitless patience for individuals who are struggling, patiently sharing your time and energy to mentor the individuals who express a need for your help, the same feelings may not apply for those who have optimism that is different from your own. While you derive tremendous pleasure in sharing your own positive attitude with others, you may be handicapped in experiencing excitement that you do not create yourself. Therefore, your biggest challenge is to learn to embrace the accomplishments of other motivated individuals. Your own accomplishments will expand dramatically when you learn to enthusiastically embrace the achievements of your peers with the positive attitude.
Furthermore, if you have a score over twenty, balance your optimism with a robust gathering of trusted advocates and advisors. It will be easier to overcome some obstacles, and avoid unnecessary failures, by accepting guidance from individuals who have extensive experiences of their own.
Share or score those around you
Once you have had some fun with your own personal assessment, think about how your friends, colleagues, clients, or peers may score themselves. Share the ten quick statements with coworkers, friends, or family members and share results to see how you relate to one another.
Source: The Two Minute Attitude Assessment is based on a quiz originally designed by M.F. Scheier and C.S. Carver.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."- Herm Albright
"Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."- William James
"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new."- Og Mandino
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."- Albert Einstein
______________________________________________________
"I am retired after working over 35 years for a large corporation and 10 years as a consultant. Reading The Trusted Advocate was a real deja vu experience for me because it captured every situation that I personally experienced and often struggled with in representing my customers and the companies that I worked for. The practical approaches and solutions in Trusted Advocate provide clear, explicit, and factual examples of how to address the strategic and tactical issues that often crop up when the need exists to be a company loyalist and customer advocate while maintaining personal integrity and providing a win, win solution for both constituents being represented. I strongly recommend this book as a basic learning tool for all new marketers and a fresh approach for old timers to consider."
Barnes & Noble Customer Review"An All Encompassing Tutorial for Sales Leadership"
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback from www.Amazon.com (Hardcover), www.Amazon.com (Paperback), www.BarnessndNoble,com, www.Borders.com, www.Target.com, www.Buy.com, ,www.iUniverse.com, and many other fine booksellers.
Rate the Statements, Using the following scale:
0 = Strongly Disagree
1 = Disagree
2 = Neutral
3 = Agree
4 = Strongly Agree
Rate each of the following statements on a scale of zero to four based on the extent with which you agree, or disagree, with the statement.
1. In uncertain times, I would expect the best results . . . . . . . . . . _________
2. It's easy for me to relax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
3. If something can go wrong with me, it probably will . . . . . . . . . . . _________
4. I am always optimistic about my future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
5. I really enjoy my friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
6. It's important for me to keep busy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
7. I hardly ever expect things to go my way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
8. I don't get upset very easily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
9. I rarely count on good things happening to me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
10. Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad . . . _________
Score Your Answers
- Step One: Put a line through your rating response for questions 2, 5, 6, and 8. Ignore these random questions because they have nothing to do with your score.
- Step Two: Reverse your rating response for questions 3, 7, and 9. (0=4, 1=3, 2=2, 3=1, 4=0)
- Step Three: Add up your rating responses for questions 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10. (Remember to use the reverse rating numbers for questions 3, 7, and 9.)
- The sum of your rating responses to questions 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 is your total real score.
How to interpret your score
- 0-4 No news is good news, and for you there is no such thing as good news. So, stop reading the news. Go out and buy some good books instead.
- 4-8 People say that every cloud has a silver lining, and for you it is a silver lightning bolt that you are always dodging. Don't bother with the parade, you need to get out of the rain.
- 8-12 Your glass is perpetually half empty. You should stay near people who have faucets.
- 12-16 You tend to be optimistic. No matter how much you sip from it, your glass is always half full. It's time to satisfy your thirst and drink deeply.
- 16-20 The harder you work, the luckier you get. Get busy and reap the rewards!
20-24 Your momentum compels you forward, and motivates those around you. Remember to look both ways before crossing the street.
Score Less than Eight
Individuals with a score below eight may find it difficult to participate in opportunities that are perceived risky. Unfortunately, these individuals may also feel that almost all situations are risky, and therefore simply avoid them altogether. This attitude might manifest as a lack of confidence, implying an underlying lack of self-respect, or lack of self-awareness. A lack of self-awareness simply means that the individual does not fully recognize his or her personal strengths, talents, attributes, real value, and inherent ability to overcome anticipated obstacles.
Individuals with scores below eight may also find it difficult to engage in personal or professional relationships. After all, relationships also have a certain amount of risk. This reluctance may manifest as either a limited number of relationships, or a limited depth of relationships, or both.
Quite often, this is the result of bad experiences in previous relationships that create caution, and a desire to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Unfortunately, focusing attention on undesired circumstances or interactions in a relationship is almost guaranteed to make them occur again. Anticipating or looking for unwanted behavior will yield the desired results, you will eventually find it. Watching for unwanted activity in others will most certainly create the perception that it is occurring. Even more alarming, the other individual is typically unaware of the specific attributes or activities that you may find so disturbing, and therefore be completely unable to do anything to positively allay these concerns. If the other individual tries to act in a different manner to correct the perception, then the situation may continue to deteriorate. The only way to end this continuous cycle of disappointment is to communicate openly, honestly, and clearly. While the communication may not be immediately effective every time, it will be effective over time with those individuals who share a commitment to participate in the relationship with you. This enables you to identify the other people who are committed to relationships with you, and simultaneously improves those relationships. Overcome the reluctance to communicate, and you will overcome the barriers to identifying and participating in the right relationships.
Score Less than Twelve
Individuals with a score less than twelve have a tendency to focus primarily on disappointments and perceived failures with much greater attention than achievements. Stop doing that. Analyzing defeat for the purpose of identifying areas that need improvement is a commonly accepted practice. The intent of analyzing a mistake or failure is to avoid repeating them. Once the areas of improvement are defined, then focus on how you can utilize your experience going forward. Reach out to other individuals for motivation, optimism, and guidance. Don't be embarrassed to ask for advice or to share your experience. Sharing your experience is a gift if it helps someone else avoid a similar mistake. Asking for advice or suggestions is regarded as a compliment, and will help to build your relationship with a desired mentor or coach. In other words, when you ask for suggestions of assistance, both sides benefit.
Regardless of your score, there will be obstacles, and there will be challenges in life. The way that you respond to these obstacles, the way that you respond to subsequent victories, and the way that you handle occasional disappointments, define you. If your score is less than twelve, begin by challenging yourself to take small risks. Stretch out to try new experiences, or test the limits of your capabilities. Make a conscious effort to spend more time analyzing your successes, your victories, and the things that make you have accomplished. Gain a deeper understand for the reasons that you win, rather than the reasons that you think that you have lost. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, legitimately care for you, and who celebrate your successes.
Score Greater than Twelve
Congratulations! You have the vision to see opportunity, and the realization that it can be achieved. You are optimistic, enthusiastic, and ready to reach new personal heights. The higher the score, the more confidence that you have in yourself. What should you do with this confidence? You should continue to challenge yourself to achieve more than you expected possible. Take a few chances on yourself, and you will rarely be disappointed. Even a temporary set-up is never a failure, but merely a learning experience to apply to the new approach that you take to overcome your obstacles. Obstacles are merely challenges and puzzles to be solved, and you know that you can solve them with enough time and effort.
Temper the attention to your own perseverance and goals with a balance of attention to those individuals who can also benefit from your attitude. Look for the other individuals who may have assessed themselves with a score of less than twelve, and share some of your confidence with them. You share your confidence by helping them to find the confidence within themselves. Take a little time to point out their successes, their talents, and the value that they bring to others. Share your appreciation for what they do to contribute to you, and to your success. Nurture the capabilities and aspirations of those people who perceive their glass as half empty, but letting them know how much they mean to you, and how much they contribute to others. As you help those people to accomplish more, the results will naturally benefit both of you.
Score Greater than Twenty
If your score is over twenty, you are extremely confident in yourself, and ready to tackle any project. No task is too great for you. You can overcome barriers, create solutions, and inspire the people around you. Everything will work out eventually, if not sooner. Life has many delicious experiences, and you have likely tasted many of them. By most standards, you truly live a charmed life.
However, it is also very possible that you may have occasional conflicts with other individuals who have a score over twelve. In other words, your own enthusiasm knows almost no bounds, but it may also have very little appreciation or understanding for enthusiasm or optimism that is founded in ideas that are different from your own. This can result in sometimes severe conflicts or miscommunications. While you have limitless patience for individuals who are struggling, patiently sharing your time and energy to mentor the individuals who express a need for your help, the same feelings may not apply for those who have optimism that is different from your own. While you derive tremendous pleasure in sharing your own positive attitude with others, you may be handicapped in experiencing excitement that you do not create yourself. Therefore, your biggest challenge is to learn to embrace the accomplishments of other motivated individuals. Your own accomplishments will expand dramatically when you learn to enthusiastically embrace the achievements of your peers with the positive attitude.
Furthermore, if you have a score over twenty, balance your optimism with a robust gathering of trusted advocates and advisors. It will be easier to overcome some obstacles, and avoid unnecessary failures, by accepting guidance from individuals who have extensive experiences of their own.
Share or score those around you
Once you have had some fun with your own personal assessment, think about how your friends, colleagues, clients, or peers may score themselves. Share the ten quick statements with coworkers, friends, or family members and share results to see how you relate to one another.
Source: The Two Minute Attitude Assessment is based on a quiz originally designed by M.F. Scheier and C.S. Carver.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."- Herm Albright
"Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."- William James
"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new."- Og Mandino
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."- Albert Einstein
______________________________________________________
"I am retired after working over 35 years for a large corporation and 10 years as a consultant. Reading The Trusted Advocate was a real deja vu experience for me because it captured every situation that I personally experienced and often struggled with in representing my customers and the companies that I worked for. The practical approaches and solutions in Trusted Advocate provide clear, explicit, and factual examples of how to address the strategic and tactical issues that often crop up when the need exists to be a company loyalist and customer advocate while maintaining personal integrity and providing a win, win solution for both constituents being represented. I strongly recommend this book as a basic learning tool for all new marketers and a fresh approach for old timers to consider."
Barnes & Noble Customer Review"An All Encompassing Tutorial for Sales Leadership"
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback from www.Amazon.com (Hardcover), www.Amazon.com (Paperback), www.BarnessndNoble,com, www.Borders.com, www.Target.com, www.Buy.com, ,www.iUniverse.com, and many other fine booksellers.
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