How To Be Heard in a Noisy Marketplace

How to Be Heard in a Noisy Marketplace

One time I was in Japan at a popular tourist destination. I was with a few friends from the states, but other than that, the people around us were foreign to us. The foreigners were talking with each other so it was not a quiet place. Still, their words were meaningless to me.

Soon among the voices I heard a stranger call out to his friend in perfect English,

"Hey Tom, check this out."

The words were nothing spectacular. They were not even louder than anyone around them. But they were in my language. I instantly spun around to see who was talking. What were they "checking out?"

I smiled to see two American GI's, intrigued by a memorial. From across the crowd, they smiled back at me. We felt like friends.

In today's market place those who need to hear your message are bombarded by thousands of other messages all day long. How can you be heard among that marketing noise?

Here are a few tips:

Speak their own language

Show that you understand the pains and problems that your prospect needs to solve. Avoid technical jargon unless your prospect loves that secret "code language."

Focus on benefits, not features

Your number one job is to answer their unspoken question: "What's in it for me?" If possible arouse curiosity.

Say it with a smile

I once read that an average looking woman with a genuine smile is considered much more attractive to men than a stunning woman without one. That may be good news for you singles out there, but it's even more important for you service providers out there. Be genuine. Smile. Be attractive.

In the end, your prospects in the marketplace will do business with those they know, like, and trust. If you want to be heard you must put their need for your help above your own need for approval.

Afraid of rejection? I'll talk about that next week.

Until then, keep playing hard, keep smiling, and enjoy your game.

In Your Corner,

Gina

Remember Who You Are!

Remember Who You Are!

When our son Jordan was little he used to watch Disney's The Lion King almost every day on his little TV. It is perhaps my all time favorite animated movie.

My favorite part of that movie is when young Simba is living on his own, still overcome with guilt and shame over the death of his father. Then he is confronted with his past and his identity. In some flurry of emotional leading he senses that his father is actually alive and he frantically runs to the water to see him for himself. Instead he's met with his own disappointing reflection. Then the reflection turns into his father who speaks to him, "Simba, remember who you are!" It is then that Simba steps into his destiny and returns to his land to lead his tribe back to freedom.

Today, I wish you would look into the mirror, and hear the Father's voice say, "Remember who you are - you are Mine." Right now there is so much noise in the world around us that fear is knocking on everyone's door. We're stuck asking "How? When?" While the question truly is "Who?" Who are you and whom are you called to serve? It's hard to answer those questions when all you can look to is your own weak past.

Instead make a decision that: 1. Your future will not be dictated by your past 2. Your identity will not be dictated by your failures You are created in the image of God, to rule and to reign in love.

Your power comes when you know that: 1. Your future (and your present) are created by your choices 2. Your identity is about who you truly are, and whose. Find out how God sees you.

You were never meant to struggle forever. You are given challenges to practice over-coming! Enjoy the challenge. Learn to look differently at yourself. You are a problem-solver. The bigger the problems, the bigger the profit. (if profit matters to you.)

Remember who you are!

Assignment: Write your own bio that you would want to accompany your name on some kind of award or product of yours. That's who you are. Until next time I'll be right here -

In Your Corner,
Gina

The NEED FOR SPEED

This week I must say that finally, yes FINALLY, I am feeling SO REFRESHED!

In fact, I've had the Top Gun Theme song playing in my head all day,
"Highway to the Danger Zone."

You see, I came upon this quote:

"In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case, it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market (giving people the fable they wanted to believe in) - after all, hares have no time to read such things. They are busy winning the race."

Anita Brookner
British historian
and novelist

Anita Brookner, whoever you are, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!

You see...

I am a hare.Perhaps you are one too.

You know Aesop's hare - the rabbit - she jackrabbits

out the starting gate, and then loses the race to M i s t e r S l o w - a n d
s t e a d y- t o r t o i s e.

And all my life, I have been laughed at for my absolute
compulsion to "GO AFTER" stuff. I didn't usually mind because
I was busy accomplishing lots of my goals.

Then I "grew up" and learned that "life is a marathon, not a sprint..."

and by golly someone insisted that

"slow and steady wins the race."

Huh?

Eventually my circle of "go-getter" friends went their ways
(mostly straight to the top)
and I went mine (into full time ministry)- where sometimes I could play
by my fast rules, and sometimes, I just played with the slow and small
team.

For the record, I want to that say SPEED IS GOOD!

Look at all the most successful people you know. They harness the
power of speed. They GET 'ER DONE!

What is it you want to accomplish in the next six months? What about
the next year? Do you want to double your income? If so, then make
up your mind AND DO IT!

Do you want to triple your income? IF SO, LET ME BE THE FIRST
TO SAY, "YES, YOU CAN!" My own 2008 income will be at least
double what '07 was. And I'm certain I'll double it again in '09.

I am weary of slow people putting their excuses on GOOD HARES!

Take off the limits. Remove the delay between great ideas and bold action,
and you will get succeed. Or, quit dreaming about one day acting on that
dream of yours and act like it is yours now. Cut the excuses and take some action.

I am looking for some people who are tired of spinning their wheels and are
ready to END THE EXCUSES, and TAKE BOLD ACTION!

You can be, do and have all the things that you were created for. You
were made for dominion, not for the bottom of the barrel.

Be bold. Be fast. Get it done.